Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Although she had once loathed him, she never shied away or retreated when facing him. But now, it was almost as if she instinctively dodged, like seeing a flood or a ferocious beast.

Even knowing that Lizetta might have been influenced by counseling, Remington still felt a pang of heartache from her subtle avoidance. His gaze swept over the big bag Hogan was carrying, then over to the trash can beside the hospital bed. There, discarded completely, were a pair of duck-yellow slippers, white knee-high socks, and a light yellow beanie. All items he had personally picked out for Lizetta, now abandoned.

Remington's eyes turned icy as he lifted his gaze to Hogan, his voice cold. "I was coming to pick Liz up from the hospital myself, no need for Dr. White's help!"

Hogan still had a gentle smile on his face. "Mr. Dashiell, that's a strange thing to say. Did you ask Liz if she wanted you to come?"

Remington didn't answer Hogan. Instead, he took a step forward, looking tenderly at Lizetta, and softly said, "Grandma insisted I come personally to ensure your safe return home."

After saying this, he handed his smartphone to Lizetta, gesturing for her to take the call.

Seeing Remington, Lizetta felt a deep repulsion and annoyance. The man who had promised to leave her be, to not interfere in her life, was now backtracking to this extent; she couldn't help but feel disgusted. But hearing that it was Fiona's arrangement, Lizetta suppressed her irritation. She took the phone with a bit of skepticism and put it to her ear. Indeed, Fiona's familiar voice came through.

"Is that you, Liz?"

Lizetta's expression softened for a moment. "Fiona Dashiell, it's me. How have you been these last few days?"

"I've been well, but you, leaving in such a weakened state, Fiona couldn't stop worrying. Knowing you were being discharged today, I had Remington come to ensure you got home Safely. Liz, I know you don't want to see him, just treat him as a regular driver or bodyguard for the day, just to put my mind at ease, can you do that?"

Listening to Fiona's cautious voice, Lizetta felt a tender bitterness. She softly replied, "Fiona, I understand, thank you for your concern."

Lizetta didn't want to disrespect Fiona to her face. But after hanging up the phone, her expression turned cold again. She handed the phone back to Remington, her tone distant and aloof. "I've already troubled my senior to pick me up, no need for Mr. Dashiell's effort."

"You just promised Grandma," Remington said gravely.

Lizetta frowned, and immediately

Hogan let out a light laugh, saying to Lizetta, "Liz, Mr. Dashiell went to the lengths of involving Fiona just to you. It shows his dedication.

he

Why not let him join me in taking you? It's just, my apartment is not fér, making such a fuss seems unnecessary..." NôvelDrama.Org copyrighted © content.

Hogan's words clearly implied that everything about Fiona's command was just a ruse by Remington. Indeed, Lizetta scoffed, "Mr. Dashiell's self-directed and self-performed drama, always so inconsistent, do you find it amusing?"

Remington's handsome face turned dark, a momentary urge to throttle Hogan crossing his mind. He stared at Lizetta, teeth clenched. "He's so calculated, stirring up trouble with his sweet talk, can't you see that? Is it whatever he says, you just believe?"

Lizetta looked oddly at Remington,

unable to contain his anger, and then slightly curled her lips. "Didn't Ms. Hawthorne and Ms. West also have Mr. Dashiell believe whatever they said in the past? Their stories were so compelling, I can almost still smell them. How could my senior compare to them?"

Remington was speechless, feeling as if all his internal organs had shifted from frustration, yet he had no retort. Was this karma? To not be believed by the one you love and to see them defend someone with dubious intentions, was this suffocating feeling of frustration really what it felt like?