Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

A rustling sound emerged from the other end, and Remington instructed Bess.

"Let's do a video call."

He hung up and directly tapped into WhatsApp to start a video call with Bess.

Bess immediately accepted, clearly no stranger to this routine. She expertly positioned the camera to frame the sleeping figure on the couch before setting the phone down and busying herself with other tasks. Remington, driving, sparingly glanced at the screen.

On the screen, a woman lay in a loose, white maxi dress, her long hair partially covering her face and her hands gently cradling her noticeably rounded belly. She looked utterly serene.

As the car ascended the highway and left the city behind, Remington accelerated and eventually ended the video call.

Evelina was kept in a villa halfway up in Lanson, not far from Zion City.

Besides the two servants the West family had dispatched to attend to Evelina's daily needs, Remington had also placed three bodyguards on strict watch over her.

Evelina was not allowed a step outside the villa, bereft of freedom and entertainment, with every meal and its portion strictly regulated-all for the child she was carrying.

During this time, she lived like a walking womb, existing solely to nurture the child, stripped of all her rights.

Remington's car rolled into the villa's driveway, where Stella was already waiting, pale-faced and anxious as she ran out of the villa.

"The doctor said Evelina had a nasty fall, hitting her back. It's caused a spinal injury, and the baby is in a dangerous position now..." Remington glanced at Stella, passing her by.

The bodyguard previously assigned to watch Stella approached, reporting the situation.

"How did she fall?"

Evelina was just over eight months pregnant, not yet due. The sudden incident had disrupted all planned medical arrangements.

The bodyguard appeared uneasy, "She fell in the bathroom. We checked, and there was nothing unusual, so it must have been an accident. I'm sorry, Mr. Dashiell, we failed to protect her adequately." Remington nodded slightly but said nothing further.

As he ascended the stairs, a faint smell of blood wafted towards him, accompanied by Evelina's agonizing screams, causing him to frown slightly.

Just then, the doctor came out of the room, his expression grave as he spoke to Remington.

"Mr. Dashiell, we can't seem to correct the fetus's position for a natural delivery..."

"Then perform a cesarean. What, do you need me to play doctor for you?"

Remington exuded an aura of impatience and cold authority.

The doctor, unsure of the patient's relationship with Remington, didn't dare make any assumptions.

Sweating, he replied, "But her

physical condition is weak, her clotting is poor, and there's

insufficient amniotic fluid. Taking her to the hospital for a C-section is highly risky. If something were to happen..."

Upon hearing this, Stella immediately clutched Remington's arm.

"Remington, we can't lose the baby! This might be the only heir to the West family."This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

Remington's cold gaze swept over her, his eyes reflecting the hallway's harsh fluorescent light, seemingly coated in a layer of ice.

Stella instinctively withdrew her hand, her eyes reddening.

Remington turned to the doctor, his

gaze steady, "You're the doctor!

your job. Even if the outcome

Dei

less

than ideal, no one will blame you."

Relieved, the doctor nodded briskly and hurried back inside to make arrangements.

Suddenly, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled outside, casting sinister shadows through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Remington's heart inexplicably skipped a beat with the thunder, momentarily unsettled.

His phone rang abruptly, and he took it out.

Seeing it was a call from Ray, he quickly answered and walked toward the end of the hallway. "Talk to me."

"Mr. Remington Dashiell, we've got a

problem. We caught someone in Oakmont fishing village, but this Hans is an impostor. The reat Hans might still be in Zion City, he hasn't left."