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."

saying to Eileen, "I'd like a

nodded understandingly and walked into the living room,

turned

the reality wasn't as

that led me to her. I thought she was Stella." Remington's voice was

it seemed disbelief slowed her

not talk about it, that's okay. I

past with her, a past that included Stella; it was

had gotten hot and took off my jacket and hat, and she picked them up to wear, which led to her being taken by mistake. When the kidnappers

of the memories pressing 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 kidnapper died in an accident, which gave

through our bindings while the remaining kidnapper was out. We never expected him to return