Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

A rustling sound emerged from the other end, and Remington instructed Bess.

"Let's do a video call."

He hung up and directly tapped into WhatsApp to start a video call with Bess.

Bess immediately accepted, clearly no stranger to this routine. She expertly positioned the camera to frame the sleeping figure on the couch before setting the phone down and busying herself with other tasks. Remington, driving, sparingly glanced at the screen.

On the screen, a woman lay in a loose, white maxi dress, her long hair partially covering her face and her hands gently cradling her noticeably rounded belly. She looked utterly serene.

As the car ascended the highway and left the city behind, Remington accelerated and eventually ended the video call.

Evelina was kept in a villa halfway up in Lanson, not far from Zion City.

Besides the two servants the West family had dispatched to attend to Evelina's daily needs, Remington had also placed three bodyguards on strict watch over her.

Evelina was not allowed a step outside the villa, bereft of freedom and entertainment, with every meal and its portion strictly regulated-all for the child she was carrying.

During this time, she lived like a walking womb, existing solely to nurture the child, stripped of all her rights.

Remington's car rolled into the villa's driveway, where Stella was already waiting, pale-faced and anxious as she ran out of the villa.

caused a spinal injury, and the baby is in

to watch Stella

"How did she fall?"

over eight months pregnant, not yet due.

and there was nothing unusual, so it must have been an accident. I'm sorry, Mr. Dashiell, we failed to protect her adequately." Remington nodded slightly but said

faint smell of blood wafted towards him, accompanied by Evelina's agonizing

the room,

to correct

perform a cesarean. What, do you need me to play doctor for

of impatience

of the patient's relationship with Remington, didn't

he replied,

weak, her clotting

her to the hospital for a C-section is

Stella

might be the

gaze swept over her, his eyes reflecting the hallway's harsh fluorescent light, seemingly coated in

instinctively withdrew her hand,

to the doctor,

steady, "You're the