Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Lizetta looked away, a blush creeping up her cheeks, finding it hard to meet Jerome's gaze. She was about to brush off the tension with a laugh when she heard his voice, smooth and tinged with amusement, from above.

"You're pretty straightforward, aren't you?"

"Uh?" Lizetta looked up, puzzled.

Jerome raised an eyebrow, "I didn't want to scare you, but it seems like you've turned the tables on me."

Lizetta was at a loss for words.

Jerome chuckled, "That's right, I like you."

His admission was candid.

Once everything was out in the open, Lizetta felt less uneasy. She touched her pregnant belly in astonishment, clearly confused.

"But why? I mean, this doesn't make any sense."

Their interactions had been limited. Excluding a brief encounter years ago, by the time they met again, she was already pregnant and he was taking her to the hospital.

Lizetta's expression turned peculiar as a thought crossed her mind.

She wondered if Jerome was one of those men who sought thrill in unconventional relationships. Did he really have such unusual tastes?

the change in her gaze and

hair, "Don't look at me like that. Falling for someone never makes sense. It doesn't ask for reasons or status. It just happens, and I didn't expect to feel

of our first

initial oversight had now turned into

drawn to her, and compassion often leads

a mix of daze

slightly bending

feelings for you aren't

slightly, holding

to help you within my means,

looked at Jerome's pinky, not sure whether

then met his gaze, his deep eyes clear and smiling, relaxed and

not intense or mad, but comfortably

a little bit, this is the first

It was indeed unique.

Jerome

up,

wasn't even

bet

but I was soft

into it, wasn't I?"