Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

That voice was so familiar.

But how could it be? That person should be glued to Evelina’s side right about now.

Lizetta felt utterly ridiculous thinking she was still hallucinating or daydreaming.

“Lizetta! You were the one strutting around, and now you’re trying to be weak and pitiful with me?”

Yet, the man’s voice came from above her again.

Slowly, Lizetta lifted her head, and it was only then that Remington realized her eyes were unusually red.

Especially her right eye, it looked like it was seeping blood tears.

“What happened to your eyes?”

Remington frowned, squatting down to reach out and touch Lizetta’s cheek.

The woman who had been in a daze suddenly snapped back to reality, swatting his hand away with all her might.

Smack!

A sharp sound hit the back of Remington’s hand.

“Go away! I don’t need your help!”

Lizetta hung her head low, trying hard to get up from the ground.

She didn’t want to expose her messiness to Remington anymore..

Her resistance and rejection made Remington’s heart tighten, his face going through several emotional

shifts.

When had she stopped leaning on him and started pushing him away?

All he knew was that he hated this feeling, a sense of losing control and panic slowly spreading in his chest. “You turn the world upside down and now you’re playing the victim? Stay still!”

The man’s cold voice rang out as his arm slipped through the bend of Lizetta’s knee, scooping her up in his

arms.

Her body suddenly lifted into the air, and with stinging eyes that couldn’t open, fear instinctively made Lizetta wrap her arms around the man’s neck, her icy body pressing into his embrace.

Remington’s cold expression softened a touch as he carried her into the car.

She was too bedraggled.

Drenched from head to toe, covered in dirt, with her jeans scraped at the knees, bleeding.

Beneath her tangled hair, her face was ghostly pale, her eyes were swollen red, a mix of defiance and vulnerability.

“Go to the hospital.”

Remington’s deep voice commanded:

The car immediately sped off, the partition silently rising.

Remington raised his hand to Lizetta’s cheek.

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Lizetta couldn’t open her eyes, tears flowing uncontrollably, feeling both fragile and uneasy.

He touched her, and she awkwardly turned her head away.

“Still holding a grudge?”

Remington’s movements paused, knowing she was angry that he had left her behind, doubting him.

A flicker of regret crossed his brows; he hadn’t realized at the time that her eye was truly injured.

“How could I hold a grudge? That would make me an ingrate, wouldn’t it? I should be forever grateful for the kindness of the Dashiell family.”

Lizetta turned her head away, her voice cold.

Remington’s fingers were warm, gently smoothing out her messy hair, his palm cupping her cheek.

“Speak nicely.”

Lizetta, with a cold expression, closed her mouth and once again turned, trying to shake off his hand.

She felt repulsed; he had just held Evelina.

His hand, had it just like this, caressed Evelina’s hair, wiped away Evelina’s tears?

She felt Remington stiffen. He had little patience for her, and braced herself for him to lose his temper and leave her by the roadside.

But then, the next second.

The man’s familiar warm breath suddenly closed in, and a tender kiss landed on Lizetta’s forehead.

Gentle, soothing, and compassionate.

Lizetta froze again, and Remington, resting his forehead against hers, let out a soft sigh.

His breath tickled her nose as he said, “I’m wrong: don’t be mad at me. You’re hurt. Let me take a look, okay?”

Lizetta couldn’t tell if it was her eyes or her heart that hurt more.

Tears cascaded down like a breached dam, rolling off her tightly closed lashes and dropping onto Remington’s hand that was caressing her cheek. Material © of NôvelDrama.Org.

Burning hot inside, Remington swallowed hard, feeling his entire heart tremble and soften from her crying.

“Alright, let me see.”

He lifted her chin, and Lizetta didn’t dodge anymore.

He was her Achilles‘ heel; she couldn’t refuse the warmth he offered.

He was so terribly good at playing her, knowing all too well.

Lizetta’s heart swelled with sourness, sensing his careful approach.

He pressed her lower eyelid with his thumb and gently lifted her upper eyelid with the pad of his index finger. As he drew closer to inspect, Lizetta, through her blurred tear–filled eyes, gradually saw his magnified handsome face become clear.