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

it to death? Is that why you've abandoned everything here so

like the

had snapped, and he bended slowly under the weight

the days that followed, Remington kept himself busy with

Summer City before were all recalled. Instead, more people were sent out to

follow Remington and learn to practice managing

agreed, and Stella began to

of an impending alliance between the Dashiell and the West families began to circulate in Zion City, all signs pointing to Remington moving on from Liz, proceeding with his life. Two months passed in a

evening, Stella returned home late to find Barbara lounging on the sofa, listening

back? Why

lot of people, and he even drove me home himself," Stella excitedly shared, sitting

with a smile, her expression softening as