Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

In a flash, she heard the rustling of pages over at Remington’s end of the line, followed by his nonchalant drawl.

Lizetta, if you’re gonna kick yourself for this, move your butt back to Oakridge Heights, say you’re sorry, and I’ll pretend I never inked that divorce paper. No need for another call spouting nonsense.”

Hearing him say that, Lizetta actually felt relieved. Looked like Remington wasn’t behind it after all. She let out a sigh of relief and replied.

“No regrets here, Mr. Dashiell, you’re barking up the wrong tree. I’ll scrounge up the 3 million as fast as I can, so I’ll let you be.”

With that, she hung up.

In the presidential office of the Starlight Group.

Remington chucked his phone on the desk and loosened his tie a bit. That woman said she’d hustle up the 3 million quick; her determination to ditch him was rock solid.

But he thought she was spoiled rotten if she really believed 3 million was chump change. Ha, Remington didn’t buy it; no way Lizetta could pull that kind of cash out of thin air so fast.

Let her knock herself out. At the end of the day, she was not getting rid of this marriage. With that thought, Remington’s expression softened, and he picked up his phone to call Ray, “Find anything?” Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Ray was in some abandoned factory, with a woman tied to a chair behind him, face streaked with tears. It was Linda.

“Just like you figured, Linda was just a pawn. She said some middle–aged dude at a restaurant gave her Mrs. Dashiell’s address and spun a yarn about her entertaining sugar daddies there. She ran her mouth to Daniel out of jealousy for Mrs. Dashiell snagging his attention. I tried to check the restaurant’s surveillance, but the footage from that day was toast, still no trace of that middle–aged man.”

“Dig him up!” Remington’s eyes turned icy, his voice a low command.

At the private room.

Lizetta ended her call and was about to head back to the private room when she spotted Hamilton strolling over with a snappy–dressed woman,

It was Miranda, the agent Lizetta had met before on the set, who had slipped her a business card.

“Miranda, this is the one and only Maestro Adagio, real name Lizetta.”

Hamilton and Miranda approached, making introductions.

“Who would’ve thought you were Maestro Adagio! What a delightful surprise.”

Miranda beamed at Lizetta, offering her hand. Lizetta reciprocated, “Let’s talk inside.”

Hamilton raised an eyebrow, “You’two know each other?”

Miranda explained, “We’ve crossed paths before. Ms. Gardenia was a dance double on set, and I wanted to sign her as a talent. Little did I know, she was also the hotshot music and dance arranger everyone’s buzzing about. Now I’m even more keen to not let such a promising prospect slip away.”

With those looks and moves, and all that talent, she was born to rock the entertainment scene. Miranda came recommended by Hamilton, and Lizetta had a good impression of her from before. They hit it off well.

As lunchtime neared without a deal set, the four of them decided to grab a meal at a restaurant.

Negotiations went smoothly, and they signed a contract after the meal. For 1.8 million, Lizetta sold all her work from the past few years to Miranda’s agency.

Miranda would handle the future arrangements for the music and dances, and Lizetta would soon get the-

money.

As they were leaving. Miranda still tried to persuade Lizetta, “Are you sure you won’t consider becoming a talent? if you sign, I’ll push for an A–list contract with the best perks and resources, all written into the agreement upfront.”

Lizetta shook her head with a smile, “It’s not that I don’t trust you, Miranda. I just really don’t have those plans.”

Miranda still felt it was a pity, “But aren’t you in urgent need of money? If you sign as a talent, the company can advance you a sum.”

Lizetta kept shaking her head. Miranda left first, and then Lizetta thanked Hamilton, who stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the nanny van.

“How much more do you need? I can lend it to you.”

Lizetta wasn’t close enough to him to borrow such a hefty sum. Still, she was short over 1 million, and there was no way she could make that by just taking odd jobs.