Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

"Did you just swipe my bag?"

"Swipe your bag? Look who's talking, Miss High-and-Mighty. Can't you see that? The Hawthornes are flat broke, and our mansion's getting gutted to cover debts.

I haven't seen a paycheck in two months, and it's a free-for-all with the stuff inside. I just grabbed a couple of purses, that's all. I didn't even fuss about them being second-hand. What more do you want? You want to play the lady of the manor? Square up my wages right now, and you can have your precious bags back, as if I care!"

With that said, Nora shrugged off Evelina with a fling of her arm and dragged her suitcase away, leaving Evelina trembling with rage. Nora rolled her eyes and walked off.

That moment, Elara and Kevin were also kicked out of the mansion.

Evelina rushed over, seizing Kevin by the arm with a face full of shock and fear.

"Dad, what's going on? How did the company tank all of a sudden? Couldn't we just pull in some investment, patch up the financial gaps, and get through this crisis?"

She was still brainstorming solutions, convinced that there had to be a way out.

But how did everything collapse so suddenly!

Evelina was so overwhelmed that she was unable to grasp the reality of their downfall.

Kevin turned around and stared back at Evelina with an ashen face.

turned furious, and he

stumbled back, holding her face in

"Dad? You hit me?"

to the Hawthorne fold, her parents had doted on her, being mindful of the hardships she'd faced as a

had faced criticism and reprimands more than

him strike our family down like this? My God, how did the Hawthornes

his chest heaving

face turned ghostly pale, and

It was Remington.

hadn't ratted her out; it was

A death blow.

Hawthorne legacy was shattered, and she, the

what exactly did you do? Why is all this happening? Did you provoke

eyes reddened with anger, shook off Elara's hand

and blood, that you'd always love me the most? Now you're bringing up Lizetta again? Ha, I provoked Lizetta? Don't

decisions, are you? Thinking you should've never brought

it's too late! But don't jump to conclusions just yet. What goes around comes around. I won't be outdone by Lizetta. The game is

Evelina turned and stormed

dismay, even the car she had driven there had been