Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Chapter 16

“So you’re up to speed on Joseph’s condition, right? I know you overheard me talking with Wilma that night.”

Lizetta nodded, about to offer Hanna a few comforting words, when she continued, “You and Remington better get cracking on making a baby.”

Lizetta choked. Clearly, her mother–in–law had taken the reins and decided for her. Whether or not to have a kid was never really her call to make.

Thank goodness she’d had enough of this life!

“There’s no way Remington and I can have a child. I just asked the doctor, and he said with Joseph’s

condition…”

Joseph’s illness wasn’t at the point where a bone marrow transplant was necessary, and even if it was an emergency, there wouldn’t be time to pop out a kid. Plus, the odds of Lizetta’s baby being a match were slim.

With medicine advancing at lightning speed, leukemia wasn’t a death sentence anymore, especially for a well–connected family like the Dashiells.

Hanna was obviously freaking out, barking up the wrong tree. If having a baby was the only way to save Joseph, with the bond between Lizetta and Joseph, she’d be willing to make that sacrifice without Hanna pulling all the strings.

“Shut your trap! You have to have this child!” Hanna cut her off.

Lizetta frown, she softened her tone.

I’ll throw in 10 million if you deliver, 30 million if it’s a match, and we can negotiate a separate price for each transfusion.

high and mighty, stirring her coffee, as if

carrot.

just a bargaining chip, devoid of emotion, to be demanded and dispensed with, just like

the moment Jolin

Hanna’s contemptuous sneer.

of bloodsuckers! How could Remington

upset. It’s just 2 thousand; think of it as tossing a coin to a beggar.”

bitter memories made Lizetta

in the middle of a divorce, so no more babies. You’re 52, not menopausal yet, right? If you really think you

her purse and left, leaving Hanna sitting there, dumbstruck, unable to believe what she’d just

over from

Lizetta

their time on her; even a dog knows to be loyal to its master!

even more resolve. She headed back to the hospital, pushed open the door to Joseph’s room, and was greeted with laughter and

were both there.