Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Lizetta spun around, a flash of surprise crossing her face, "How did you get in here?"

She frowned and glanced outside, certain she had asked the Madden family's security to keep watch.

Remington steadied her before she could protest, quickly withdrawing his hand afterwards.

He rubbed his fingers together where they had touched her waist, as if her warmth and softness lingered there.

"I told your guards I was worried about you and just wanted to check in. Guess they thought I looked trustworthy enough to let me through."

Lizetta thought he was full of it but didn't have the evidence to prove otherwise. Besides, this wasn't the time to get hung up on that.

Her gaze shifted back to Stella, who had pushed her away only to collapse on the floor herself.

Drunk beyond belief, Stella sprawled on the ground, her body covered in vomit.

"Cough, cough... blargh..."

Choking on her own vomit, Stella struggled to get up only to vomit again.

"Stella, was Hans sent by the West family? Tell me!"

Lizetta, furious, moved closer and crouched down, grabbing Stella by her shirt collar.

"Blargh!"

red from the alcohol, eyes rolling back, clearly too drunk to even

her, Stella's response was to vomit

quickly stepped in, pulling Lizetta away just

to give us

sprawled on the floor, then

to get evidence from the West family, I wouldn't have had

never stopped investigating the

been meticulously cleaned up.

was all just speculation, no matter how close to the truth it

believe it. She

corner, where the janitor's closet was, Inside, there was a mop and a

the empty bucket

as she was about to lift it, a strong hand reached out

Remington already turning

"You..."

just looked at her softly and said,

the water, and she was surprised he was going to help.

Splash.

on Stella in one go, causing her to scream and sit up with a