Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

She felt like she was sinking into a solitary deep sea, engulfed by the deathly waters of isolation, unable to hear any sound or feel any warmth around her, that was until Yolanda's loud shouts pierced through her numbness.

Lizetta slowly came back to her senses, her hand subconsciously reaching up to touch her face. She thought she would be in tears, yet, there were none.

Her cheeks were dry, her eyes scratchy and sore, as if they were about to ignite. Her chest felt numb, as if it had been hollowed out.

She thought, so this was what true despair, disappointment, and sorrow felt like - utterly desolate, without even tears to show for it.

"Really, how could she break the gift?"

"Guests should be treated with respect, but this is just rude."

Lizetta blinked back to reality, and when she did, she was met with the stares of a few guests, looking at her disapprovingly under Evelina's tearful accusations.

Lizetta stopped Lucian, who was about to confront them with displeasure, and offered a polite, yet firm smile.

with respect, those who come with malice shouldn't expect

with bad intentions?" Evelina attempted to

someone else's wedding, and gifting two things are bad, didn't you know? What excuse

everyone's condemning gaze turned to

after hearing about the reason of Remington's absence and her graceful handling of the

pale, Lucian thought it was

smile. "Luc, no need. Please, apologize to grandma and the guests for me. The wedding is off," with those words, she forcefully pulled off her

hair cascaded over her shoulders as the pearl tiara meant to secure

chain scattered across the floor, like the tears

stood in shock as Lizetta

of something!" Lucian's face darkened, his brows furrowed as he turned to

out of her shock, shrugged and said with a cold laugh, "A groom who misses his own wedding doesn't deserve a second

Just then, a commotion started in the

"What's happening in there?"