Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

The car was barreling down towards Stella's silhouette, getting closer and closer by the second.

Just when a collision seemed imminent, Lizetta clenched her eyes shut, gripping the steering wheel tightly as she floored the gas pedal.

After zooming past, Lizetta slammed on the brakes, opening her eyes to scan the rearview mirror.

But there was no bloodied figure of Stella behind or in front of the car.

The spot where Stella had been standing was now eerily empty, leaving Lizetta gasping for breath.

Her emotions were at a breaking point, unable to discern whether she had actually felt the impact or not.

Was it all just an illusion, and Stella had never been there?

Or had Stella been swept under the car?

As Lizetta sat there dazed and frantic, a figure in black emerged from the bushes to the side, helping up a slender silhouette.

It was unmistakably Stella.

Clearly, in the nick of time, this mysterious figure had leaped at Stella, rolling with her into the roadside bushes.

Stella's forehead was bleeding from where she must have hit something, but when she locked eyes with Lizetta, she pushed away the man in black who was assisting her, staggering out of the bushes. She raised her hand, flipping Lizetta off, then smirked.

Her eyes sparkled with disdain and mockery.

moved silently,

"Loser!"

tasted of metal,

into reverse, aiming the car at Stella

But then.

Bang!

darted out from the West family estate, crashing into Lizetta's rear, halting her

Stella screamed, collapsing to

was dazed by the impact, her

servants rushing out, Lizetta realized her moment had

washed over her; she released the steering wheel, slumping back

banged on the car door, yelling

Lizetta opened

behind her, and taken into

threw her roughly to the ground,

Stella, clutching her bleeding

was also

off the servants'

front

her hair,

remained silent,