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.\"

leave quickly after settling Mrs. Bernice Madden in. But he's been coming back

shadow crossed Remington's face. \"Hospital visiting hours are there so patients can rest. Should privileges allow someone to disregard

two hours already. It was almost 10 p.m., surely

sleeping too much these past few days. Upon waking, though weak and drained,

for Lizetta. Following Dr. White's advice for small, frequent

insisted on

making it easier to bring meals the next day. He said it was a task Mrs. Madden had strictly assigned to him. Lizetta didn't feel it was right to ask him to leave,

decided to

Lizetta had just finished eating, and

entered. The presence of Hogan and Jerome caught her attention,

was a

was a

admirers. The other man, said to be the CEO of a major corporation, also had an