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

as she retorted, "This is all your own doing! If you had just listened to Grandma, none of this would have happened!" Suddenly, Remington

her, he softly said, "Liz,

fluttered slightly as she bit her

said to rub it in well; it might hurt a bit, but just bear with it." After saying that, she

in her eyes, Remington couldn't help but let a

he said,

using the other to vigorously rub the severely bruised areas. The initially cool ointment gradually

no pain, and his heart warmed

in her words; despite

would have tossed the ointment

deeper smile to emerge. "Liz, can we

standing behind him, paused momentarily

and 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

to be angry, but it was clear she

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