Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

This was more awkward than a one-night stand with a stranger.

She was flustered and at a loss when there was a knock on the door, causing Lizetta to freeze.

Remington's voice came from the other side. "Are you looking for your lingerie? It fell into the closet."

Glancing around, Lizetta realized she had hurried too quickly, wrapping herself in a towel but indeed leaving her underwear behind.

She bit her lip, her voice tight. "Just hang it on the doorknob outside, please."

"Alright, take your time. I'll use another room to shower."

His footsteps faded quickly, but Lizetta didn't dare open the bathroom door until the sounds were completely gone. She then swiftly grabbed the thin pieces of clothing and got dressed.

Exiting the bathroom, Remington was nowhere in sight in the bedroom. Lizetta headed towards the bedside table. The hairdryer wasn't in the bathroom, and with her thick, long hair, it always took ages to dry.

She preferred sitting in front of the vanity mirror to blow-dry her hair, so the hairdryer was always kept in the drawer beneath the nightstand.

As she approached, she paused, not to grab the hairdryer but captivated by a large oil painting hanging above the bed.

was locked, filled

couple's wedding, the woman in a flowing white dress, standing on tiptoe, wrapped around the neck of a man in a black tuxedo. The woman's eyelashes quivered, a look of blissful

man, looking down with a tender gaze, slowly

a matching black tuxedo, his playful innocence radiating from the painting. The backdrop was adorned with roses in full bloom, under perfect

the figures:

Remington, and

was their son,

Content

and the groom's suit were exact replicas of what they

wedding ring on the

eyes but Remington's

this painting, they were the picture of a

of the painting was infused with the artist's emotions, so full of happiness and detail.

studied under the renowned artist Rhine as a child. A piece he

once pestered her brother to paint her portrait, but it

Remington rarely painted people,