Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

In a cluttered storage room at the hospital, an old man with outdated clothes and a gaunt face sat on a chair. His demeanor was timid, but his eyes sneakily scanned Remington standing in front of him. "You seem like a man of means; can you really pay me a lot if the information I give is valuable?" He asked with a heavy accent, visibly trembling.

Remington, evidently impatient, simply gestured to Ray, who was standing behind him. Ray promptly dropped a black duffel bag at the old man's feet, revealing stacks of cash inside.

"If your information holds up, all this is yours," Ray announced, before zipping the bag back up and picking it up.

The old man immediately stood up from the chair in a hurry, "Every word I'm telling you is the truth. That girl, her right thumb was chopped off right here, crudely wrapped in some cloth.

She had many injuries, was running a high fever, unconscious. They left her in the woods, looked like she was as good as dead. I just went over to take a look and pulled something off her wrist." "What was it?" Remington demanded urgently.

"A bracelet made with red string. I saw that girl, soft and delicate, thought I could get some money for it.

Didn't realize it was just a peach pit carved into a charm because of the fancy design on it. I kept it when they said they were looking for the girl, hid the red string on me."

Remington's expression changed subtly. Stella had indeed been wearing a red string bracelet.

"Show it to me!"

The man fumbled in his inner pocket and produced an old red string with a peach pit-shaped wood carving on it.

Remington's gaze narrowed at the sight of the bracelet. A figure rushed over, snatched the bracelet, and inspected it excitedly.

"It's Stella's! Remington, this was hand-carved by Stella's grandfather for her and her brother Quentin. His craftsmanship is unmistakable!"

It was Martin, holding the bracelet tightly, his body shaking slightly. Remington supported him, his eyes showing a hint of red as they landed on the red string.

The bracelet was made of mahogany, carved into the shape of a peach pit, with birds and flowers intricately designed on it.

Quentin's bracelet had been cremated with him.

"Yes, this means Stella wasn't taken to Celestia after all. I'll have someone search the area again immediately; we will find Stella this time." Remington squeezed Martin's hand.

"Right, let's get moving! Maybe we can still reunite Barbara with her real daughter!" NôvelDrama.Org owns this.

Early the next morning, Lizetta stirred, and Remington, who was holding her, instantly tightened his arms around her.

Lizetta opened her eyes, a smile flowing in her gaze as she lifted her head from his chest, "Let go, I need to head back to the dance troupe today. Plus, aren't you supposed to be up for your morning workout by now?"

She had been resting at home for three more days, and it was only after she insisted on returning to the dance troupe that Remington had the family doctor check her over and finally agreed when he made sure everything was fine.

Hearing her, Remington opened his eyes but didn't release Lizetta. Instead, he leaned down and kissed her without a word.

His hand slipped under her nightgown, his warm palm gliding over her soft skin, tracing the contours of her still graceful body.

His body was clearly pressed against hers, and after breaking away from her lips, he whispered in her ear, "Let's try a different kind of morning exercise today."

Feeling the heat in her cheeks, Lizetta wondered if being pregnant made her more sensitive. As her nightgown was lifted higher and higher and her body easily aroused under his touch, she trembled slightly. Yet, she was a bit concerned, holding down his hand and guiding it to her belly, whispering faintly.