Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

The cleaning lady responded, and Lizetta turned off the water, dried her hands, and stepped out.

Days flew by in a blink, and on the eve of Lizetta's departure to Summer City, Remington's car once again stopped at the dance company's entrance.

Tall and distinguished, Remington stood by his car, cradling a bouquet of flowers in his arms.

They were roses, a refreshing shade of green, unique, understated, and elegant. They matched his demeanor perfectly. Lizetta recognized them instantly as the rare matcha forest roses.

She froze in place until Remington approached, offering her the roses with a voice as soft as the breeze.

"Here's your bouquet. Still mad at me?"

Taking the flowers, Lizetta felt a lump in her throat and a sting in her eyes. She lowered her head to smell them and then looked up at him, smiling gently.

"They're beautiful. The first flowers you've ever given me."

Remington saw she was happy, his lips relaxing into a relieved smile as he playfully tapped her head.

"Nonsense, I've given you flowers before, about twelve or thirteen years ago."

Lizetta paused, and then remembered.

Dashiell was the golden boy, talented and

only dared to secretly send him flowers and

but occasionally, some would slip through to his bag, and sometimes, flowers would be secretly

Remington. And those secretly placed flowers, which he intended to throw away, she insisted were too good to waste, once even arranging

started giving all those flowers to her, more than just one or two

thought back, her smile grew more playful; shaking her head,

the difference?" Remington

it was different. Did he give her those flowers

Instead, she

visit, today Remington had come to pick

Lizetta settled into the

е

back to Oakridge Heights, she couldn't help but ask him, "These flowers are quite special. Did you

meaning was eternal love, a love

"Cedric recommended them."

and thought to himself that this year's bonus for Cedric could be

the florist deliver a bunch to our

them too often would