Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Clearly, Yolanda had indeed been whisked away by Cassius.

Lizetta nodded, "I saw it."

She needed to see Yolanda's condition with her own eyes to fully ease her mind.

Remington signaled, and the manager quickly scrolled back through the security footage.

Sure enough, about ten minutes later, Cassius emerged from the private room with two assistants in tow, a petite figure wrapped in his trench coat.

But Yolanda seemed drunk, leaning heavily on Cassius, her steps unsteady as if she was being propped up by him.

After a few steps, she began to slip, and Cassius bent down to scoop Yolanda into his arms, striding away briskly.

They obviously didn't take the main hall exit, which is why Lizetta hadn't seen them.

Lizetta turned to the manager, "There's another door?"

The manager nodded, "Yes, there's a back exit, and a parking lot out there too."

Leaving the security room, Lizetta, thinking about Yolanda's condition in the footage, said to Remington, "Do you know where Cassius might've taken Yoli? This isn't right; I need to find her."

Remington sighed, "Liz, maybe the lovebirds don't want to be disturbed. You haven't eaten yet, and Vivi is waiting for us. Let's just go have some barbecue."

He took Lizetta's hand, leading her towards the main hall.

Lizetta yanked her hand back, "What lovebirds? Yoli broke up with Cassius!" Could Cassius have drugged Yolanda?noveldrama

The more Lizetta thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Yolanda could hold her liquor; how had she become so weak after just a short while?

And recalling the sound of something heavy dropping when she had called Cassius, Lizetta grew even more worried.

"Lovers have their ups and downs, it's not unusual. Cassius might not want to break up. Give Yolanda a few days, and they'll likely make up. You're overstepping; you'll end up being the bad guy."

Remington gently squeezed Lizetta's hand, "Come on, eating together is more important."

It had been a while since they had a meal alone.

Even if it was just a barbecue, Remington was looking forward to it.

He had been adjusting his palate lately, getting used to spicy food.

He was making progress and planned to use this meal to prove his efforts, to show her that he could change for her too.

It wasn't just Jerome who could share spicy meals with her.

Lizetta was dissatisfied with his words, "Just a few days? Is it in you guys' eyes that we women don't deserve to have our own wills? That it's not possible we're genuinely done?

As long as you men don't let go,

whether it's breaking up or divorce, it

doesn't matter, because we'll

eventually come back anyway?

Everything under control."

Remington's earlier sense of superiority and indifference had inexplicably struck a nerve with Lizetta.

Lizetta spoke, her expression cooling.

Remington paused, clearly not having expected his casual remarks to hit a sore spot with Lizetta.

He remembered how he hadn't taken her seriously when she first mentioned divorce, thinking she was just making a fuss.

For a long time after, he hadn't acknowledged her feelings, leading to a growing rift between them.

Remington's lips tightened, his grip on Lizetta's hand intensifying in an attempt to hold her closer.

The man suddenly went silent, his grip tightening painfully.

Was he angry, thinking she was being unreasonable again?

Lizetta

was why broken mirrors were hard to mend. Those cracks were always there, inadvertently touched upon.

the mought bitterly, perhaps this

For both of them, it was pain and torment.

She suddenly felt lost and hesitant, questioning whether her earlier agreement

had been too hasty.