Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

The car was barreling down towards Stella's silhouette, getting closer and closer by the second.

Just when a collision seemed imminent, Lizetta clenched her eyes shut, gripping the steering wheel tightly as she floored the gas pedal.

After zooming past, Lizetta slammed on the brakes, opening her eyes to scan the rearview mirror.

But there was no bloodied figure of Stella behind or in front of the car.

The spot where Stella had been standing was now eerily empty, leaving Lizetta gasping for breath.

Her emotions were at a breaking point, unable to discern whether she had actually felt the impact or not.

Was it all just an illusion, and Stella had never been there?

Or had Stella been swept under the car?

As Lizetta sat there dazed and frantic, a figure in black emerged from the bushes to the side, helping up a slender silhouette.

It was unmistakably Stella.

Clearly, in the nick of time, this mysterious figure had leaped at Stella, rolling with her into the roadside bushes.

Stella's forehead was bleeding from where she must have hit something, but when she locked eyes with Lizetta, she pushed away the man in black who was assisting her, staggering out of the bushes. She raised her hand, flipping Lizetta off, then smirked.

Her eyes sparkled with disdain and mockery.

Her lips moved silently, mouthing two words.

"Loser!"

Lizetta's mouth tasted of metal, her eyes burning with hatred.

She shifted into reverse, aiming the car at Stella once more.

But then.

Bang!

A car suddenly darted out from the West family estate, crashing into Lizetta's rear, halting her vehicle just in front of Stella.

"Ah! Help! Murder!" Stella screamed, collapsing to the ground.

Physically weakened, Lizetta was dazed by the impact, her vision darkening.

Seeing the West family's bodyguards and servants rushing out, Lizetta realized her moment had passed.

A wave of defeat washed over her; she released the steering wheel, slumping back into her seat.

The West family's bodyguards banged on the car door, yelling menacingly.

Without resisting, Lizetta opened the door.

She was dragged out, her arms twisted behind her, and taken into the West family estate.

The bodyguards threw her roughly to the ground, where Lizetta lay numb, motionless.

Stella, clutching her bleeding

forehead, was also brought in. She

shrugged off the servants' hands,

squatted in front of Lizetta, and

grabbed her hair, pulling hard.

Forced to look up, Lizetta remained silent, her eyes seething with unresolved hatred.

Stella smirked coldly, leaning in close to Lizetta's ear.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"Thought you'd avenge your son? Too bad your eagerness for revenge made you blind and foolish! Did you really think I'd walk into your trap without any preparation, right at the doorstep of my family's estate?"

By the time Lizetta came for her, how could she not have anticipated Lizetta's hateful arrival?

Did Lizetta think she'd simply be an easy target?

It was all a ploy to lure her in.

"Was it you?!" Lizetta glared at Stella, her gaze ablaze.

Stella's lips curled up, her usually frail and pitiful face devoid of any pretended kindness, only malice remained.

She whispered into Lizetta's ear with a laugh.

"So what if it was?"

unlea Stiffened, fury boiling over,

unleashing all her strength to break free

from the guards, clutching Stella's throat tightly.

Stella, clearly taken aback by Lizetta's resistance, struggled in vain as they both fell to the ground together.