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.

nowhere to be seen

place stood a

over Remington as countless details raced through his mind. Almost simultaneously, his

Omar's voice came through, tinged with panic,

in Remington's hand

wine mixed with blood dripped onto the marble floor,

filled the hall as Stella, holding up

stairs, looking at him

she reached out to him, full of hope. But as he

suddenly went

to them

melody

Stella forced a smile.

not

she wasn't there, heading downstairs.

are you

him, her voice a whisper,

he was too fast, she couldn't successfully reach him,

both of them arrived at the spiral staircase; they became the center of attention,

to follow, his