Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption ( Lizetta )

After that, Lucian realized something was off, "How did you catch wind of this, Remi? Did you see that? Please don't tell me you think of it in another way."

Lucian was in disbelief, but seeing Remington's gloomy expression solidified his fears. Frustration surged within Lucian, both for himself and Lizetta.

"So, Remi, you actually got the wrong idea about me and Liz? These past four years, you've been keeping me from coming back, saying I should make something of myself first so I wouldn't disappoint the family. But was it really not about supporting my career, and just about keeping me away from Liz?"

No wonder he finally managed to come back home this time, and before he knew it, Remi dangled a massive carrot in front of him, sending him across the country on a wild goose chase for a base. He'd found the perfect spot, but Remi didn't approve, picking it apart and telling him to keep looking.

"Remi, anyone with eyes could see Liz has been head over heels for you! That silly girl, ever since she was a little thing, she's been crazy about you.

When she knew you were hurt, she was the last to find out because we kept it from her. I didn't allow her to meddle, and she got distressed, dragging me out drinking until we were both a mess.

Hearing you were with Evelina, she barely spoke for months, nearly drowning in her own gloom. I took her to the mountains to see the stars, hoping to cheer her up.

But instead of seeing any star, she got a fever, ended up in the hospital with an IV drip, lying there and still fretting over 'Remi, why can't you like me back, just a little bit?' All these years, her world has revolved around you, giving up her dreams, waiting at Oakridge Heights for you to come home.

Even after you ignored her for four years, she still hoped you'd turn around. Finally the wedding came around and she was so looking forward to it; you couldn't feel any of that?"

Lucian's words pierced Remington like needles to the heart.

The cigarette between Remington's fingers snapped, crushed into ashes in his palm, burning his skin. But that pain was nothing compared to the agony in his heart.

Remington's face turned a shade paler, his thin lips curling into a bitter smile.

Indeed, how couldn't he have noticed? How could he have misunderstood for so long, and only now see the truth?

The specialist Remington had called arrived quickly and rushed into surgery after putting on scrubs.

Despite the urgency, the operation took over six hours. Fortunately, the outcome was positive.

"The surgery was successful, and there's no longer any danger to her life. Due to the complexity of the cranial injury, the patient needs to stay in ICU for observation. We'll know more once she wakes up." Hearing Hogan's words, Lizetta couldn't hold back her tears. The sight of blood everywhere back then had terrified her, fearing Yolanda wouldn't make it out of surgery.

"Thank you, Hogan; thank you so much!"

"Don't worry too much. Yolanda will be brought out soon. You can't visit her in ICU just yet, but rest assured, I'll take good care of her."

Lizetta nodded continuously.

Soon enough, Yolanda was wheeled out and into the ICU ward. Lizetta could only see her pale face, closed eyes, and the bandages wrapping her head.

"It's okay; the medical staff are here. Let me take you to rest; you haven't eaten all day," Remington's gentle, deep voice came from behind her, tinged with a hint of tension. Only then did Lizetta slowly turned, gazing up at him.

It was the first time Lizetta looked at him directly today. Remington's heart skipped a beat, filled with a mix of nervousness and anticipation.

But then he heard Lizetta say, "Mr. Dashiell, could you come with me to City Hall? Today's the last day of our divorce cooling-off period. We can still make it if we go now."

Remington felt a sudden drop in his heart, a stark contrast to the emotional turmoil when she first mentioned divorce. This time, her calm was unnervingly serene.

And he knew, that kind of still, ashen calm was the most terrifying of all. It meant she'd given up on him completely.