Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

\"Has he left yet?\"

Three hours after undergoing gastric surgery, Remington Dashiell sat up in his hospital bed, looking up from his paperwork to ask in a deep voice.

Ray glanced at his wristwatch; it was nearing 10 p.m. But he was pretty sure that the two men who had visited Lizetta's room were still hanging around.

\"Mr. Dashiell, you've asked that three times now. The doctor advised you to rest. You did just have surgery, after all...\"

Ray wanted to add that seeing as he was currently a patient, perhaps he could act a bit more normal and not as if he was on some hospital stakeout. But meeting Remington's gaze, he found himself unable to voice those thoughts.

Changing tack, he stood up, saying, \"Shall I go check by Mrs. Dashiell's room again?\"

Remington's voice was cold as ice: \"Visiting hours ended at 8 p.m.\"

And as for Mr. Madden, he did leave quickly after settling Mrs. Bernice Madden in. But he's been coming back every hour on the hour, bringing snacks for her. Perhaps it's because eating right before bed isn't ideal, so he stays to chat for

face. \"Hospital visiting hours are there so patients can rest. Should privileges allow someone

had managed to hold it in for two hours already. It was almost 10 p.m., surely Mr. Madden and Dr. White couldn't be planning to stay

days. Upon waking,

Lizetta. Following Dr. White's advice for small, frequent meals, Lizetta ate in two sittings over two

insisted on waiting

it was a task Mrs. Madden had strictly assigned to him. Lizetta didn't feel it was right to

decided to

and entered, Lizetta had just finished eating,

quietly as the nurse entered. The presence of Hogan and Jerome caught her attention,

was a

was a

countless admirers. The other man, said