Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

“Shoes, you say?”

Remington didn’t utter a word, but his eyes were dripping with sarcasm, as if he was saying, “What else did you think you’d be taking off?”

Lizetta, fuming, turned her head away, ignoring him. The man frowned, forcibly lifted her leg onto his knee to check her injury, and only let go when he saw it was healing well.

The ride back was silent; neither of them spoke a word. When they arrived at the Dashiell family’s mansion, Lizetta opened the car door, ready to get out, when her right hand was suddenly gripped tight.

Turning around, she saw the man lifting her hand and sliding a ring onto her ring finger.

It was the wedding ring that she had taken off and left at Oakridge Heights, along with her earrings.

Lizetta was stunned – after all, this was the first time he’d put the ring on her. They hadn’t had a wedding ceremony; he’d gone abroad the same day they got their marriage certificate and was gone for months.

The wedding ring had been prepared by Fiona; Lizetta had put it on herself and never took it off again, while Remington only started wearing his a year later, after they had resumed marital relations.

To her, the ring symbolized the marriage, but what she ended up defending was nothing more than the cold

shell of it.

Lizetta thought about taking it off, but Remington suddenly intertwined their fingers, “Grandma’s been unwell lately; don’t be so headstrong!”

He warned her, his knuckles pressing hard, causing a slight pain where the wedding ring chafed against her finger.

Lizetta thought Remington was just trying to scare her, but upon entering the living room, she saw the old lady taking her medication.

The pills were in handfuls, the dosage not like before. Lizetta didn’t dare bring up divorce and went to make some of her favorite dishes instead.

Right before dinner, Hanna and Remington’s father Nathan came home.

On seeing Lizetta, Hanna let out a scornful laugh, her eyes brimming with disdain, “Making a fuss about divorce and then crawling back to the house – shameless, spineless creature!”

As Lizetta entered the kitchen, Hanna followed her in.

Stirring the soup, Lizetta turned and smiled at her, “Yeah, how could I give up the Dashiell family’s wealth and glory?”

She played along with Hanna’s insinuations, which only darkened Hanna’s mood further, “You finally admit it. I should show Remington this side of you!” Hanna spun on her heel and stormed out.

Lizetta only made the old lady’s favorite dishes, leaving the rest to the servants. After leaving the kitchen, she headed straight to Fiona’s bedroom.

To her surprise, Remington was also there. The old lady, propped up in bed, beckoned, “Liz, come here”

Sitting beside the bed, Lizetta took her hand, and the old lady asked, “Are you two getting a divorce without telling me?”

Lizetta was startled; this was her chance to tell Fiona about her plans to divorce and go study abroad.

But the old lady’s eyes were so sad and worried, as if she had aged a decade in a moment. The hand Lizetta held was thin and trembling.

Lizetta’s lips moved, but the words wouldn’t come out.

While she was hesitating, Remington pulled her into his embrace, “Grandma Fiona, we’re doing good Right, honey?” Head down, he whispered in her ear.

His breath brushed against her ear, sending a tingling sensation straight to her heart. It was the first time he called her “honey“, and even if it was just for grandma’s sake, Lizetta felt her defenses crumble. Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Blushing, she murmured, “Yeah, we’re good.”

“I’m not so easily fooled. I was recuperating at the sanitarium on the outskirts, and Remington insisted on bringing me back. Was it because you two had a tiff and he couldn’t smooth it over, so he dragged me back with all my old bones? I’m not confused; I see it all clearly. Are you going to admit it, boy?”

Fiona looked at Remington, and Lizetta, surprised, also turned to him. Was it just as grandma said? Unable to appease her, Remington had fetched grandma to persuade her.

Remington’s expression remained calm, “Grandma Fiona, you’re the sharpest tool in the shed, nothing gets past you.”

He admitted it! Lizetta’s heart skipped a beat, staring at Remington.

Previously, she thought his refusal to divorce was about saving face or even getting back at her, not about holding onto her.

But now, she thought perhaps, Remington wasn’t as ruthless as she thought he was; perhaps, he somewhat cared about their marriage.

“Come on, say something nice to Liz!”

Urged by Fiona, Remington gave a reluctant smile, his handsome features lighting up. With a casual turn of his head, his gaze met Lizetta’s straight on.

Her ears turned red on spot, and her heart fluttered even more. At the sight of Lizetta’s blushing and cute demeanor, Remington’s breath hitched, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

He lifted his hand, gently tousled her hair, and said hoarsely, “Honey, let’s not divorce, okay?”