Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

However, just as Lizetta began to move, Remington suddenly quickened his pace. The man took the stairs two at a time, quickly disappearing from sight. Downstairs, Sophia and two clerks were chatting by the stairwell, waiting. When they saw Remington coming down, Sophia immediately approached him.

"Did everything meet your expectations, Mr. Dashiell? Would you like Mrs. Dashiell to try on a couple more dresses?"

Remington, on his phone, responded with a deep voice, "I'll be right out; take him to the hospital. I'll ask in person."

He seemed to brush past Sophia without hearing her, striding briskly out of the bridal shop.

A Maybach was parked outside, Ray got out to open the rear door for Remington, who bent down to get into the car, and Ray walked around to the other side and got in.

Remington immediately asked in a stern voice, "Is the news reliable? Have you checked its authenticity?"

A message had just come from the border. A villager claimed that sixteen years ago, he had seen a girl with a severed finger, burning with fever, abandoned in the mountains near their village. Based on the timing and location, it all matched up with when Stella had disappeared. It was very likely that the girl was Stella.

brought back to Zion City by their men, and naturally, Remington intended

beating around the bush, insisting on seeing you before spilling the beans. But it doesn't sound

the search for Stella. But he prayed this time it was true, to bring Stella back as soon as possible. Sixteen years had passed; failing to bring her back intact, seeing her parents in such agony, he felt overwhelmingly guilty, unworthy of happiness, let alone the right to pursue

possibly enduring inhumane torture somewhere, he found it hard to rest, unable to

window, his eyes piercing through the void towards the bridal

a little longer, Liz. Once I find Stella, I'll tell everyone at our wedding

perhaps you'd like to try a different style? What do

to reality and smiled at her, "All the dresses here are

"Looking for Mr. Dashiell?

like this. Her

you help me take my measurements, Sophia? Once

had lost the interest to try on