Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Lizetta handed Remington's phone to the nurse at the desk, asking her to deliver it to Remington before turning to leave. The nurse, true to her word, immediately took the phone to him.

Barbara had been rushed into surgery, and Remington was pacing anxiously alongside Martin in the waiting area. Seeing the nurse with his phone, he had his brow furrowed in irritation as he took it and asked, "Who brought this?"

"She left it with me and then took off," the nurse replied.

Clutching the phone, Remington told Martin, "I'll be right back."

Without waiting for a response, he strode towards the elevator.

But by the time he got to the lobby, there was no sign of Lizetta. He quickly dialed her number.

After a few rings, she answered.

Remington, now in the elevator, asked in a deep, worried tone, "Where are you?"

Lizetta was on her way out of the hospital; her voice was calm as she replied, "I'm beat. Caught a cab home. I know you're busy; just carry on." Remington could detect the chill in her tone.

heart squeezed. He knew she must

moment of silence, his grip on the phone tightened, and he barely managed to say,

could figure out the right words to explain, Lizetta cut him off. "My ride's here. Gotta go.

hitched, "Alright, just text me when

she said before hanging

board any cab. She sat down on a

lied to Remington, because she hadn't even seen a

want to hear his explanations;

without hearing them, she knew what

making Barbara feel

wasn't Stella that he had played along with Barbara's demands, just

husband who would stand by her

how long she had been sitting on

changed as

that the DNA results for Evelina and Elara Hawthorne were

cab and

she off to in such