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.

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

such a position, couldn't voice such selfish

was the first

should have

I get it," Remington said softly, his chin gently brushing the top of Lizetta's soft

eyes were rimmed with red. Despite her words, the thought

a severed thumb, Stella not receiving timely

these years of searching with no sign of her, the

Barbara

had lost her memory. Her appearance and age were so similar to Stella's. She was the closest I've ever

enough in the hospital to hear the DNA results, but I had found the wrong person, and just like that, another life from the West family

to bring Eileen back. If Barbara couldn't hold on,

burdens that weighed