Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

“Sis, I bought this bracelet with my own money; how on earth could it belong to the Dashiell family? Framing someone with a lame excuse, that’s not tool at all.”

Evelina burst into tears again, while Lizetta still had a grip on her wrist.

She looked down at the bracelet closely and noticed something was off. At first glance, the bracelet looked a lot like the Dashiell family’s, but it was narrower, and the green was faded by twenty percent.

Up close, it had some discoloration and wasn’t as clear as the Dashiell family’s – it wasn’t even in the same league.

It was just that the high–quality part was worn on the outside by Evelina, and Lizetta hadn’t looked closely, so she hadn’t spotted the difference.

“Ouch.”

Evelina cried out in pain, and Elara reached out to smack Lizetta’s hand away. “Let go already!”

Remington, with a dark expression, pulled Lizetta away and wrapped his arm protectively around her.

At that moment, Cedric arrived with a bouquet of flowers and a fruit basket, sent to apologize on Joseph’s behalf.

“Sir?”

Remington gave him a glance and said to Kevin, “It’s all a misunderstanding. Joseph recklessly injured Ms. Evelina Hawthorne, but Mrs. Elara Hawthorne also hit my girl without discrimination. Since that’s the case, we’re even.”

He looked at Cedric, “I left a card in Ms. Evelina Hawthorne’s room. Go get it.”

Cedric immediately responded and went into the room.

Remington didn’t linger, taking Lizetta by the shoulders and heading towards Joseph’s room.

14:11!

Cedric quickly came out with the card, leaving the fruit basket and flowers outside without taking them into the room.

He gave a polite nod to Evelina and the other two standing stiffly at the door and caught up with the others.

Evelina, furious, shed tears again, clenched her fists, but the movement pulled. at her wound, turning her face pale and making her shiver.

“What do you mean we’re even? My hand is nearly broken from being hit, and Lizetta just got a slap. How is that the same? And to think, he can just take back a gift card that’s been given out. Joseph didn’t even bother to come and apologize himself. Does he think I deserved it? How could he be like this!”

So was her pain all for nothing?

“Eve, don’t get worked up. Mom knows you’ve been wronged, and we won’t let this go just like that,” Elara consoled, finally coaxing Evelina back into her

room.

In Joseph’s room, Remington let go of Lizetta as they entered, and she automatically stepped aside.

with

Hanna was by the bed, wiping Joseph’s face, and when they came in, she turned and asked, “How’s Evelina? Did you apologize to her?”

Her gaze then fell on Lizetta, “Always causing trouble!”

“Mom, I’ve already said it was my fault. I’ll take the fall for my own actions;

: it

has nothing to do with Liz!”

Joseph stirred in bed, not even caring for his face to be wiped anymore.

Remington frowned, “Joseph was acting recklessly; don’t take it out on others.”

They were all protecting Lizetta, treating their own mother with disrespect, and Hanna felt a chill in her heart, her disdain for Lizetta growing.

She threw the towel into the basin, “Fine, I’m the villain; you’re all in cahoots. This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

I’m out of here!”

Hanna grabbed her bag and left, getting angry just seeing Lizetta.

14:11

Only the three of them were left in the room, with the man sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed, commanding respect without anger.

Lizetta, thinking of the bracelet mix–up, had no ground to stand on and kept her head down.

Joseph, on the other hand, pouted, “Remi, Liz and I did nothing wrong. It’s your fault for giving Evelina our family’s heirloom jade bracelet. Does she even deserve it? I didn’t get my hands on it today, but next time, mmph!”

Lizetta hurried over to cover Joseph’s mouth, whispering urgently, “You got it wrong; the bracelet isn’t the Dashiell family’s. Shut up already.”

Joseph blinked, “Really?”

Lizetta nodded regretfully, and Joseph, with wide confused eyes, said, “But it looked identical.”

Stubborn Joseph wouldn’t back down, challenging Remington with an attempt at justification, “That’s still on you, Remi. If you had given the bracelet to Liz earlier, we wouldn’t have made this mistake.”

Lizetta wanted to smack the boy; who wanted to be in his “we“?

Remington’s aura grew even colder as he chuckled. Looking at the two fools sitting side by side on the bed, he said, “Yes, blame me. Should I also praise you two for being the heroes, dumb and adorable? Even a mouse knows to sneak around when it’s dark and windy, but you two? Making a scene in our own mall for the whole town to see, showing off your lack of common

sense?”

Joseph blushed from the scolding but still wanted to argue back. Lizetta tugged at him.

Remington saw them sitting there quietly and his expression softened a bit, “Do you realize what you did wrong?”

Lizetta nodded and looked at him, “Sorry for causing you trouble. And thanks

for earlier.”

Her polite and distant apology and thanks sounded even more unpleasant to Remington’s ears.