Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

After hanging up the phone, the man turned around, his gaze methodically sweeping through the bedroom.

Hanna had said that Lizetta's things were all still there, and indeed they were.

A cashmere shawl she often wore was strewn across the sofa, and her vanity table was still cluttered with her frequently used belongings.

Remington walked over, opening the jewelry box on the vanity. Inside, neatly arrayed, were the gardenia earrings, their wedding bands, and the pink diamond necklace he had recently given her. She hadn't taken any of it with her.

Yolanda mentioned that these items weren't what Lizetta wanted, but having them laid out in front of him felt like a silent slap across Remington's face.

He picked up the earrings, accidentally staining them with blood from his hand.

A pang of panic crossed Remington's eyes as he stroked the earrings.

He wanted to wipe the blood away. But it only seemed to spread more, impossible to be cleaned.

like their relationship,

time in his life, he was utterly uncertain about something, doubting whether their fractured relationship could ever

to death? Is that why you've abandoned everything here so easily, including me?" Remington murmured

like the

snapped, and he bended slowly under

days that followed, Remington kept himself busy with

Summer City before were all recalled. Instead, more people were

to follow Remington and learn to practice managing

agreed, and Stella began to follow him

of an impending alliance between the Dashiell and the West families began to circulate in Zion City, all signs pointing to Remington

home late to find Barbara

Stella back? Why

people, and he even drove me home himself," Stella excitedly shared, sitting down beside Barbara and chatting non-stop about

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