<b>Chapter </b><b>225 </b>Shatered Illusion


    Chapter <b>225 </b>Shattered Illusions


    He clearly saw it too—Elsa’s smug, arrogant, venomous smile as she walked step by step toward the stairwell and then hurled herself down.


    The footage was crystal clear<b>. </b>Lily never even touched her. There was absolutely no way she had pushed Elsa down the stairs.


    Which meant Lily had been telling the truth. She really was innocent. And he once again–had misjudged her, failed to see right from wrong.


    As soon <b>as </b>he heard Elsa’s voice. Simon’s gaze also locked onto Lily’s phone screen.


    He wasn’t blind. He saw it all: Elsa walking deliberately toward thending and then flinging herself down.


    the stairs.


    His eyes widened in shock, his entire worldview shaken to its core.


    “How… how could this be?” he muttered, stunned.


    Still dazed, he turned to Elsa, confusion etched across his face. “Lizzy… your illness is so severe. Why would you not take care of yourself? Why would you throw yourself down the stairs on purpose just to <b>frame </b>Lily!”


    <i>“</i><i>I</i>…


    Elsa’s face turned ashen.


    She never imagined–even in her worst nightmares–that despite <b>tossing </b>Lily’s phone, Lily had still managed to capture the whole thing.


    Did she… have a micro–camera on her?


    That b<i>*</i>tch actually had a hidden camera on her….


    How could she be so sneaky?


    Elsa didn’t want to admit it. She couldn’t stand to admit <b>that </b>she had framed Lily.


    But the video was too damning. If she kept insisting Lily had pushed her, it would only backfire. John and Simon would end up even more disappointed in her.


    The cold–hearted rose had no choice but to lower her proud head and soften her tone.


    “I didn’t mean to… I was just really afraid that I wouldn’t be able to spend my final days with my mom… I didn’t hurt Lily. I only hurt myself. I threw myself down those stairs knowing full well it could hasten my death… I just hoped Lily would be kind enough to spare my mom…”


    “You didn’t mean to<b>?</b>”


    Lily actually let out augh, amused by how far Elsa was willing to stretch her lies.


    “Oh, so you didn’t mean to? I forced you to throw yourself down the <b>stairs </b>just to frame me? You didn’t


    T


    Chapter 225 Shattered Illusions


    hurt me? So what–when John nearly strangled me to death and almost tossed me off the railing just now, were you too blind to see it? Elsa, do you even believe your <b>own </b>crap?”


    Elsa nearly lost control of her expression.


    She hated Lily for being <b>so </b>aggressive and unrelenting.


    But this time. Lily had the upper <b>hand</b>. She had evidence. Elsa had no excuse. She couldn’t afford to argue. So she lowered her eyes, letting silent tears stream down her face<b>, </b>hoping John and Simon would feel sorry for her.


    Simon continued to stare at her with aplicated expression.


    He knew Elsa didn’t want Wendy to <b>go </b>to prison.


    He too hoped Elsa could get her wish, that her mother could be by her side during herst days.


    But he couldn’t understand what <b>she </b>had done.


    She’d thrown herself down the stairs to frame Lily. If everyone believed Lily <b>had </b>hurt her, Elsa could’ve used that leverage to make Wendy’s charges go away.


    But then, Simon <b>and </b>john would’ve hated Lily. They might’ve even <b>done </b>something to hurt <b>her</b>.


    And just now, John had nearly strangled Lily in a fit of rage, had forced her body halfway over the railing. She could’ve died right there.


    That scene had been terrifying.


    If John hadn’t controlled his strength or had identally let go, Lily’s head would’ve cracked open on the floor below.


    Simon’s confusion only deepened.


    His Lizzy… <b>how </b>had she turned into this?


    The sweet, bright Lizzy he’d once known–the one who sang to him, who used her optimism and strength to pull him through his darkest days–how had she be <b>this </b>person?


    The disillusionment was so strong it made him dizzy. He stumbled back a step and muttered, dazed<b>, </b>“Lizzy… if you didn’t want Wendy to go to prison, we could’ve found another way. You shouldn’t have hurt someone else to get what you


    want. You used to be so optimistic, so kind, so full of light. You weren’t <b>like </b>


    this ”


    Elsa’s expression twisted even further.


    So now he was saying she’d grown up wrong? That she wasn’t as pure or kind as she used to be?


    And that back then, the one who stayed by his side… the one who sang him through those dark days… was that b*tch Lily?


    So what, now he thought Elsa couldn’t hold a candle to a worthless tramp like Lily?


    Chapter 225 Shattered Illusions


    Elsa was so furious her teeth chattered.


    <b>But </b>she was too proud to lose herposure in front of everyone. She shut her eyes in pain, tears <b>falling </b>down her bloodied cheeks as she whispered, “I didn’t mean to… I just didn’t know what else to do, I <b>want </b>to live, Simon. I want to stay with you and John forever. I dream of just a few more days… If there had been any other way, I would never have done something so foolish to hurt myself. Please… don’t hate me.”


    Simon didn’t respond.


    Lizzy had always been the girl he cared about the most. He could never truly hate her.


    But then he looked at Lily again–at the fear still lingering on her face, the deep red marks around her


    throat.


    And he suddenly didn’t know how tofort Lizzy anymore.