Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

“Don’t kid yourself, girls these days are running the show. In our class, Lisa and Leo were an item, but when Leo shared his only piece of chocolate with Ella, Lisa dumped him after class and hooked up with Jerry. She even ratted Leo out to the teacher for sneaking his phone into class to play games. Now Leo’s parents are being called in! Scary, right?”

Remington couldn’t care less about the drama over a piece of chocolate. He stood up, his gaze slightly darkening, “Zip it!” NôvelDrama.Org content.

Joseph was still a bit scared of him, pouting and muttering. “You’ll regret this.”

Lizetta was peeling an apple when a pair of arms reached around from behind and tightened around her waist.

Her back was suddenly pressed against the broad, firm chest of a man, and his scent filled her nostrils.

Lizetta stiffened, and Remington rested his head on her slender shoulders, his voice cold and low in her ear, “Who’re you planning to hook up with after dumping me?”

Lizetta pressed her lips, “Once we’re divorced, it’s none of your business who I’m with!”

“We’re not getting divorced!”

He said it with such conviction, as if Lizetta had no say in the matter concerning their marriage.

Lizetta slammed the fruit knife into the apple, “Whether we divorce or not isn’t just up to you.”

She broke free from Remington and left the room with the fruit plate, grabbing her bag on the way out and patting Joseph on the head.

“I’ll come to see you tomorrow.”

Joseph blinked, “Liz, you’re not going home with Remington?”

“He just got here; let him spend some time with you,” Lizetta didn’t glance at Remington, who was emerging. from the kitchen, and walked out.

“Remington, is Liz really over you?” The door closed, and Joseph’s eyes widened in concern.

“We’re fine; just do what the doctor says.”

He was about to leave, and of course, Joseph wouldn’t stop him but couldn’t help worrying.

“Remington, charm Liz a little; she’s easy to win over!”

As Remington left the hospital room, he ran into a nurse pushing a medical cart to draw blood from Joseph.

Watching the nurse go in, Remington narrowed his eyes and instructed Cedric, “Check into Joseph’s illness.”

Just a common cold, why the daily blood tests?

After a day of classes, Lizetta’s foot injury had worsened.

She had intended to catch the subway after leaving the hospital, but severe foot pain made her call a rideshare instead.

She leaned against a tree, waiting by the roadside.

A black Bentley slowed to a stop, the window halfway down. Under the dim light before the street lamps were lit, the driver’s chiseled profile and cool, jade–like fingers resting on the steering wheel

were distinctly visible.

He glanced over, “Come home with me.”

Lizetta looked through the car window at the man, wondering if it was her decision to divorce that made her feel so distant from him, despite being so close.

She shook her head at Remington, “I’ve ordered a ride, and I’ve already moved my stuff out. I won’t be coming

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back.”

His fingers tapped on the steering wheel a few times, a sign of his growing impatience.

“Lizetta, get in the car; do as you’re told!”

Lizetta had followed Remington’s words for fourteen years, but he never fell for her. She’d grown up now and didn’t want to obey anymore.

Lizetta suppressed the sourness at the tip of her nose and shook her head firmly at Remington, “Check your schedule and let’s go get the papers to end this.”

Divorce was mentioned three times in as many sentences, and Remington’s handsome face visibly darkened.

Another car came from behind and honked.

Remington had probably run out of patience with her. He looked away, rolled up the window, and drove off. Lizetta’s clenched fist slowly relaxed, she bowed her head to hide her teary eyes.

A low–key white BMW pulled up in front of her, and the man who stepped out was lean and well– proportioned, with refined features and silver–rimmed glasses adding a touch of gentle scholarly charm.

“Hogan?”

As Lizetta expressed her surprise, Hogan had already walked around the car and opened the passenger door.

“Where are you headed, Lizetta? Get in, I’ll give you a ride.”

“It’s okay. I’ve ordered a ride; it should be here any time.”

“I’ve got some new information about your brother to share with you.”

Hogan was Lizetta’s senior in high school and studied dance under the same teacher as her, Yovnne. He was also the primary doctor treating her older brother, Thaddeus, who had been in a vegetative state after a car accident a year ago, with Hogan tirelessly working on his case.

Lizetta canceled the rideshare and got into the car, immediately anxious to know more.

“Hogan, what’s happened to my brother?”

She’d been too busy the past few days and hadn’t had time to visit Thaddeus.