Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

"Liz, where have you been all this time? Everything alright?" Hogan asked with a gentle voice.

"Wow, look how much Daisy has grown already!"

Hamilton didn't hold back either. He stared in amazement at Lizzy's belly, then squatted down slightly, waving at her stomach with a smile that was both soft and charming.

"Hey there, Daisy, I'm Uncle Hamilton. Oh, and I brought you a gift."

Hamilton turned around, picking up a giant white teddy bear from his seat and handing it to Lizzy.

Lizzy smiled, accepting it. "Thanks, Hamilton."

She then turned to Hogan. "Brother, have you not been abroad?"

Hogan had previously applied to study in Astoria with Lizzy, even quitting his job at the hospital for it.

But his initial application to study abroad was to be with Lizzy.

When Lizzy couldn't make it, Hogan delayed his plans as well, during the time Lizzy had disappeared.

Hogan had asked Yolanda twice about Lizzy's whereabouts, with Yolanda only saying Lizzy had gone abroad.

Hogan had even spent some time in Astoria, asking Master Dories about Lizzy, hoping to bump into her on the streets of Astoria.

But, failing to find her and after encountering someone from Remington in Astoria, he realized Lizzy wouldn't dare seek out Master Dories if she was running away, so Hogan returned home.

"My mom has been unwell lately, I wanted to spend more time with her. I've rejoined Skyline Hospital," Hogan mentioned briefly before swiftly changing the subject with a gentle smile.

"Liz, I specially ordered a cake for you, less sugar. Come, give it a try."

Yolanda watched the two men vying for attention, one adorably puppy-like, the other a refined gentleman.

Both seemed far superior to the notorious Remington, making for a very pleasing scene to her eyes.

Yolanda chuckled, stepping aside to snap a photo of the trio, sitting down to immediately share it on Facebook.

"Leaving the wrong ones to meet the right ones, picture.jpg"

She blurred the photo, showing only the figures of three people. Their faces weren't clear, but the atmosphere was fully captured.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

Cassius Sterling was the first to see

this

Facebook. He was

a fantasy drama set

leosto

lead in

wrapping up filming after

Having wrapped up filming today, he had invited Yolanda to the wrap party, but Yolanda had ditched him to pick up Lizzy.

Seeing the post, Cassius immediately took a screenshot and sent it to Remington.

"Remi, Lakeside Cafe, that's all I can do for you, buddy."

He imagined Remington rushing over to whisk Lizzy away, thereby breaking up the gathering at Yolanda's end.

After sending the WhatsApp message, Cassius commented on Yolanda's Facebook post.

"Delete this, unless you're not fond of living, huh?"

"Let's have a drink, thanks for bringing me into the role, Cassius. Wanna add me on WhatsApp?"

Cassius was scrolling through his phone when a sugary voice suddenly spoke up next to him.

It was Caroline, holding a drink and leaning in close.

She was wearing a black bodycon dress, her voluptuous curves visible from Cassius's angle.

Cassius coolly withdrew his gaze, pushing away the phone that was presenting a QR code. "The show's over, no need for that."

With a strong background and control over big screen resources, Caroline had been trying to seduce Cassius ever since she joined the cast.

To her frustration, Cassius showed

no interest in her, the so-called goddess of the entertainment world, even avoiding intimate scenes with her preferring to mingle with a relatively unknown actress instead.

Caroline took it as an insult, feeling indignant.

When her phone was pushed away, she didn't get angry but instead leaned in closer, smiling.

"I saw what happened that night,"

she said, her voice laden with

insinuation, her breath tickling Cassius as he tilted his head glancing sideways at Caroline.