Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Remington's shoulder had taken a hit from a billboard's steel frame, leaving a nasty wound. After the doctor patched him up and left a tube of ointment for the bruising on his back, he hurried out, leaving Liz and Remington alone in the room.

"Mrs. Dashiell, just apply this to Mr. Dashiell's bruise, rub it in well, and it should do the trick. I've got other patients to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."

Before Liz could utter a word, the doctor was gone, and the door clicked shut behind him.

Remington glanced at Liz, who, without any fuss, grabbed the ointment and approached him. She stood behind him, unscrewing the cap of the tube and began applying the ointment to his back.

His back was a canvas of swelling reds and purples, a sight that was hard to stomach.

The moment her fingers made contact, Remington stiffened slightly, prompting Liz to pause.

"Does it hurt? Haven't you applied any ointment before?"

Only then did Remington relax a bit; a slight smile played on his lips as he looked back at her.

"You've been neglecting me."

unexpectedly tinged

doing! If you had just

softly said, "Liz, you still care

didn't respond; her lashes fluttered slightly as she bit her

well; it might hurt a bit, but

eyes, Remington couldn't help but let a smile flicker across his

and thank you," he said, straightening his back for

vigorously rub the

no pain,

sensed the contradiction in her words; despite her protests,

would have tossed the

deeper smile to

paused momentarily

face her, she hurriedly said, "I don't want to talk about this now. Can you please just stop pushing me?" Her tone cooled, but Remington's expression softened even

was normal for her to be angry, but

have a grand wedding to overshadow all these bad