Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

"Speak up!"

Cassius, growing impatient with Yolanda's silence, furrowed his brow.

Yolanda forced a smile, hiding the bitter sting in her heart. "Mr. Sterling, as long as you're not turning your love into hate, I'm fine with it. I couldn't handle that."

Her breezy attitude made Cassius's expression darken instantly. He grabbed Yolanda's wrist, frustrated. He wanted to ask her how she could be so indifferent after their breakup, how she could move on so quickly and start dating others.

Just as he was about to speak, there was a knock at the door.

"Mr. Sterling, the doctor has arrived. We're coming in."

Yolanda quickly scrambled off Cassius, making way as the doctor entered, carrying a medical bag.

She stepped back to the side of the couch to give the doctor room.

The doctor approached. "Lie down, please. Let me examine you..."

He reached for his stethoscope, but Cassius stopped him. "No need for that. It's not my internal organs that are hurt."noveldrama

"Didn't you say it was a stomach issue?" The doctor looked puzzled.

Cassius glanced at Yolanda. "I'm about to be examined. Do you want to stay and watch?"

Yolanda didn't particularly mind; she'd seen it all before. If the doctor had been any later, she might have already started examining Cassius herself. But with the doctor present, the situation felt a bit awkward with three people in the room.

She hesitated for a moment before saying, "I'll wait outside."

With that, she and the maid left the bedroom.

Once the door was closed, the doctor looked even more confused. "So, what exactly is the problem?"

Cassius waved a hand dismissively. "There's no real issue. Just follow my lead when I give the signal."

The doctor's expression turned bemused, and as Cassius explained further, his face grew even more perplexed.

Outside, Yolanda and the maid

stood quietly. Feeling anxious, Yolanda sent the maid away and pressed her ear to the door, trying to catch any sound from inside. But whether it was the soundproofing or Cassius's pride keeping him silent, she heard nothing.

As she debated whether to sneak a peek by cracking the door, someone gently tapped her shoulder. A voice whispered near her ear, "Eavesdropping on state secrets, are we?"

Startled, Yolanda clutched her chest and turned to find Lizetta watching her with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Yolanda exhaled, "Shh."

"You didn't actually injure Cassius, did you? A broken bone? What happened that you had to call a doctor?"

Yolanda chuckled wryly. She almost wished it were something as straightforward as a broken bone. At least that could be fixed. In a pinch, she'd let Cassius break something of hers in return.

She pulled Lizetta to the end of the hallway and asked, "What's really going on?"

Lizetta, amused by Yolanda's

cluelessness, laughed. "You're

1

asking me? I was just your wingwoman at the speed date, and then you vanished, leaving me to entertain your date. I had to check the restaurant's CCTV to track you down, and when I finally did, I saw you hanging over a railing, then jumping off the third floor. It's a

miracle I didn't have a heart attack. You'd be visiting me in the morgue right now."

Yolanda was flabbergasted. "I jumped off the third floor?"