Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

His silhouette stood tall, each step forward a testament to his acceptance of grim reality, yet Cedric felt a shiver of fear run down his spine. Cedric stopped the bodyguard who wanted to follow, while a group of people congregated outside Lizetta's hospital room, waiting in anticipation.

The quiet hallway was suddenly filled with the sound of footsteps. Cedric turned to see Fiona and Nathan Hanna arriving together. Fiona, looking unsteady on her feet, was helped inside to see Lizetta, while Nathan and Hanna, hearing that Remington had gone to the maternity ward, decided to head there together.

Just as they reached the door, Remington emerged. Nathan, seeing the bundle in Remington's arms, exclaimed, "Remington, wasn't the baby..."

Remington glanced at them, his lips curling with a cold sneer as he spoke. "Your grandson, but it seems he knew having such displeasing grandparents and an incompetent father wouldn't make for a happy life, so he left us early."

As he stepped forward, holding the bundle, Hanna inevitably caught sight of the baby. Her eyes rolled back, and with a scream of terror, she slumped against Nathan, clutching at his coat, murmuring in shock, "How could this be..."

Nathan, quickly supporting her, wore an expression of utter dismay. He knew Hanna must have been reminded of a child they had lost to a miscarriage years ago. He averted his gaze, daring not to look at the bundle again, and said sternly, "Remington, what are you doing!? It was Hans' doing, none of us wanted this, and this is also my and your mother's grandson. We are grieving and saddened too, but can you blame us? If there's blame, it falls on the Gardenia family, for Lizetta having such a vicious biological father, blame it on fate!"

was the child's fate to have a short life. Nathan, with a furrowed brow, steadied Hanna, who had turned deathly pale, and took a step back, He had intended to offer Remington some words of comfort with Hanna, but their son clearly harbored resentment towards them. Knowing Hanna's

couldn't believe this was his usually calm and

hearing Nathan's

felt their

detachment. During Lizetta's

pregnancy, Nathan, as the

hadn't shown care even once. Hanna did show concern, but it was for Daisyseph Dashiell

a wonderful

them, Remington walked away.

her consciousness slowly returning, her body wracked with agony. Yet, instinctively, she reached for her belly, only for a large hand

man leaning over her; her gaze fell