Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Lizetta nestled against his chest, feeling the steady and strong beat of his heart, her body rigid.

He could sense her silent resistance. A shadow of melancholy crossed his eyes as he leaned down to kiss her slightly damp hair, asking softly, "What did you dream about?"

Lizetta didn't want to share, deflecting instead, "When did you get back? Did you sort everything out?"

The grip Remington had around Lizetta's waist tightened slightly, his gaze turning darker. Her frightened expression and reaction in her sleep were both heart-wrenching and familiar to him. As a child, she often had nightmares.

Wakened by him, she'd snuggle into his embrace and without waiting for him to ask, she'd start chattering nonstop.

She used to say talking about nightmares made her less afraid, piling up little bits of wisdom that were just excuses to linger in his arms a bit longer.

But now, her reactions were the complete opposite. She was drifting further away from him.

her, "You won't have to deal with Edith again. As for my mother, with bodyguards on her, she won't be

felt a stir of emotion at

expected Remington to go as far as to

Mrs. Dashiell. Accustomed to luxury and pride, being monitored by bodyguards day and night would be as suffocating and humiliating as prison for Hanna. Lizetta truly hadn't anticipated Remington would

He was probably doing all this for his own flesh and blood. It was his duty,

mentioned Edith and Hanna

"What about Evelina?"

was Stella's brother. He could be strict with Hanna but was he still shielding Evelina to

breath slightly, her hand moving under her shirt

was safe this

provocations relied on the West family lineage in