Chapter183


    Lizettajuststeppedoutoftherestroom,didn’theadbacktotheprivateroom,andInsteadtookabreatherbythedesertedrockeryinthe courtyard,


    Shelookeduptofindthecity’sstarryskysmotheredbyafoggyhazeoflights,notasinglestarinsightafteragoodlongsearch.


    Totallyboredoutofherskull,shethenheardavoicefrombehindinterruptinghersolitude.


    “Lizetta?Whatareyoudoinghere?”


    SheturnedaroundtofindEvelinaandHannaarminarm,standingacoupleofstepsawayliketheywereasthickasthieves.


    Lizetta’sbrowsfurrowedjustatad.ShehadonlysteppedoutforsomefreshairbecausesheheardEvelinaandrawereheadinghome fordinner.


    Hadsheknownshe’dbumpintothemeverywhere,shewould’veshotHamiltonamessageandbailedearly.


    ShegaveHannaapolitenod,“Iwasheregrabbingabitewithfriends;we’rejustabouttoheadout.”


    Shestartedtowalkoff,butHanna’svoicestoppedhercold,“Haltrightthere!”


    Theywereblockingherpath,soLizettahadnochoicebuttostopandfaceHanna,“Somethingelse?”


    Hannafrned,“Don’tyouknowanymanners?Can’tevengreetyoureldersproperly?”


    Lizettafounditquitughable.WithRemingtonandEvelinatalkingmarriage,didHannastillexpecthertoythedoormatbridelikein theolddays?


    “Sorry,buthowshouldIaddressyounow?”


    “What’swiththatattitude!”Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Hannawasfuming,handraised topLizetta,whocaughtHanna’swristmid air,


    “Yourattitudetowardsmedictatesmyattitudetowardsyou.Isthatsohardtograsp?”


    Hanna’sfacewasathundercloud;Evelinasteppedinto pullherback.


    “Mrs.Dashiell,pleasecalmdown.Sis,Mrs.Dashiell’sbeenworryingoverJoseph’s healthandisn’tfeelinggreatherself.Couldyoumaybenotrileheruponpurpose?Afterall,sheisourelder.Iknowyou’reupsetseeingmewithher,butifyouhaveanyissues,takeitoutonme.”


    Hannapulledherhandback,pattingEvelina’s.


    “Eve’sthesweethearthere,alwaysunderstandingandconsiderate,thematchforRemington,theonequalifiedtobeMrs.Dashiell.”


    ThelooksheshotLizettawasfullofdisdain.Evelina’scheeksblushedbutsheshotLizettasmuglookonthesly.


    Lizettawatchedcoollyandletoutugh,“Soallthatbrown–nosingonlygother‘theonequalified“?Fromthewayyoutwoaregettingonlikeahouseonfire,Ithoughtforsureandacedit.”


    Evelina’sexpressionstiffened,whileHannasneered.


    “I’mjustkeepingEvehumble.There’splentyofroomforhertogrow,andonceshe’spartofthefamily,I’llteachherstepbystep.Atleast she’snotalostcauselikeyou,afterallthatteachingandstillinthenegatives!”


    Lizettacouldn’tbebotheredtoargue,andshenodded,“Sure,canIgonow?


    Shehadanairofnonchnceasifshecouldn’tcareless.HannaandEvelinawereevenmoreirked,Hannawithafurrowedbrow.


    “RemingtonandEvearegettingengaged, andhe’salreadypoured30millionintotheHawthorneGroupasabetrothalgift.I’mheretonighttomeetwithEve’sparentstodiscussthe engagement,andIdon’tcarewhyyou’rehere,butI’mwarningyou,don’tyoudaremaketrouble!”


    Hanna’stonesuggestedshesuspectedLizettaofstalkingthemtocauseascene.Lizettalookeddown,aself–deprecatingsmileonherlips,andwhenshelookedupagain,herfacewasbeamingwithabright,sunnysmile.


    “You’vegotitallwrong.Myfriendsarewaitingforme;youcancheckifyoudon’tbelieveme.I’vegotrestinwreckinganyone’smarriage, andIsincerelywishyoubothget everythingyoudesiretonight.”


    Withthatsaid,Lizettamovedtoleave,butEvelinasuddenlygrabbedher,asking,“Sis,doyoureallywishmeandRemingtonwell?”


    Lizetta wasbeyondannoyed,butwithoutamoment’shesitation,shesmiledandnodded,


    “Bestwishesaround!Hurryupandtietheknot;just don’tforgettosendmeaninvite.”


    Notthatshehadanyintentionofgoing.She’dhadherfillofbeingMrs.Dashiell.SinceEvelinawassokeenonit,shecouldmarryintothe DashiellfamilyforallLizettacared.ShewishedEvelinaluckinbingtheperfectdaughter–inwunderHanna’stutge.