Shattered Illusions Love Lies and Redemption (Lizetta and Remington) novel Chapter 977

Cassius watched Stella with a troubled expression. Ever since she’d come back, he’d always felt there was something different about her—she wasn’t quite the same girl she’d been as a child.

But now, seeing Stella act as if she were the bigger person even though she was clearly at fault, pretending to be magnanimous and unjustly wronged, he found himself genuinely stunned by her audacity.

Did Stella really think everyone around her was a fool?

Remington, on the other hand, hadn’t changed his expression in the slightest. From start to finish, Stella’s performance didn’t surprise him one bit.

But Margaret—she was furious, practically shaking with anger at Stella’s little display.

She grabbed Stella’s arm, her jaw clenched tight. “What do you mean you’re apologizing on my behalf? I can apologize for myself! You were the mastermind—you're the one who used me! Don't you dare act like you’re blameless, as if you’re just taking the fall for me.”

Margaret felt like a complete joke for ever thinking Stella was meek or easy to push around. She’d actually pitied Stella, believing she’d been taken advantage of by Lizetta.

But now? Stella was nowhere near as innocent as she’d seemed. The way Stella had manipulated her—without her ever realizing—proved she was anything but helpless. There was no way Lizetta could have bullied Stella without Stella fighting back.

For all Margaret knew, maybe Stella had even orchestrated the tragedy with Lizetta’s child. What a poisonous woman.

“What do you mean, mastermind? Margaret, I only just found out you were the one spreading the videos and rumors—”

“Oh, really?” Margaret cut her off with a sneer. “You had absolutely no idea?”

“Of course,” Stella replied, not a hint of hesitation or guilt in her voice.

Margaret nodded slowly. “Alright, Stella. I hope you remember exactly what you’ve just said.”

A cold jolt of panic shot through Stella as Margaret spoke.

Margaret pulled out her phone, scrolled quickly, and tapped a video before setting it down on the table for everyone to see.

On the screen, Stella sat on the edge of Margaret’s sofa, the two of them sharing coffee and cake in the soft afternoon light.

Stella gave a little sigh. “If only it were that simple…”

“But if Chairman Dashiell’s on your side, what are you worried about?”

“It doesn’t matter if Mr. Dashiell agrees—if Remington doesn’t, it’s useless. Remington just has too much of a sense of duty; he can’t let go of Lizetta. If only there were a way to force his hand…”

The video ended with Stella’s forlorn sigh.

Margaret’s eyes bored into Stella. “I have plenty more where that came from, Ms. West. Should I play them all for Mr. Dashiell and Mr. Sterling?”

When Stella had been goading Margaret, she’d always chosen to do it in Margaret’s room, worried the staff might overhear.

What she’d never expected was that Margaret had installed a hidden camera in her own bedroom, recording every conversation in both sight and sound.

As Margaret bent down to grab her phone and play another clip, Stella lunged forward, snatching the phone from her hands and hurling it across the room in a panic.