Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

"Grandpa, Jerome, why are you both looking at me like that? If you don't agree, I'll just use my own allowance to sponsor Mrs. Johnson's trip abroad." Andrea was being stared at, but she maintained an innocent and cheerful demeanor.

It seemed she was completely oblivious to the fact that her words were a form of belittlement and insult to Liz, something that could hurt someone's pride.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense, but Liz laughed, breaking the awkward silence. "Mrs. Madden is really too kind-hearted, a veritable fairy godmother eager to shower me with money. But I really don't need this kind of help. Oh, and please take this credit card back too."

Saying this, Liz pulled out a credit card and handed it to Andrea in front of everyone.

Andrea's eyes flickered, surprised that Liz would bring this up publicly. She thought Liz would keep the embarrassing incident of being given a credit card to herself and just swallow the humiliation. Nelson frowned at the card, "Liz, what's this about?"

Liz just smiled calmly, "Oh, nothing much. Just that Mrs. Madden mentioned the card had fifty thousand dollars..."

hurry when I left this morning, I didn't even have time to buy some gifts to bring over. I'm really thankful for Mrs. Johnson's help at the bar the other day, and I wanted to show my gratitude with the money on this card. Mrs. Johnson had accepted my gesture, but you all made

lying. Liz hadn't accepted the card at all;

back at

it

fallen to

Ine

it up, especially since she heard Mrs. Bernice Madden had an accident and ran

Andrea was insisting that she had accepted the card. To say

room earlier, and now

faded, and she twirled

the card back to you, and you didn't take it; it fell to the ground. Besides, you said these fifty thousand dollars were for hiring