Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

"Remington! What are you up to now!?" Lizetta's expression instantly changed, shedding her icy demeanor for a look of annoyance and vexation.

Catching a glimpse of her, Remington stuffed the bag he was holding into her arms. Instinctively, Lizetta wrapped her arms around it, and the next second, Remington bent over and scooped her up.

As she was momentarily lifted off the ground, he looked down at her again. Lizetta quickly raised her hand, covering her mouth tightly, her eyes displaying nothing but caution and wariness. However, Remington simply turned around expressionless and carried her to the hospital bed, seating her down. He then took the bag from her one-handed grip, pulling out socks and soft slippers, and knelt down.

Lizetta was wearing standard slippers, a last-minute purchase by Yolanda from a supermarket near the hospital. They were of decent quality. But Yolanda hadn't gone through childbirth herself and didn't think much of it when choosing, so she bought flip-flops.

Without socks, Lizetta only realized her feet were ice cold when Remington removed her flip-flops, his large hands firmly gripping her feet. His palms were warm, bearing the slight calluses from years of working out, as he rubbed her feet, cold as marble.

An unusual sensation crawled up her veins from the touch, causing Lizetta to retract her feet, only to be caught by the ankle. Lizetta kicked out, but Remington, still squatting before her, didn't budge an inch. Her strength was nowhere near enough to contend with his.

"Stop fidgeting!" Remington looked up at her, "You've had significant bleeding and you're in postpartum care. If you don't want me to look after you, you should at least take care of yourself."

His gaze slowly moved from Lizetta's defensively angry eyes down to her mouth, adding, "I'm just trying to put your socks on, nothing more. You don't have to guard against me as if I were a beast."

It was then Lizetta realized she was still covering her mouth. She had thought he was going to force a kiss when he lifted her, reacting almost instinctively. Now, it seemed as if she was overthinking things.

With an annoyed look, Lizetta turned

her head away, her ears burning with a mix of anger and embarrassment But she didn't move her hand, retorting sharply, "Being this close to you makes me sick! Mr. Dashiell, can't you see what you're doing, always sticking to me like a bad smell!"

Her words were harsh, filled with contempt. Yet Remington's actions of rubbing her feet didn't pause. He even let out a light chuckle, "A bad smell is useful against chills, poor circulation, numb limbs-it suits your

current condition well. Donits

underestimate its usefulness, even if it sounds unpleasant."

Speaking calmly, he rolled up her hospital gown, revealing herThis belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

self

significantly thinner legs. The oversized gown slid up to her knee exposing her cold, bare skin. Remington frowned, quickly rubbed her legs to warm them, and put on the long socks, covering up to her knees.

Lizetta felt a bit dazed, his words strangely familiar. After a moment, she recalled saying, "Don't underestimate a bad smell, even if it sounds unpleasant," herself.

It was back when she first joined the Dashiell family, clinging to Remington. But what teenager would want a little girl tailing him all the time?

"Lizetta, can you stop sticking to me like a bad smell? Go find some friends or hang out by yourself, just stop following me around!"