Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Remington just gave her a smile with a hooked lip. “No worries.”

The man, slightly tipsy, had that extra bit of a roguish charm compared to his usual cool and lofty demeanor.

His shirt collar was unbuttoned at the top, revealing a collarbone hidden in the dim light, which glowed with a blush; it was deadly sexy.

The room was buzzing with teasing: Evelina blushed, and her eyes on him were brimming with tender affection, oozing charm like nobody’s business.

Lizetta suddenly felt that winning was so overrated, and her eyes burned a tad.

“Got into a spat with Remi? Come on, Lucian will show him who’s boss.”

Lucian chimed in; standing up and pulling Lizetta to her feet, she announced loudly.

“I’m done here, I’m gonna take Litchi for a spin on the dance floor.”

Lizetta followed him, and the two quickly left the private room.

Once Lizetta was gone, Lulu perked up.

She hadn’t won a single game; didn’t she have any pride? Thumping her leg, she shook the dice cup and rolled a couple of fours before she prodded Evelina.

“Hurry it up. Ms. Hawthorne, your turn.”

Next to her, Remington had been giving off a frosty vibe ever since Lizetta left.

Evelina, distracted, made a careless throw.

“Ahaha, I won, I won, drink up!”

Lulu shoved a glass into Evelina’s hand, who turned to pass it to Remington, “Remi.”

But Remington wouldn’t even glance at her, and he said coldly.

“Heh, you think I’m some kind of drink buddy?”

He only takes drinks from his wife, what’s this dirty, stinky stuff got to do with him!

He stood up and strode off.

Evelina froze, and Remington’s tall figure was already a few steps away.

Evelina wanted to follow, but Lulu leaped onto her legs, hugging them in a drunkeh rage.

“You can’t go! Ms. Hawthorne, how can you bail on your tab, drink up!”

“Let go!” Evelina shook her off angrily.

“Why are you being such a pain, I know, you were being sneaky with the questions earlier too, I knew it!”

Everyone in the room watched, but their expressions were varied.

Evelina felt as exposed as if she’d been stripped bare, wishing she could kick Lulu to the curb and slap her twice. for good measure.

She couldn’t back down, nor could she handle her liquor, with her eyes reddened, she looked pleadingly at Cassius.

Thinking about how Sterling family and the Hawthorne family were old family friends, Cassius looked rather conflicted.

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He always thought Evelina was innocent and viewed her as someone to be pitled, as she have had her life stolen and have endured so much hardship as a child, and then her marriage prospects were snatched away.

But today. Lizetta’s question seemed to reveal a different side of Evelina.

Still, he came over, picked up the glass and drank for Evelina.

Frank came over with a dark face, pulled Lulu off and dumped her on the couch, asking Evelina with concern.

“You okay?”

Evelina ignored him and hurried after Remington.

After they left, the private room lost its buzz, and everyone quickly followed suit.

Just as they left, someone leaning on the second–floor railing, with his eyes bulging, looked down at the dance floor and exclaimed in shock.

“Holy smokes! That’s freaking amazing!”

Timothy and the others looked too, only to see, on the dance floor’s oval stage, usually a wild party, today a solo.

act.

The woman, in T–shirt and jeans, was dressed like an average college student, not a bit of skin showing.

But on stage, she twisted and swayed; every move of her was graceful and seductive, and every strand of her hair seemed to dance; her glances and turns were enchanting, full of allure.

Legs lifted, hips sent, bending over, hair flung, fluid as water yet with an edgy swing, bewitching to the core, a contradictory mix of sultry and pure.

No wonder once she hit the stage, it was hers alone, and everyone else seemed to vanish in embarrassment.

It was Lizetta.

Five minutes ago, Lucian had dragged her onto the dance floor, close to the stage, then suddenly leaned in and

shouted in her ear.

“Remember what teacher Yvonne said? The stage is yours as soon as you step on it! Go for it.”

Before Lizetta could grasp what was happening, Lucian had hoisted her onto the stage.

Lizetta truly enjoyed the spotlight, and in almost a second, she was in the zone.

She danced like no one was watching, totally unaware that the stage had turned into her personal showcase, stunning everyone.

Until the music in the bar abruptly stopped, and after a series of flashing lights, the entire dance floor fell silent.

Then, the frenzy kicked back in.

Lizetta stood frozen on stage, with her mouth agape, as she saw men and women in the crowd start to passionately embrace and kiss.

The lights flashed again, and she thought she saw Evelina grabbing the tall man and standing on tiptoe to kiss him.

And the man, embracing her, lowered his head.

Bang!

With a loud noise, lights were out, and the dance floor was plunged into darkness.

Amidst the darkness, the sound of kissing all around was enough to send shivers down the spine. Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

Lizetta’s mind, however, was still flashing with the image she just saw; she stood there, pale as death, as if she

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was trapped in everlasting night.

Then, someone grabbed her ankle with a greasy, nauseating touch, and dragged her down from the stage.