Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Evelina clambered off the couch, green with envy, and took a few swings at it with her clanched fists.

Lizetta had rolled up in Yolanda’s second–hand Chevy, and when Remington dashed out of the villa, all he caught was the tall lights cutting a swath through the yard as the car sped off.

He was sweating buckets from the fever, and a shiver ran through him as the cold wind hit.

“Boss! What the heck’s going on? Let me help you inside.”

Cedric came running over; his car was parked in the shadows outside the villa. Seeing Lizetta arrive, he was put at ease.

He set an alarm to remind him in an hour – if Lizetta was still there by then, he could call it a night with mission accomplished.

But who would’ve thought, just by snoozing a bit, it seemed like he missed the main event? Seeing the boss, in pajamas, one slipper missing and a thunderous look on his face, Cedric was shook.

He’d been with Remington for eight years and had never seen him in such a sorry state. Cedric used to think that if the sky fell, Mr. Dashiell would hold it up with his mouth, never losing his cool.

Remington’s eyes were icy as he glared at Cedric, “How did Evelina get here?”

“Uh? Ms. Hawthorne came?” Before Cedric could finish, he was sliced by Remington’s glare. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead, “I’ve been negligent.” Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

Remington shrugged off Cedric’s helping hand and turned to go inside, slipping on his missing shoe with a poker face a few steps away, his silhouette stern as he entered the villa and instructed Cedric.

“Call an ambulance; get her out of here.”

Back in the bedroom, Evelina was still pale and listless on the couch. Upon seeing Remington enter without Lizetta behind him, Evelina breathed a sigh of relief, her voice laced with concern.

“Remington, did you explain everything to her? Do I need to help with anything?”

Her unfinished words faded under his icy stare, and she felt a knot in her stomach. Remington’s handsome face was back to its usual calm and cool, hardly betraying any emotion.

“No need!” He cut Evelina off sharply; this mess was only getting messier.

Rubbing his throbbing temples, he asked, “Who let you in, and how did you get here?”

No one sent me. Remington, you got hurt because of me. I was worried and wanted to check on you. The door was open when I got here. I’m sorry, Remington. I had no idea Lizetta was here. If I had known, I definitely wouldn’t have come! I’ll call her right now and explain everything.”

Evelina reached for her phone, but in doing so, she revealed more of the scratch marks on her arms and under her clothes – a shocking array of blues and purples.

Her face twisted in pain, her hands trembling as she searched for her phone.

She looked pitiful. Still, Remington didn’t want any trouble for the kid she was carrying, so he softened his voice and said firmly, “Don’t bother! And the injury on my arm wasn’t from defending you. Don’t come here again; it’s not some place you can come to!”

Evelina’s face turned even paler, wounded as she looked at Remington, who detachedly averted his gaze and ordered, “Cedric, help Ms. Hawthorne downstairs to wait for the ambulance; don’t let anything happen to the kid in her belly.”

Cedric hurried over, not minding Evelina’s reaction, and dragged her off the couch and out. Remington picked up his phone and headed to the study. When he called Lizetta, she had already driven two streets away, not wanting to pick up.

But Remington kept calling, relentless. Lizetta swiped to answer, not letting Remington get a word in, she said with a sneer, “Remington, when the hell are you going to sign the divorce papers? I can’t wait another day! This clingy, dragging–it–out act isn’t like you. If it weren’t for Evelina jumping around in front of me all the time, I’d think you were head over heels for me.”

Silence reigned on the other end of the phone. If it weren’t for the sound like knuckles cracking, Lizetta would’ve thought the line had cut off..

“You’re that eager to get divorced?”

Just as Lizetta was about to hang up, not being able to stand the silence any longer, Remington’s voice finally came, dark and sinister.

“Yes! We didn’t get married for love in the first place. Isn’t it better to just split cleanly now and each go our own way?”

Lizetta didn’t hesitate with her answer; she had already made up her mind before, especially now with Evelina in the picture.

With the other woman showing up at her doorstep, if she didn’t get a divorce, was she waiting to be kicked out by these two?

“Go our own way? Hmph.”

After a pause, Remington replied through gritted teeth. Just as Lizetta thought he was still angry and unwilling to agree, his voice returned to calm; he coolly said, “Fine, as you wish. Tomorrow at nine, see you at City Hall.”