Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

"Liz, you've always been the tougher one!"

Was she really heartless?

Maybe, in a way, she had always been the kind to hold grudges, ever since she was a child.

Sensitive and fragile, hurt easily and, knowing pain all too well, she feared it and remembered it. Forgiving him time after time was her choice.

Because he never crossed her line, but losing their child, a child who could have lived and grown up... How could she face him or herself?

Often, she wondered, if she hadn't followed Remington back to the States, if they hadn't tried to start over.

Maybe Mr. and Mrs. West wouldn't have gone to such extremes, maybe her Daisy could have grown up well.

"Say what you will. You're not Daisy. How do you know she wouldn't want us as her parents or wish to return in another way?" It was all self-deception.

Liz's lips curled in a self-mocking smile as she took a step back.

Turning around, she didn't expect Remington to remain seated, his deep gaze fixed on her retreating figure, his voice heavy. "You're not Daisy either. How can you be sure she wouldn't?"

stubbornness and insistence exhausted

around, glaring at

you just stop

before. Was it when he wouldn't come home after their wedding, and

he had brought pregnant Evelina back and she wanted a divorce, yet he

no way out, to have given your all, only to be told you're making a fuss-it felt like offering

clenched his fists, veins popping on his neck and hands from the effort

up, his

has the

frowned, not

man slightly shifted his knees, facing the tombstone, gazing up at the

predicts rain. tonight. I'll stay here. If

Daisy can't

have nothing to

come, then Daisy doesn't blame us. Come back!

turned his

rain's about to start, how can you be so childish! How old are you to believe in this? Get up!"

trying to pull him