Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Remington said that for Grace, Hanna practically sees Stella as a daughter of her own, and she might even wish it was Stella who had come back all those years ago. And looking at it now, it seemed spot on.

Hanna was holding Stella in a way that was both protective and tender, really as if she was her own daughter.

Thinking back to how she had tried to win Hanna's favor for years, yet had never earned a single word of kindness, Liz couldn't help but find herself utterly ridiculous.

It was clear that she and Hanna were never meant to be mother and daughter-in-law.

"I'm just sitting here, what could I possibly do to her? She's almost thirty, not some eleven or twelve- year-old girl. How could I bully her?"

Hanna turned pale with anger after Liz's blunt retort.

She looked at Remington with annoyance.

"Remington, you've seen it, time and again, how she treats me? Sharp-tongued, lacking any sort of decency or humility. How do you expect me to like her? She's nothing but a wild child, not a patch on Stella!" Liz turned her head, smirking at Remington.

Stella was in tears, and she waited for this man to unleash his fury.

However, Remington, furrowing his brows, only said to Hanna.

"Mom, you're accusing my wife without getting the whole story first. If you want her to respect you, you have to be fair to her."

Hanna choked on her words, and her face turned even sourer.

Liz hadn't expected Remington to defend her in such a situation, but she still turned her head away when he looked at her, refusing to respond.

With Stella around, she and Remington couldn't have a moment's peace.

Since she had decided to leave, nothing mattered to her anymore.

"Auntie, please don't argue with Remington over me, Liz and I were just chatting."

Stella, wiping away her tears, took Hanna's hand and spoke up.

Her demeanor really matched what Hanna called decency and humility.

"My dear, you were crying so hard, how could it have been just a chat? Don't t worry, tell me everything.dll back you up just like I did when you were little."

"Liz was just asking why I disappeared all these years. It was all the memories that made me cry," Stella hurriedly explained.

Yet, Hanna grew even angrier, so much so that she slammed the table.

"That's not bullying? Even a fool can see, Stella's absence was beyond her control, you're just trying to reopen old wounds!"

Hanna glared at Liz. "Apologize to Stella right now."

Liz stood up, and said with a cool voice. "I didn't realize Ms. West was so emotionally fragile. I apologize for my careless questioning, alright?"

"Is that how you apologize?!" Hanna, feeling her anger flared, looked toward Remington.

Liz wanted to leave, but Remington's tall figure was blocking her way at the table.

Liz looked up at him. Remington's gaze swept over Stella's reddened eyes before he said to Liz. Content is © by NôvelDrama.Org.

"Liz, whether it's intentional or not, hitting someone's sore spot deserves a polite apology."

Liz clutched her purse, resisting the urge to scratch his handsome face.

Despite her utter disappointment in him, she couldn't help but feel her blood boiling with anger.

She gave a faint smile. "Guess I'm

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just a wild child, huh? Not as cultured or well-mannered as Ms. West, the perfect lady. I don't know how to apologize."

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She pushed past Remington, brushing by him, tuning out Hanna's angry accusations from behind.

"What a disgrace to bring such a wife into the family."

"Mom! Enough." Remington's voice was firm as he interrupted Hanna.

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Hanna finally fell silent; Rem turned to Stella, saying, "My wife didn't know about your past years; she was merely curious, with no i intentions."

Stella smiled gently, while waving her hands in a fluster.

"Remington, you don't have to do this, I already said, it was my fault."

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