Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Hogan returned the smile with a laid–back air.

“Thaddeus is my patient, and whether I quit or not, I’ve got his back. Liz is also a buddy

and my junior, so it’s only right for me to stick around and lend a hand.”

He didn’t budge an inch, his gaze settling on Remington’s big hand draped around Lizetta, and with a grin, he added.

“Mr. Dashiell, since you and Liz are officially divorced, you’d think keeping your distance would be the way to go, right?”

Remington tightened his grip on Lizetta’s shoulder, but his expression was cool as a cucumber, and he raised an eyebrow.

“Just paperwork for now. Nothing’s set in stone until the dust settles, am I right, Mrs.

Dashiell?”

He leaned in close to whisper in Lizetta’s ear.

Lizetta caught the threatening undertone in his words; he was practically a hair’s breadth away from saying he’d cancel the divorce if she stepped out of line.

Lizetta pursed her lips, shot him a glare, and then turned to Hogan with an apologetic smile.

“Thanks for stepping in just now, Hogan. You must be swamped, and I can handle my own stuff, so I won’t keep you any longer.”

Hogan looked at Lizetta with a tender gaze, nodded with a smile, and said, “If you need anything, just holler.”

After he left, Lizetta turned to Remington, “Like Hogan said, we’re divorced. I’d appreciate it, Mr. Dashiell, if you’d keep your distance. Can you let go now?”

The softness that had appeared in Remington’s eyes at the departure of his rival quickly sharpened again at her frosty words.

Evelina was green with envy at their continued close interaction.

She nudged Jolin..

Jolin approached Remington with a gloomy face, “Remington, Liz is such a homebird, hardly ever been far from home, and now she’s suddenly planning to jet off abroad with her brother. How can I rest easy? Better to leave Thaddeus for me to care for, so Liz can have a breather overseas.”

Jolin couldn’t outright ask for the one million in front of Remington, so she played the

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card of wanting to keep Thaddeus behind.

If she had Thaddeus under her thumb, Lizetta would have no choice but to keep the money flowing back, right?

Apollo and his wife wanted to chime in, but Remington’s frosty glance shut them up.

His presence was so commanding that the trio instantly fizzled out.

Lizetta couldn’t help but scoff at their cowardice.

But before she could say anything, Remington nodded, “I think that makes sense. It’s best for Thaddeus to stay here.”

The trio lit up with joy, clearly not expecting Remington to take their side.

Lizetta, on the other hand, felt a chill run through her body, her blood seemingly running cold.

Evelina frowned, her mind racing.

Remington couldn’t possibly be so petty as to side with Jolin’s lot out of jealousy from the divorce, just to torment Lizetta.

Thaddeus was someone Lizetta cared about deeply. Could it be that Remington didn’t truly want a divorce and was planning to keep Thaddeus as leverage to hold on to

Lizetta?

This couldn’t be happening! NôvelDrama.Org content rights.

Right then, Evelina deeply regretted not urging Lizetta to leave the country smoothly and swiftly.

“What gives you the right to decide for me!”

Lizetta shoved Remington hard, and though he released her shoulder, he grabbed her

wrist.

He shot a look to Cedric, who stepped forward to escort Jolin’s trio.

“Mr. Dashiell and his wife need to talk. Why don’t you three come with me? We’ll make sure you’re satisfied with the outcome.”

Knowing that Remington was on their side, the trio didn’t ask any questions and cheerfully followed Cedric.

Evelina felt something was off and took a couple of steps to follow, only to be blocked by Cedric.

“Ms. Hawthorne, better not to meddle, right? After all, you’re no longer part of the

Gardenia family.”