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."

tone was unexpectedly tinged with

just listened to Grandma, none of this would have happened!" Suddenly,

he softly said, "Liz,

her lashes fluttered slightly as she

do. The doctor said to rub it in well; it might hurt a bit, but just bear with it." After saying that, she pulled her hand free from Remington's grip, signaling him to turn

Remington couldn't help but let a smile flicker

he

placed one hand on his shoulder, using the other to vigorously rub the severely bruised areas. The

felt no pain, and his

contradiction in her words; despite her

she truly felt nothing, she would have

allowed a deeper smile

him, paused momentarily and

"I don't want to talk about this now. Can you

was normal for her to be angry, but it was

have a grand wedding to overshadow all