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

he was aloof, and many girls only dared to secretly send

occasionally, some would slip through to his

that slipped through, Litchi would excitedly open and read aloud to Remington. And those secretly placed flowers, which he intended to throw away, she insisted were too good to waste, once even arranging

all those flowers to her,

thought back, her smile grew more playful; shaking her head, she said, "That's not

the difference?" Remington raised

was different. Did he give her

afraid to delve deeper. Instead, she clutched the bouquet tighter

the last unpleasant visit,

settled

е

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

flower's meaning was eternal love, a love for a

"Cedric recommended them."

at Lizetta, noticing her evident joy and thought to himself

I can have the florist deliver a bunch to

often would take