Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

"Back when Stella's incident had cast a shadow over Remington, he could hardly find it within himself to smile. It was your relentless pestering, your dependence, and your unwavering trust in him that eventually brought him back to his old self.

I've grown old, my health waning, don't know how much longer I could be a part of your lives. I hope you two can keep each other's company, support each other, and become a better couple. Do you understand?"

Lizetta couldn't stand to hear Fiona talk like that, and tears immediately streamed down her face as she hugged the old lady, sobbing, "Remi and I will definitely do better, but you can't say things like that, Grandma Fiona! I'm still young; I feel like I haven't even grown up yet. Remi has no patience. We have Joy now; I was hoping you could teach us how to raise the baby."

Fiona chuckled unwittingly, patting Lizetta's hair and said, "Alright, as long as you don't mind me spoiling Joy rotten, I'll surely teach you."

"That won't happen! You raised Remi and me, and we turned out to be the best," Lizetta boasted with a lift of her head, causing Fiona to laugh even more.

After a while, Fiona grew tired from all the talking. Once Lizetta had made sure Fiona was asleep, she stepped out of the room.

She asked Tina, "Where's Remi?"

"Mr. Dashiell should be in his study handling some business. Cedric just dropped by with some items. Would you like to go up and see him, Mrs. Dashiell?" Lizetta shook her head, noticing the pruning shears in Tina's hand, an idea sparking in her mind. She took them with a smile, saying, "No need, I'll just give Remi a call." With a spring in her step, Lizetta called him while making her way to the garden.

Tina watched her go, muttering with a smile, "It's been a while since Mrs. Dashiell seemed this happy." NôvelDrama.Org owns this text.

When Remington answered Lizetta's call, his eyebrow raised slightly, "Why are you calling?"

"Are you in your study? Open the window, come on," she urged, her voice soft and coaxing.

Remington felt a tingling in his ear, his lips curving into a slight smile as he rose from his chair and walked to the window.

Upon opening it, he spotted Lizetta standing in the garden gazebo.

They locked eyes, and she waved at him vigorously, even hopping on the steps to signal him to come over.

Watching her carefree movements, Remington couldn't help but worry she might trip any second.

His heart tightened, his expression turning serious, "Don't move!"

With those words, he skillfully leaped from the window sill, using a nearby maple tree for support as he jumped down and quickly made his way to Lizetta.

Lizetta was stunned; staring at the fast approaching figure, she walked ahead, flustered, "How could you just jump down from the second floor?"

Remington had already climbed the gazebo steps, wrapping an arm around Lizetta's waist, "Didn't you call me over?"

She had, but she hadn't expected him to leap through the window. Shaking off her surprise at his impressive agility, Lizetta decided not to dwell on it. Alright, since he had that advantage. "Remi, come with me."

She took Remington's hand, pulling him into the gazebo, and handed him the shears. Standing next to a pillar marked with her growth over the years, she looked up at him with a smile, "Can you add the final mark for my height now?"

Remington looked at her with a hint of surprise, raising an eyebrow and asked, "What made you think of this all of a sudden?"

Lizetta just smiled with pressed rosy lips, her eyes gleaming with sincerity and charm.

As a child, she had harbored a deep wish. When she finally stopped growing, marking her height on this pillar for the last time, she hoped to marry Remi and become his wife. But as they grew older and even after they married, they drifted apart.

Now, she wanted to mend that regret. She was willing to gamble on her last ounce of courage, to love him once more, hoping that this time, they could truly stay together, bound by love.