Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Fiona pointed to her head, now full of silver strands.

Lizetta looked over, her eyes warming with tears. When she had left, Fiona's hair still sported a few black strands, but now, it was a challenge to find even one.

"Silver hair like Fiona's is all the rage this year. Many folks try to dye their hair to get this effect but can't quite nail it. And Fiona, with such a full head of hair, looks even more regal and elegant. Many a girl with thinning hair would be green with envy."

Lizetta teased Fiona, who responded with a hearty laugh, clearly pleased with the compliment.

As Fiona stood up, the younger ones couldn't remain seated any longer.

Nathan and the others quickly got to their feet, and Shirley, despite her swollen, aching knees, reluctantly followed suit.

At that moment, she watched Fiona and Lizetta chatting away happily, Fiona enthusiastically bigging up Lizetta, and felt a bitter mix of sourness and jealousy.

"What's the big deal with her? Just a widow who lost a child, acting as if the whole world owes her something. To the uninitiated, you'd think she was some kind of princess, demanding the entire family get up to greet her!"

Shirley was seething, having only badmouthed Lizetta a bit in a private room one day, which led to her practically being on her knees, and even caused a rift with her parents.

that wretch, even dared to

victims, they were now summoned to the old family

here from the

only dared to mutter under her breath, complaining to her mother

at her and hissed, "Shut up,

a bit

her hands on their dark secrets and

must have been Remington digging

now, it hardly seemed like the matriarch had called Lizetta back to make amends on their behalf. Wendy guessed it was more likely that Lizetta was being

a piece of gum stuck to the Dashiell family, and Remington, going back for seconds, picking up his old, worn-out shoe. Mrs. Dashiell was powerless, it seemed. "Mom, everyone's here. Let's sit and talk this out

I can't chat with

furrowed, but having no leverage over his mother, his

up, kept her composure and smiled, aiding Fiona and pretending

my timing is

could finish,