Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

"Don't overdo it, let me know if you need anything."

Liz waved her hand dismissively, "Got it, got it."

She walked past Jerome with a smile, but he hesitated for a moment, reaching out to grab her arm.

Liz turned around in surprise, her eyes full of questions.

Jerome looked deeply into her eyes and asked, "Did you guys... make up? Did you forgive him?"

Liz paused, realizing he must have misunderstood when he saw her leaning into Remi's embrace earlier in the room.

She quickly shook her head, "How could that be? He was just steadying me because I almost fell, that's all."

She paused, as if convincing Jerome as well as herself.

"Seeing him just reminds me of Daisy. It's impossible between us, forever."

Her voice was resolute, her gaze as determined as ever.

But Jerome knew it wasn't so.

If it had been before, Liz would have pushed Remi away the moment he tried to embrace her, her body language screaming rejection.

But earlier, she had leaned into Remi's embrace, their eyes even meeting.

she looked at Remi was something Jerome had

the sadness in his heart, simply patting Liz's head

just a few steps away. As Liz turned to enter,

pushed the door

there, his thin lips pressed together, his gaze dark and his handsome face more somber than

beat, uncertain if he had

stepping aside, "Were you leaving? Thanks, I...

was caught in a firm

her back was against the door, trapped by Remi in a

up at him, wide-eyed, about to demand he step back, but

"Forever impossible?"

husky, his

a sudden unease gripping her heart.

his gaze, clear

"Yes, impossible. So you..."

seeming

could finish,

unable to restrain himself

longer, leaned

I

sealed

her lips with his.

hadn't expected him to do this, especially with how well he had been pretending these last