Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Once upon a time, no one had ever mentioned this to Lizetta, leaving her stunned as she gazed at Remington.

"You're kidding, right?"

Cradling her face gently, Remington's gaze softened, and a faint smile played on his lips.

"I'm not kidding. When you were a little over two, you visited the Dashiell estate. The servants were frantic, unable to find you anywhere. It wasn't until I came home from school that I discovered you had somehow commandeered my bed.

Liz, you were the first to claim my bed, and so far, the only one. And I intend to keep it that way. Don't you think you owe it to me?"

This revelation made Lizetta's cheeks inexplicably warm.

She figured it must be from the warmth of Remington's palm.

As Remington's smile faded slightly, his voice grew husky.

"When I was eight, my grandfather took me fishing. I wandered off, and by the time I returned, he had collapsed from a heart attack. The delay in finding help... it cost him his life. I locked myself away, overwhelmed with guilt, refusing food and water, shunning everyone's concern..."

bond, and since the old man's early demise, the Dashiell family seldom spoke of the circumstances

of passing

she instinctively reached out,

lips for

pulled me out of that

stir in her heart but dared not believe

a slight lift at the corners of

"Me?"

accident, you tumbled through the darkness to my side, insisting

push you away, but you were relentless, coming back to me. You even pulled off the pacifier hanging around your neck, trying

Lizetta felt her

mouth,

it, I don't want to hear any of this. It's

Remington gently pulled her hand away, his

know, when Thaddeus brought you to the Dashiell estate, I took you