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.

her

a snap as if fearing that staring any longer would unleash some heart-wrenching

breath, her lips curled into a

for Remington's instruction, how could Cedric dare to make such

had Remington

After doing some stretches, the battery was more than half

out, walking slowly along the greenery-lined

few days, especially today, making her quicken

yet every time she looked

she glanced behind her one more time to find no one, only the

she turned back around only to be startled by a dark figure emerging from a

heart clenched in fear, but

recognized the

from the complex,

standard uniform cap.

sensing her tension,

curling lightly, "Daisyy, are you

saw the janitor approaching, his face illuminated by a street

a man in

between

his right

triggering a flood of brutal, chaotic,

Hans Gardenia!