Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

I never expected to get caught in a downpour, with both the signal and the mountain roads cut off, delaying my journey. What I least expected was for Stella to come down with a relentless fever halfway

through, nor did I anticipate Yolanda's accident at the wedding."

It was his arrogance, always believing he had everything under control, but he forgot that things didn't always go according to plan.

Lizetta slowly turned her head to look at him. Perhaps it was the dim lighting of the hospital corridor, but the man's handsome features seemed shadowed, almost pale.

But Lizetta realized she no longer felt sorry for him.

With a voice as calm as it could possibly be, she said, "Whatever issues you're wrestling with, whether you've let go of the past or not, I don't care anymore. Mr. Dashiell, please, show some self-respect." Remington's grip on Lizetta's arm loosened slightly. She took a deep breath, about to pull her arm away to leave, but then he suddenly pulled her in closer, holding her tight.

His familiar scent overwhelmed her. But all Lizetta felt was revulsion as she pushed against him.

"Remington, what exactly are you trying to do!"

in your

in

everything laid bare, Lizetta

Loved you so much that I demeaned myself, but now I've woken up. I don't want to love you anymore! I'm begging you, let me go!" Lizetta managed to lift her

admit that she'd always loved him felt like a painful strike to his heart, cruelly torn apart. His eyes bloodshot, he held her even

I've been so foolish; Liz, you can't do this! You can't just let me know about your love

so. I refuse to

raising in his icy gaze. His demand was fierce; he commanded her

suddenly stiffened; then in a burst of anger,

as if he couldn't understand what he'd said that made

a bitter laugh,

of disappointment reaching its peak, a qualitative change brought on by quantitative accumulation. Believe

bed, you didn't believe me! When I said I liked you, you didn't believe it either. The year we got married, I gathered the courage to say I liked you again, and you still didn't believe

handwriting, and you said you believed me, said you'd get to the bottom of it. Clearly, you never did. If you had, you would've found out the