Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Stella's smile brightened, but at the next moment, she saw Remington heading toward the exit.

Her surprise was evident as she pointed to a table nearby, "The candy is right there."

Without looking back, Remington replied in an indifferent tone, "I need to make a call."

Stella panicked, quickly standing and following him, "Remington!"

But he'd already shut the door behind him, a bit too forcefully, causing Stella to nearly collide with it.

His refusal to let her follow couldn't have been clearer. Stella frowned, wondering if Remington had noticed something amiss.

Outside.

Remington made his way to the terrace at the end of the corridor, bumping into a waiter carrying drinks along the way.

He casually picked up a glass of red wine and stepped out to the terrace. The breeze was chilly, and he felt an inexplicable restlessness.

Taking a sip of the wine, Remington glanced at his watch, right as Lizetta's show was about to start.

He turned around, his tall body leaning back against the railing which supported his right crooked arm, the wine glass swaying in his hand. He then opened a streaming site on his phone.

Just as the curtains on the screen began to part, a slight smile played on his lips. But in the next second, that smile shattered like thin ice, replaced by a sudden chill.

was nowhere to be

place stood

as countless details raced through his mind. Almost

up, Omar's voice came through,

glass in

mixed with blood dripped onto the

up her dress,

smiled, standing at the top of the stairs, looking at him as

to him, full of hope. But as he emerged from

went out, spotlight

to them as

melody

forced a

not to

she wasn't

Where are

voice a whisper, "Remington,

couldn't successfully reach him,

staircase; they became the center of attention,

didn't know whom to follow, his light