Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Drenched to the bone, with a pallor that spoke volumes of his ordeal and a nasty bruise swelling on his forehead, it was clear he had been through a rough patch. His spirits were just as battered. Jerome, sensing the mood, held back further questions, while Nelson turned to Remington and asked, "Who kidnapped Liz?"Content provided by NôvelDrama.Org.

"Her father, or so it was believed. But we recently discovered she's not actually a Gardenia by blood."

Remington's mention of Hans brought a darker shade to his already stormy expression. Nelson, aware of the mix-up between Lizetta and the true and false heirs of the Hawthorne legacy, was taken aback to learn the Gardenia family wasn't her real kin either.

Then, gazing at the elder, he inquired, "How did you and Mr. Madden happen to come across the incident?"

Nelson, turning to Mrs. Bernice Madden, clarified, "We weren't passing by. We were actually on our way to see Liz."

Half an hour before the incident, Mrs. Bernice Madden had woken up in a fright, insisting something had happened to Elsa and that they needed to find her immediately. Nelson had initially brushed it off as a nightmare about her daughter and tried to calm the elderly woman down. While she usually could be soothed, today Mrs. Madden was exceptionally adamant, causing quite a stir.

Left with no choice, Nelson video-called Lizetta. Mrs. Bernice Madden had been calling Lizetta frequently these past few days, and Lizetta, ever patient, always answered promptly. But today, their calls went unanswered, which unsettled Nelson further, especially with Mrs. Bernice's insistence on leaving the house.

So, Jerome was asked to drive them over to Pine Villa. Little did they know, they would stumble upon Hans in the act, leading to a serendipitous rescue of Lizetta.

"It seems Liz is truly fated to be part of our Gardenia family," Nelson remarked, amazed by the coincidence.

After expressing his gratitude, Remington returned to the doorway of the operating room. Without needing to be asked, Cedric arranged for a deluxe room for them to rest in. Unable to keep up physically, Nelson and Mrs. Bernice Madden were supported out of the hospital half an hour later.

The operating room's light went off after an hour and a half. When the doctor emerged, Remington's rigid posture voluntarily shuddered. He stepped forward, his fists clenched at his sides, making a sound that betrayed his attempt to stay composed.

"Mr. Dashiell, the severe bleeding has stopped, and there's no immediate danger to her life..."

The doctor, meeting Remington's fiery gaze, faltered in his speech. Remington briefly closed his eyes, a wave of relief washing over him, but it was short-lived as the doctor continued.

"However, I'm sorry to say, the baby was premature and encountered complications during birth. By the time we got to the operating room, the baby was already in a critical condition due to lack of oxygen and a tangled umbilical cord..."

Remington listened, his breath growing heavier with each word from the doctor. Suddenly, he grabbed the doctor by the collar, his voice hoarse with emotion.

"What happened to my child?"

"The baby... didn't make it, Mr. Dashiell. Please accept my condolences."

The doctor's trembling voice didn't

dare meet Remington's gaze. Cedric, standing behind, felt his mind go blank at the doctor's words. The baby was over seven months along. It wasn't just an embryo; it was a little being capable of life.

How could this happen...

Remington's grip on the doctor's collar loosened abruptly, and he staggered back a few steps. Cedric instinctively reached out to support him, but Remington shrugged him off. The tall figure then faltered, his head bowed, casting a long shadow under the harsh hospitaldights.

In the next moment, that shadow shook violently. The man, towering and robust, suddenly dropped to one knee, vomiting blood.