Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Then, there was the sound of a scuffle, punctuated by the chilling whispers of a silenced gun.

Lizetta knew that was Dora, buying her time to escape. She didn't dare look back.

She slipped through a hidden door, quickly scrambling down a narrow path behind the house, running towards the northern woods as Dora had instructed. Dora said someone would meet her there, and Lizetta believed her.

Clutching her belly with both hands, her head bowed, lips bitten, she sprinted towards the woods, her heart filled with terror and concern.

She wondered if Dora could handle those men. What if something happened to her?

And she was terrified for her unborn child's safety.

These men couldn't be from the Remingtons; their silent approach meant ill intentions.

If they were from the West family, did they want the baby's life, or hers as well?

The cold wind blew, causing Lizetta's ill-fitted hat to fall off.

and running faster, her hair

reflected her pale face, the only sounds her frantic footsteps and heavy

tripped over something, tumbling forward with a short, suppressed cry of alarm, fearful of attracting the

eyes,

the next moment, a figure

Lizetta found herself in a man's arms, both of them

of me!

before she could make out his face, her cries sharp as the gun in her

trembling as she

come any

taking her shaking, cold hand, pressing the

afraid, shoot

was familiar. The hand covering hers was steady and warm, firm as he guided the gun against him, as if entrusting his life to her finger, unconcerned with

seemed to have become the

fear subsided, her heartbeat still thunderous as