Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

"Damn, that girl's a real piece of work!"

Lizetta had always sensed something off about Stella, and now she knew why.

On one hand, she acted as if everything was fine, showing off her vulnerabilities, while on the other, she was a bundle of insecurities, unable to face reality.

Such a contradiction indeed.

"Ugh, this is giving me a headache."

Yolanda lifted her hand, intending to rub her temples, but Lizetta quickly stopped her.

"Stop, don't worry about it. I shouldn't have brought it up.

Oh, speaking of which, when you were in surgery yesterday, Cassius was pacing outside the whole time. He only left when they moved you to the ICU. What's up with that?"

Lizetta squinted at Yolanda, who seemed totally unfazed.

"It's just what it looks like."

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"He's got a thing for me, obviously."

"And you?"

I couldn't care

at Yolanda's nonchalant demeanor, Lizetta felt a

you mean

means I could play along. He's a rich kid and a big-time actor. I'm not losing anything. In the entertainment world, relationships are a joke anyway. Don't

thought to herself that sometimes feelings can catch you off guard, and before you know it, you're in too

she was about to ask more, she heard

huge bouquet of flowers, with a maid carrying loads of health supplements behind

Ms.

a piece of her

wanting Yolanda to be disturbed, she was about to refuse when Yolanda called out from

who's there? Let her

meet

aside, and Stella, with

I'm Stella. Liz must have mentioned

baby - my brother's child. Our whole family is incredibly

I'm a bit dizzy and who

hidden barbs didn't go

Liz mentioned me? Let me introduce myself again. I'm Stella, grew

about to go on a long spiel about her and Remington's dramatic

my head's spinning,

to