Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Chapter 42

Evelina clambered off the couch, green with envy, and took a few swings at it with her clanched fists.

Lizetta had rolled up in Yolanda’s second–hand Chevy, and when Remington dashed out of the villa, all he caught was the tall lights cutting a swath through the yard as the car sped off.

He was sweating buckets from the fever, and a shiver ran through him as the cold wind hit.

“Boss! What the heck’s going on? Let me help you inside.”

Cedric came running over; his car was parked in the shadows outside the villa. Seeing Lizetta arrive, he was put at ease.

He set an alarm to remind him in an hour – if Lizetta was still there by then, he could call it a night with mission accomplished.

But who would’ve thought, just by snoozing a bit, it seemed like he missed the main event? Seeing the boss, in pajamas, one slipper missing and a thunderous look on his face, Cedric was shook.

He’d been with Remington for eight years and had never seen him in such a sorry state. Cedric used to think that if the sky fell, Mr. Dashiell would hold it up with his mouth, never losing his cool.

Remington’s eyes were icy as he glared at Cedric, “How did Evelina get here?”

could finish, he was sliced by Remington’s glare. A

shrugged off Cedric’s helping hand and turned to go inside, slipping on his missing shoe with a poker face a few steps away, his silhouette stern as he

her out of

enter without Lizetta behind him, Evelina breathed a sigh of relief, her voice laced with concern.

to her? Do

icy stare, and she felt a knot in her stomach. Remington’s

He cut Evelina off sharply; this mess was only getting messier.

throbbing temples, he asked, “Who let you in, and how did you get

got hurt because of me. I was worried and wanted to check on you. The door was open when I got here. I’m sorry, Remington. I

marks on her arms and under her clothes – a shocking array of blues

hands trembling as she searched for

Remington didn’t want any trouble for the kid she was carrying, so he softened his voice and said firmly, “Don’t bother! And the injury on

even paler, wounded as she looked at Remington, who detachedly averted his gaze and ordered, “Cedric, help Ms. Hawthorne downstairs to wait for the ambulance; don’t let anything happen

dragged her off the couch and out. Remington picked up his phone and headed to the study. When he called Lizetta, she had already driven two streets away, not wanting to pick

“Remington, when the hell are you going to sign the divorce papers? I can’t wait another day! This clingy, dragging–it–out act isn’t like you. If it weren’t for Evelina jumping around in front of me all the time,

weren’t for the sound like knuckles cracking, Lizetta would’ve thought