Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

How could she just stand there, indifferent?

This was the only man she had ever loved, the man who, over and over, confessed his love for her. Words she once dreamed of hearing, now sweeping over her like a hurricane, overwhelming and all- consuming.

"Liz, please don't cry. Did I say something wrong again? Did I upset you?"

Lizetta's tears fell faster, scalding drops landing on the man's hands and cheeks. Remington gently wiped them away, his handsome face a mix of tenderness and panic.

But Lizetta pushed him away forcefully. She staggered backward, nearly falling. Remington turned pale with fright, jumping up to catch her, only to be pushed away again. His tall, lean figure stood there, hand outstretched, watching her cry, wanting to embrace her but too afraid to do so, his expression one of deep regret.

Lizetta choked out between sobs, glaring at him, "Don't touch me, you jerk!"

"Alright, alright, I won't come closer. I'm the jerk, the absolute worst, unforgivable. Please, just stop crying."

how to comfort her. The more he tried, the more she seemed to cry,

down a

do you act so innocent? With your way with words, knowing exactly how to hit where it hurts, how could you possibly say the wrong thing? Remington, you're doing this on purpose! You choose now to say these things, just when I found out about my real family, when I'm at my most vulnerable and my defenses are down. You're trying to sway my heart! You call me sly, but you're

her. She was afraid if she delayed any longer,

see the shocked

door. His deep eyes reddened, losing their usual calm, filled with hurt. Gone was his usual self-assurance and strategic thinking. Those words had come naturally to him, a true reflection of his feelings. But

nothing but calculated manipulation.

if I made you sad again, I take back what I said. If you don't want to see

there was no response from inside. He didn't know if she was still

Tears, perhaps, were the best way to release emotions, like lancing a boil, painful but

floated into the room. Lizetta paused,