Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

The familiar voice broke the silence, and Lizetta looked up to see Remington striding over.

Impeccably dressed in a sharp suit, sunlight spilling over his broad shoulders, he still carried an air of regal composure, though he was holding a lunchbox in his hand.

Early in the morning, he had gone to get breakfast for Evelina.

Lizetta watched him approach, a chill running through her veins, slowly freezing her heart.

“Evelina, what happened? How could you just hit someone like that, don’t you know she’s pregnant!” Evelina was on the ground, clutching her stomach, looking like she couldn’t get up. April was holding her, condemning Lizetta.

The commotion had already drawn a crowd, all pointing fingers at Lizetta.

In an instant, she had become the target of public censure, Lizetta stood there numbly.

Remington was quickly upon her, his expression stern as he fixed his gaze on Lizetta. “What’s going on?”

Lizetta stiffened her neck. “I didn’t hit her, and I certainly didn’t push her!”

“Oh, so she was knocked over by a breeze?” Remington’s eyebrows knitted together.

In her heart, Lizetta was like, ‘Well, yeah, she was.

At that moment, Evelina, supported by April, got up. She looked pained but tugged at Remington’s sleeve.

“Remi, don’t blame sis, it’s just that I’ve had a poor appetite recently and got dizzy from low blood sugar.” But her expression was all wrong, not matching her words at all.

Lizetta couldn’t stand her damsel–in–distress act and said coldly, “You heard her, right? She lost her balance on her own. Can I go now?”

Her defiance only made Evelina seem more fragile and innocent.

After all, playing the role of damsel–in–distress required a certain natural talent.

Lizetta didn’t want to compete in craftiness with Evelina, so she turned to leave, but her wrist was yanked back. Caught off guard by the man’s forceful pull, she turned to face Remington’s stern visage.

“Apologize.”

A flicker of triumph crossed Evelina’s eyes as she urged, “Sis, I’m fine. Just say ‘sorry‘ casually, so Remi won’t be angry.”

Lizetta locked eyes with Remington, incredulous that he was demanding an apology from her under these circumstances.

She let out a sarcastic laugh. “Apologize? Sure.”

She nodded, then suddenly swung her hand, slapping Evelina across the face.

The sharp smack set off gasps all around.

Evelina was stunned, and when she came to her senses, she cried out and threw herself into Remington’s

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“Remi.”

Lizetta raised her hand again, this time aiming for Remington’s face.

Naturally, neither the scoundrel nor the scheming woman could be spared.

But Remington caught her wrist with a fierce grip, his face ashen, his eyes seething with anger.

“Lizetta, apologize. Don’t make me say it a third time!”

He didn’t even notice Evelina clinging to him.

The sight was like a slap to Lizetta’s face.

Her husband defending his mistress while treating her like dirt, repeatedly demanding she apologize.

She yanked her hand back furiously, her eyes reddening.

“Take a good look at both sides of her face, and next time you try to slander someone, at least don’t be so dumb!”

Evelina stiffened in Remington’s arms, instinctively covering her face.

Lizetta snorted in derision and walked through the nosy crowd, leaving the scene.

Remington frowned, peeled Evelina off him, who stumbled and was caught by April.

His gaze landed on Evelina’s face, turning icy and sharp.

Evelina’s right cheek was smooth and fair, but the left bore a clear handprint.

The direction she had fallen should have meant her right cheek took the hit, but clearly, it hadn’t.

He had been so focused on Lizetta, he hadn’t noticed Evelina’s obvious slip–up.

Feeling his penetrating stare, Evelina panicked, and tears started falling.

“Remi, I really just got dizzy and lost balance. It’s okay that sis hit me, I deserved it.”

Remington looked at her with deep eyes, “And you just asked her to say sorry, do you think you deserve that?” Evelina clutched her stomach, “Sorry, my stomach hurts a bit, I panicked and spoke without thinking.” Remington was ultimately worried about the child in her womb; Evelina had shown signs of a miscarriage the night before. He gestured for April to support Evelina well and led her towards the ward.

Evelina watched his retreating figure, grinding her teeth. She had been too careless today.

Once in the ward, April helped Evelina lie down. Her cheek was swelling significantly, and she tearfully looked up at Remington.

She expected at least some concern from him, maybe a word of reproach for Lizetta, but he said nothing as April was busy fetching ice packs.

Evelina felt both wronged and disappointed; since returning to the Hawthorne family, she hadn’t been hit like this.