Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Jerome greeted Ms. Yolanda with a warm smile as he took the bag from her hands, nodding in appreciation.

"Thanks for your effort, Ms. Yolanda."

His words seemed to suggest an intimacy with Lizetta that wasn't there before. Yolanda internally rolled her eyes but responded with a smile and a nod, choosing not to add anything more.

Then, Jerome turned to Lizetta, "Make sure you get some rest."

"Will do."

Hogan chimed in, "Liz, I'll swing by tomorrow when I'm free to check on you."

Without waiting for Lizetta to respond, he looked over at Jerome and gestured with his hand.

"Mr. Madden, let me walk you out. I know my way around the hospital pretty well. I haven't taken any days off recently, so I've been here every day. I'm quite familiar with the maternity ward, so you can rest assured that Liz is in good hands. As her senior colleague, I'll make sure she's taken care of. You're a busy man, Mr. Madden; no need to come by all the time..."

men then left the

and closed it, returned to Lizetta's bedside and couldn't

isn't as

exasperated laugh and reached out

laughing! I was giving you signals to help me out, and you

the urgency in her friend's request, Yolanda moved to

miscalculation? Honestly, I think you'd be better off going back with Mrs. Bernice Madden. At least then you wouldn't be caught in a crossfire. Between Mr. Madden and Dr. White, I still think Mr. Madden is

the Madden estate, so the likelihood of facing a terrible mother-in-lawdike Hanna seemed slim. Moving to Tranquil Meadows and leaving behind the heartache of Zion City might not be such

different. The White family might not be as prestigious as the Dashiell family, but they

the White family

family for

proposal, Hogan was

for rejection. Perhaps Helen thought Lizetta marrying Hogan, even in

marry into that family, she might end

waved her hand dismissively, her smile tinged with bitterness. She was still healing from her wounds, far from ready to entertain such thoughts. Thankfully, the hospital's strict policies