Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

"Would you mind taking off your gloves to show my wife?" Remington asked gently, his voice filled with a subtle curiosity. "I don't mind at all. I was just worried about startling Mrs. Dashiell," came the calm reply.

Lizetta was somewhat puzzled by their exchange, but Eileen set down her glass of water and slowly removed her gloves. Despite preparing herself for something unusual, Lizetta couldn't help but flinch and pale slightly at the sight of Eileen's hands.

Eileen's right hand was missing a thumb, cleanly it had been severed at the base.

The scar was smooth, healed over time, but the sight was still jarringly discomforting.

Lizetta, managing to suppress her shock, politely averted her gaze and spoke with a strained voice, "I'm sorry."

"It's okay, really. It's been many years. I've gotten used to it."

trembling hand in his own, before saying to Eileen, "I'd like a moment alone with my wife, if

the living room, carrying Dorothy upstairs

shock, turned to Remington.

had her suspicions but hoped the reality wasn't

her. I thought she was Stella." Remington's voice was hoarse with

beat; it seemed

okay. I won't ask further,"

share his past with her, a past that included Stella; it was a taboo subject that he had

day, the kidnappers were actually after me. But Stella, always the adventurous one, had cut her hair short to match mine. I had gotten hot and took off my jacket and hat, and she picked them up to wear, which led to her being taken by

down. "The ransom drop went wrong; the cops showed up, and the kidnappers, furious and panicked, took us both and ran. We were beaten, starved, tormented for weeks. One

managed to escape, we chewed through our bindings while the remaining kidnapper was out. We never expected him to return