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."

was unexpectedly tinged

just listened to Grandma, none of

her, he softly said, "Liz, you still care about

respond; her lashes fluttered slightly as she

might hurt a bit, but just bear with it." After saying that, she pulled her

Remington couldn't help but

you," he said, straightening his back for her to

the severely bruised areas. The initially cool ointment gradually heated

felt no pain, and

in her words; despite her

she truly felt nothing, she would have tossed the ointment aside and

allowed a deeper smile

behind him, paused momentarily and remained

she hurriedly said, "I don't want to talk about this now. Can you please

her to be angry, but it was

me, we'll have a grand wedding to overshadow all these bad memories." Liz's lips tightened, and her eyes