Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

After the doctor left his final instructions and walked out, Remington sat by the hospital bed, holding Lizetta's hands against his lips. His complexion was as pale and drawn as Lizetta's, who lay on the bed before him.

Lizetta stirred back to consciousness as daylight broke through the window, the sun piercing through the clouds, heralding a clear day after the storm. Yet, the storm had taken away their Daisy, who never got a chance to see the world, forever lost in that night of thunder and pouring rain.

Lizetta's eyes opened silently. As Remington twisted a towel to dab away her sweat, he caught sight of her empty gaze.

Lying there, her once vibrant and clear eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, large yet devoid of any spirit. Unlike her previous frenzy, she now resembled a soulless doll, passively lying there.

"Woke up? You must be hungry. How about I make you some chicken noodle soup?" Remington's voice cracked slightly, then he leaned closer, his tone softening to the utmost gentleness. He seemed calm, as though everything had passed and it was all clear skies now.

Lizetta's eyes slowly moved to him, her lips trembling faintly as she spoke. Her voice was weak, barely audible. Remington had to lean in to hear her first words to him.

"Remington, where were you then?"

He was at a loss for words.

"And the West family... Has Evelina's child been born?" she asked again.

Again, he was silent.

During Lizetta's unconscious state, Remington had received news. Evelina had a cesarean section and gave birth to a boy. Though premature, the baby survived. Evelina was fine and would be taken into police custody as soon as she was in stable condition.This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

But to Lizetta now, the former was a cruel irony, and the latter no longer held any meaning.

Remington's lips tightened as he held Lizetta's hand, warming it with his own. Despite it being summer, the room felt cold, especially Lizetta's hands.

He warmed them in his, his voice hoarse. "Liz, we can have another baby..."

Lizetta's eyelashes fluttered as she

gave him a cold look. Men were cruel, thinking another child could replace everything lost. But to Lizetta, Daisy was irreplaceable. No future child could ever be her Daisy.

Remington's words were not comforting; they cut deep. Moreover, his naivety was laughable, absurd even.

Lizetta's lips curved into a sorrowful smile as she softly said, "We?"

What 'we'? What future did they have?

"Remington, from now on, it's either me or you; strangers. Without Daisy, it's all over..."

Lizetta slowly withdrew her hand from Remington's grasp. She thought she would be in tears, but her face remained dry, her eyes painfully dry.

Remington's pupils shivered

violently. He wanted to clench her hand, to hold on, but his fingers trembled, powerless. He could only watch as she pulled away, feeling as though his heart was being emptied.

His eyes, bloodshot, fixed on her, he asked, "Liz, do you hate me now?"

His voice was tight, trembling, as if a noose was tightening around his throat, struggling for breath. And the end of that noose was in her hands. She had the power to give him life or death.