Lizetta stared nkly as Evelina’s lips moved, her mind sluggishi


    shes of the past danced before her eyes indeed, nothing good in this worlde without a reason


    She still remembered that snowy night when she was carried into the Dashiell mansion by the young


    Remington. He had taken care of her, cleaning her wounds with a gentle voice, soothing her fears, and


    even offering her a sweet piece of candy


    She thought she was lucky enough to catch his eye, to be favored by him


    But she had forgotten, Remington was never a man of overflowing sympathy.


    Even then, his personality was aloof and cold, difficult to approach.


    He was also a neat freak – her, covered in grime and blood, he would never lower himself to care for


    without a good reason.


    And that reason turned out to be so cruel!


    Lizetta closed her eyes briefly, hiding the bitterness and pain in her gaze.


    She didn’t want to give Evelina any more reasons tough at her.


    “Are you done?” Lizetta opened her eyes, her expression now forcibly calm.


    Evelina’s lips curved up mockingly. “Of course not, such a hrious story could keep meughing for a


    year. How does it feel to be a


    stand–in, Lizetta?”


    Mockery and malice were written all over Evelina’s face, but Lizetta managed a cold smile.


    “If you’re asking about the taste of being a stand–in, shouldn’t you know better Evelina? Haven’t you


    been trying to rece me ever since you came back to the Hawthorne family?”


    Evelina’s expression froze, then twisted as if struck


    “What are you talking about? I’m the real deal, the legitimate daughter. Why would I need to rece


    you, an impostor?”


    “But you’ve always lived in my shadow, haven’t you? Otherwise, why stick to me like a bad penny?”


    Lizetta hit the nail on the head.


    Indeed, since returning to the Hawthorne family. Evelina had always tried to outshine Lizetta, to make


    her parents see her as better, more aplished.


    She was the legitimate daughter, she should be better than Lizetta!


    Yet, contrary to her wishes, Evelina had always been overshadowed by Lizetta


    Evelina excelled in music, unlike Lizetta’s natural talent for various instruments


    Her dance moves were clumsy at best


    At school, no matter how hard she tried, her grades were just average, while Lizetta was a prodigy,


    skipping grades and getting into college at fifteen.


    Evelina had finally made a name for herself in social circles as Miss Hawthorne, only for Lizetta to


    be Mrs. Dashiell in one fell


    swoop


    “So, what if everyone says the legitimate daughter can’tpare to an impostor like you? You’re still


    about to be discarded by Remington, kicked out of the Dashiell family. Then we’ll see if you can still act


    so high and mighty!”


    Evelina red at Lizetta, sneening.


    Lizetta didn’t want to argue further. She asked, “What’s the deal with that woman and the West family?”


    She remembered Remington acting secretive around Quentin’s death and Fiona mentioning


    Remington’s grudge against the West family


    It wasn’t hard to guess that woman must be connected to the West family somehow


    “Guessing the West family, huh? Maybe you’re not as dumb as I thought,” Evelina mocked, ready to


    watch Lizetta crumble.


    “Remington’s Starlight Group and the West’s Star Group both share a star in their names.


    Coincidence?”


    Lizetta’s hand tightened at her side.


    The Starlight Group was Remington’s creation, a spin–off from the Dashiell empire, named by him.


    She had always thought the name suggested the group would shine like stars.


    But it turned out, the name held a deeper meaning.


    09:32


    is Ste, Quentin’s younger sister, just a year his junior”N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    “Quentin wasn’t an only child?”