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.

in her eyes when she looked at Remi was

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

room was just a few steps away. As Liz turned to enter, she noticed the

didn't mind and pushed the door open, only to be

right there, his thin lips pressed together, his gaze dark

a beat, uncertain if he had

aside, "Were you

finish, her wrist was caught in a firm

back was

him, wide-eyed, about to demand he step

"Forever impossible?"

rough and husky,

sudden unease gripping her heart. He had

she met his

"Yes, impossible. So you..."

seeming

could finish,

unable to restrain himself

leaned down

I

sealed

her lips with his.

how well