Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Lizetta was feeling down, avoiding eye contact, and gave Remington a slight push.

"It's nothing."

She attempted to walk away, but Remington caught her by the shoulder, stepping forward to pin her against the wall.

"How can it be nothing? Why are you upset?"

It seemed like Remington was determined to get to the bottom of it. However, this proximity, for Lizetta, was torturous and stirred emotions she wished to suppress.

Her expression turned cool as she lifted her head, "Can you just not?"

Her tone was icy, causing the concern and urgency on Remington's handsome face to freeze over. His lips paled slightly, his grip on Lizetta's shoulder unconsciously tightened as he tried to hold back. Lizetta knew her outburst was unfair. Seeing him suddenly fall silent tugged at her heartstrings. She wanted to apologize but couldn't find the words. She couldn't interact with him as others might, not after loving and hating him so deeply, not with the unresolved issues between them. It felt like agony either way. Now, it seemed they were meant to be strangers, keeping their distance.

"I brought you a gift today."

and soothing, as if their recent disagreement hadn't happened. He reached into a red gift bag and pulled out a long velvet box, handing

jewelry,

Mr. Dashiell with dinner. I didn't bring a gift,

Remington pushed the

it a thank you for

to settle their debts with the dinner, not complicate things further. Annoyed, she

pushed harder than

upon impact. Lizetta stepped away, her foot landed on the fallen object. Panicked, she lifted her foot, staring in disbelief at what she had

crushed.

wasn't jewelry as she had assumed, but a velvet flower? Green stem, red petals. She had stepped

up to see Remington standing stiffly. His gaze

washed over

the flower, intensifying her remorse. She opened her mouth to apologize, but before she could, Remington had already placed the flower back

it wasn't anything important. It's