Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

“No worries, you were just defending yourself, not committing murder! You did an awesome job, Liz, super brave, protecting yourself. That guy had it coming!”

Lucian wrapped his arms around Lizetta, comforting her, and gradually she calmed down.

A female cop approached, “She still needs to undergo a medical examination; she wasn’t cooperating earlier.”

Lucian stroked Lizetta’s head, “Don’t be scared. I will be right here with you.”

Lizetta nodded with teary eyes, “I can do it.”

Lucian let her go, stood up, took off his trench coat, draped it over her, and then helped her to her feet.

Lizetta tried to walk on her own, but her legs buckled.

Lucian caught her, “Let’s go.” Content rights belong to NôvelDrama.Org.

His phone rang: just as he was about to answer, Lizetta suddenly clutched his arm tightly. She was gripping so hard: Lucian looked at her, bewildered.

Lizetta’s pale face was filled with tension and urgency, her voice hoarse and trembling, “Luc! Don’t tell Remi!”

Lucian paused, and then, as if remembering something, he gritted his teeth, “You’re almost falling apart, and yet you’re worried about someone else. Lizetta, you’re silly!”

All Lizetta did was hold onto him, “Don’t tell him.”

Lucian sighed in resignation, gently patting her hand, and showed her the phone screen, “See? It’s not Remi’s call; it’s the lawyer I got for you. Relax, if you don’t want to tell him, I’ll keep it under wraps for sure.”

Lizetta let go only after confirming it wasn’t Remington who had called. She followed the female cop to get the examination done.

Lucian communicated with the lawyer, his gaze lingering on her frail figure, his feelings mixed. He knew why Lizetta had reached out to him tonight instead of Remington.

Ten years ago, Lizetta had gone through something similar. A twelve–year–old girl nearly molested by a staff member at a dance institute; too scared to speak up afterward, she hid in the bathroom, helplessly and silently crying.

It was eventually Remington who noticed something was wrong and after pressing her, found out. Remington grabbed a golf club and nearly beat the man to death in public.

The incident blew up big time, and if Remington hadn’t been a month shy of adulthood, even the formidable influence of the Dashiell family might not have been enough to hush it up.

That incident made it well–known in Zion City’s upper echelons that in the Dashiell family, Lizetta was Remington’s cherished little sister, untouchable by anyone.

Lizetta was worried about history repeating itself, which was why she didn’t want Remington to find out.

After Lizetta was done with the medical examination and the lawyer had sorted everything out, completing the bail process, Lucian took her straight out of the police station. He left his sports car at the station and took Lizetta in the lawyer’s car for convenience.

In the backseat, he pulled out an alcohol wipe to clean her hands.

“Lucian, I’m okay now. I can do it myself,” Lizetta took the wet wipe.

Lucian didn’t insist, and just held the box of wipes for her, clicking his tongue. “When you need something, it’s Luc, when you don’t, it’s Lucian? Litchi, you sure know how to be practical.”

He raised his hand, playfully mussing Lizetta’s hair. Lizetta hissed, ‘shrinking her neck.

“Head hurt? To the hospital!”

“No, I’m fine. I just want to go home! Luc, take me back,” Lizetta shook her head, not wanting to go anywhere

else.

When they arrived at Oakridge Heights, Lucian got out first and went around to open the door to help Lizetta.

As Lizetta got out, she felt dizzy and wobbled. She had been hit in the head by Daniel earlier, and Lucian immediately bent down and picked her up.

They had only taken a few steps when a beam of car headlights came their way, glaring intensely.

Lucian stopped in his tracks, squinting to look.

The Bentley pulled up, the door swung open, and Remington stepped out with his long legs, walking towards them.

Lizetta saw the tall figure approaching, her eyes nearly instantly hot with tears. Instinctively, she wanted to reach out to him, but remembering the call that had cut her off earlier, her heart turned cold.

She turned her head away, tugging at Lucian’s collar, urging him, “Lucian, take me inside.”