Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Cedric sent the video out and was on pins and needles waiting for Lizetta's reaction.

He was so distracted that he caught Remington's stern glares more than a few times throughout the day.

When the afternoon rolled around without any word from her, Cedric started to sigh heavily, feeling more dejected than if he'd gone through a breakup himself.

By the fifth time he let out an involuntary sigh, Remington had had enough and reassigned Cedric to run errands at a branch office.

But as Cedric left, Remington couldn't help but notice the odd look in his eye, akin to how one might gaze at the infamous stray dog of Oakridge Heights, Archie.

Little did they know, Lizetta only saw the video that evening.

Her belly had grown a bit larger over the past few days, prompting her to stay in and cut down on her phone use.

After dinner, just as she was about to head out for her usual walk, she realized her phone had died.

Charging it up, she finally saw the video.

"Do you love Liz, Remington?"

In the video, Stella's face was streaked with tears, looking utterly pitiable.

"Yes, I love her. We had many misunderstandings, and I've hurt her in many ways, leading us to the brink of divorce. But I never wanted to truly separate, nor did I ever intend to give another woman a chance. My wife, my love, it's always been her!"

The man's figure was turned away from the camera, hiding his expression from Lizetta, but his voice was clear and resolute.

breath became erratic, her grip on the phone

snap as if fearing that staring any longer would unleash some

lips curled

instruction, how could Cedric dare to make such

when had Remington become such

charged rather quickly. After doing some stretches, the battery

she stepped out, walking slowly along the greenery-lined paths

felt like she was being watched these last few days, especially today, making her quicken her pace after only a lap and a half instead

yet every time

one more time to find

around only to be startled by a dark figure emerging from

clenched in fear,

recognized the figure

from the

standard uniform

sensing her tension,

lightly, "Daisyy, are you laughing at mommy for

head nonchalantly, she saw the janitor approaching, his face illuminated

was a man in his fifties,

furrows between

right ear

face was both familiar and strangely foreign, triggering a flood of brutal, chaotic,

Hans Gardenia!