Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Liz's eyelashes fluttered as she thought about all the moments with Remington these past days.

His gentleness and care, his respect, and the cautious ways he tried to get close.

And then, there was his vulnerability, his sadness, and the way he clung to strength...

She remembered the words of Timothy and Cedric, the way they held each other in the graveyard the night before, licking each other's wounds, and the ray of golden sunlight that shone on his pale face this morning, bringing life and hope to his eyes. Liz found herself choked up, finally compromising with herself.

Deep down, she'd already softened towards him, no longer blaming him, not knowing when her defenses had started to crumble bit by bit.

But she turned to him, "Cedric said, that night you went to the outskirts because Stella West said she'd go abroad if you went, is that true?" Remington hadn't expected Liz to suddenly ask this.

He paused, a flicker of panic in his eyes, "Why would Cedric tell you that?"

That night had become a taboo.

Remington knew, to mention it was to relive the pain for Liz, and a regret for him.

"Is it true?"

Liz still fixed her gaze on Remington.

He nodded, "Yeah, at that time, I had already left Evelina under the care of bodyguards, knowing you were uneasy and didn't want to go.

Stella was crying, saying she'd never faced such a situation, was too scared, and with Martin West bedridden, she said she'd feel at peace going abroad if Quinn's baby was born safely, so I agreed."

Remington took Liz's cool hands in his, "I never expected what happened that night. It was still more than two months before your due date, and I thought I could settle things and send Stella abroad, to take good care of you and Daisy..." But things went awry.

In, Stella's insistence that

night,

go

willingness to prot Just to get him to t e

was a diversion.

Unfortunately, the West family seemed well-prepared for this, leaving no concrete evidence behind.

Liz took Remington's hand in return, "Why didn't you tell me then?"

Remington's thin lips curled into a self-deprecating smile.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

"What difference would it have made if I told you? I didn't want to make excuses for myself." Regardless, Daisy was gone. He wasn't there when she needed him most.

That was an unchangeable fact.

Even if he had a million reasons, none could change what happened or lessen the hurt.

And under those circumstances, even if he had told her, she would have thought he was just making excuses.

"But Stella didn't go abroad afterward, her leaving fell through," Liz stared at Remington, her gaze probing.

Remington's eyes narrowed slightly

and he he suddenly pulled Liz

making her unintentionally

senet

ddenly pulled t

around and fall into his lap

"You're not thinking I still have feelings for her, sparing her for old times' sake?"

it?

Liz raised an eyebrow slightly, "Isn't you two were childhood

Su After all, hard to break old ties."

Liz's tone was light, her words airy.

Remington couldn't tell if she was purposely saying this to provoke him or if she genuinely thought so.

He felt a mix of urgency and annoyance, tightening his arms around Liz's waist.

"Is that really what you think of me?"