Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Jolin knew there were some things shouldn’t be said, and she just let something slip.

She nodded right away, “Yeah, yeah, but she’s been ungrateful since she was a kid, unfilial indeed, Mommy still has to lean on you.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll remind April to transfer some cash as soon as I get back,” she whispered into Jolin’s ear.

“If she finds out the truth about Lizetta’s background, she’s not someone to be trifled with. What do your reckon, could she have you thrown behind bars?!”

Jolin’s face turned ghostly pale, and she quickly clapped a hand over her mouth.

It was late into the night.

Inside a plush private room at Maplewood Club, the atmosphere was dripping with luxury.

After wrapping up their talk, Remington leaned back in his chair, sipping his drink alone.

Timothy raised his glass, “Remi and Quintin have both been abroad these past two years, so we’ve had fewer gatherings. It’s nice to have some peace and quiet to chat today. When Quentin gets back, we gotta have a proper get–together.”

Quentin, mentioned by Timothy, is the young master of the West family. The Wests are an old and established family in Zion City, and the parents are Remington’s godparents.

Quentin, Timothy, Remington, and Cassius grew up together.

Cassius nodded in agreement, “Yeah, Quentin’s even busier than Remi. Last time I flew to Celestia for a commercial shoot and wanted to catch up with him, he couldn’t even spare a minute.”

Remington’s brows knitted slightly as he tilted his head back and drained his glass in one gulp.

Seeing his mood dip even further and his lack of interest in the conversation, Timothy clicked his tongue and leaned in to ask.

“Successful in business but unlucky in love, huh? Remi, still haven’t made up with Liz?”

Remington glanced at him and chuckled, “What do you know? Even if we fight, we’re tight.”

Timothy sighed silently to himself, understanding all too well the male ego at play.

“Alright, alright, you two are tight and Liz can’t live without you. But even the happiest couples can’t keep bickering forever, man. It’s been days.”

But deep down, Remington was counting, 29 days since that woman first brought up divorce.

“Want me to lend a hand?”

Usually, Remington wouldn’t bite on such an offer.

But today, he turned his gaze to Timothy, raising an eyebrow.

Timothy chuckled to himself.

Ah, he couldn’t keep up the act anymore, huh?

He put his glass down and got serious, “If sweet–talking doesn’t work, you gotta pull the sympathy card! If

spot for she’s got even a sliver of feelings left, she won’t be able to resist. And Liz, she’s got a soft

you, Remi. If you were even slightly unwell, that girl would be anxious as can be. She would definitely fall for it.”

Remington thought Timothy had a real plan, but his interest waned upon hearing this.

Lizetta used to care a lot about him.

He would have a minor illness and not take it seriously, but she would stay up all night, never leaving his

side.

But that was when she cared for him like a brother. Now, her heart was as hard as stone.

He’d already pretended to have a blood disease, and she didn’t even consider moving back to Oakridge Heights for more than a couple of days.

Timothy was still brainstorming, “Here’s the plan, I’ll hit up Liz on WhatsApp right now, tell her Remi’s plastered and needs a ride home. When Liz gets here, you play drunk, and things might progress from there. Tomorrow, you two will be as sweet as honey. What do you say?”

Remington downed his drink with a tilt of his head and smirked, “Not bad, but don’t bring it up again.”

Timothy shrugged just as his date sashayed over to call him away.

Seeing Remington didn’t want to talk anymore, Timothy stood up to leave.

But when he got to the pool table, he still took out his phone, snapped a photo, and sent it to Lizetta

He’d done his brotherly duty, whether it would work or not depended on how much weight Remi carried in Lizetta’s heart.

But no sooner had he put his phone down, Cassius sidled up, peeking at the screen. With a chuckle, he took a photo and sent it to Evelina.

“What are you doing? Don’t send that randomly!” Content is property © NôvelDrama.Org.

“So only you’re allowed to send it? We should let Remi see who really cares about him.”

Timothy snatched back his phone, trying to withdraw the message, but Evelina’s reply had already pooped

1. up.

[Is Joseph drunk? I’ll be there ASAP Cassius, take care of him for me, OK?]

Timothy felt doomed!

Lizetta had moved out of Hogan’s apartment with Yolanda that afternoon and Yolanda had returned to the film crew that evening.

Lizetta went to bed early, feeling light–headed and uncomfortable.

She quickly succumbed to darkness, but her body grew heavier and more fatigued, as if she were in a desert, both hot and thirsty.