Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

"Grandpa, Jerome, why are you both looking at me like that? If you don't agree, I'll just use my own allowance to sponsor Mrs. Johnson's trip abroad." Andrea was being stared at, but she maintained an innocent and cheerful demeanor.

It seemed she was completely oblivious to the fact that her words were a form of belittlement and insult to Liz, something that could hurt someone's pride.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense, but Liz laughed, breaking the awkward silence. "Mrs. Madden is really too kind-hearted, a veritable fairy godmother eager to shower me with money. But I really don't need this kind of help. Oh, and please take this credit card back too."

Saying this, Liz pulled out a credit card and handed it to Andrea in front of everyone.

Andrea's eyes flickered, surprised that Liz would bring this up publicly. She thought Liz would keep the embarrassing incident of being given a credit card to herself and just swallow the humiliation. Nelson frowned at the card, "Liz, what's this about?"

Liz just smiled calmly, "Oh, nothing much. Just that Mrs. Madden mentioned the card had fifty thousand dollars..."

Andrea, worried Liz might say more things not in her favor, suddenly interrupted, "Grandpa, I was in such a hurry when I left this morning, I didn't even have time to buy some gifts to bring over. I'm really thankful for Mrs. Johnson's help at the bar the other day, and I wanted to show my gratitude with the money on this card. Mrs. Johnson had accepted my gesture, but you all made such a fuss, and now she feels embarrassed to keep it and wants to give it back to me!"

Andrea was blatantly lying. Liz hadn't accepted the card at all; she

had thrown it back at Andrea, and

it

had fallen to the ground. Andreae

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didn't bend down to pick it up, especially since she heard Mrs. Bernice Madden had an accident and ran out.

Liz couldn't just leave the card on the ground, in case someone else picked it up so she had to pick it up herself before leaving. But now, Andrea was insisting that she had accepted the card. To say she had accepted it and then pulled it out now was implying that Liz had a different set of principles in public and in private.

Andrea was betting on the fact that there hadn't been a third person in the room earlier, and now that the card was being pulled out by Liz, Liz had no way to clarify.

Liz's smile faded, and she twirled the

card between her fingers. "Mrs. Madden must be suffering from amnesia. gave the card back to you, and you didn't take it; it fell to the ground. Besides, you said these fifty thousand dollars were for hiring a caregiver, so I wouldn't bother Grandpa Nelson and Grandma Bernice anymore. I understand your intention, but hiring a caregiver really doesn't require that much money."

Whether people believed her or not, Liz had to make things clear in person.

Andrea frowned, looking wronged. "Mrs. Johnson, you clearly accepted it just now. I didn't mention hiring a caregiver. Otherwise, why would grandma come to see you? If I thought that, I wouldn't have come with grandma this morning..."

Andrea insisted Liz had accepted the card, believing that between her and Liz, Grandpa and Jerome would trust her more.

However, Nelson's expression grew darker, and he glared at Andrea. "Who taught you to throw money at people? Take back the card and apologize right now!"

Andrea had grown up under Nelson's watchful eye, and he knew her character well. He had always been indulgent, considering her loss of her mother at a young age, overlooking her minor faults with a blind eye.