Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

"It's not like that!" Lizetta pressed herself closer into Remington's embrace; her small face nuzzled against his chest as she continued. "I'm a selfish person, Rem. All I want is for you to always take care of yourself! And isn't that what everyone should do anyway? How could that be wrong?

I also believe that if Stella had a better shot at escaping that day, you would've given her that chance without a second thought, right?"

Lizetta sniffed, while tightening her arms around Remington's waist.

"I don't care about anything else; if you hadn't escaped back then, I wouldn't have you with me now! And that's just not acceptable!" Listening to Lizetta's somewhat childish reasoning, Remington felt a deep stir within him.

When he was found and brought back, the West family, of course, said nothing.

Even if they didn't blame him out loud, they did in their hearts.

Even his father, Nathan, felt guilty towards the West family, probably thinking he, as a boy, should not have left Stella behind.

for his mother, Hanna, who loved Stella as if she were her own daughter, probably wished

position, couldn't voice such selfish thoughts

was the first time someone told him

have saved

softly, his chin gently brushing the top of Lizetta's soft

the thought of that dreadful situation still weighed

with a severed thumb, Stella not receiving

searching with no sign of

wonder Barbara

her right thumb and had lost her memory. Her appearance and age were so similar to Stella's. She was the closest I've ever come to finding Stella; I was so hopeful,

but got into a car accident from driving while exhausted. He held on just long enough in the hospital to hear the DNA results, but I had found the

mom to carry this regret to her grave, so he asked me to bring Eileen

the burdens that weighed