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

as she retorted, "This is all your own doing! If you had just listened to Grandma, none of

up at her, he softly said, "Liz, you

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

least I can do. The doctor said to rub it in well; it might hurt a bit, but just bear with it." After saying that,

eyes, Remington couldn't help but let a

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

hand on his shoulder, using the other to vigorously rub the severely

pain, and his heart

in her words; despite her

nothing, she would have

somewhat calmer, Remington allowed a deeper smile to emerge. "Liz, can we start

paused momentarily

was about to turn and face her, she hurriedly said, "I don't want to talk about this now. Can you

angry, but it was clear she wasn't as

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