Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Lizetta stepped forward, reaching out to hold Remington's hand. But the man quickly withdrew his hand, leaving Lizetta momentarily stunned, her fingertips curling back.

She couldn't decipher his thoughts or what his instinctive reaction meant, but it left a void in her heart, like grasping at thin air.

Remington seemed to realize his overreaction. He turned to Lizetta, his gaze deep, "Could you wait outside for me, please?"

He probably thought her presence would only escalate Barbara's emotions further. Lizetta nodded, not saying a word, and turned to leave.

As she was closing the hospital room door, she saw Remington pulling out a tissue and leaning down to whisper comforting words to Barbara. Eileen was there too, standing on the other side of Barbara's bed, both of them like a devoted couple circling their parents in their hour of need. Lizetta hesitated for a moment before closing the door and turning around, only to find herself face-to-face with Martin.

"Mr. West," Lizetta greeted him respectfully with a nod.

Martin's hair was peppered with gray, perhaps weary from life's burdens, with deep furrows between his brows.

around the same age, but he carried

to Lizetta's greeting, his eyes instead fixating on her right hand and saying, "The Dashiell family and the West family had a marriage arrangement long ago. Picking up something that shouldn't be yours

its diamond sparkling brilliantly, a symbol of

Lizetta didn't retract her hand or attempt to hide it;

my finger. I'm truly sorry about Stella's situation, but Mr. West, being the elder, you surely understand that we must

she was Remington's wife. Bringing

making way for him, and headed

her go, murmuring, "Young people should be careful not to speak

instead. When she emerged from the restroom, washing her hands at the

"Mrs. Dashiell, you okay?"

her head, "I'm

sense into Barbara himself. Barbara really listens to Mr. West, and he seems