Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Remington's momentary stiffness didn't escape Lizetta's notice.

Lizetta chuckled lightly, "Let go, will you?"

But Remington held Lizetta tighter, nuzzling his face against her neck, his voice husky and plaintive.

"No! It's your scent, Liz. I can't be mistaken. You can't fool me."

If it weren't for the sight of the man's short, neatly trimmed hair, Lizetta might have mistaken him for someone else, perhaps a Joseph, not Remington.

She was infuriated yet somewhat helpless, disdainfully turning her head away.

"Mr. Taylor, you've been caught. Can you stop the bad acting already?"NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.

He was clearly lucid, pretending to be the big bad wolf.

Remington, with his eyes closed, shook his head while hugging her, his head slowly sliding down to her chest.

"Liz, you're so fierce..."

His actions and words were like those of a child throwing a tantrum.

Lizetta had never seen him like this. For a moment, she was taken aback, forgetting to resist, her heart filling with a bittersweet sensation.

But he was indeed very hot, feeling to Lizetta like a burning coal against her.

"Did you even take any fever medicine?" she frowned.

Remington didn't answer, instead burrowing closer within her embrace, his face flushed as he inhaled her scent, his heart beating with joy.

He didn't want to speak. Just holding her like this felt right.

God knows how many nights over these past two months he'd lain awake thinking of her.

And how many times he'd managed to fall asleep, only to wake up from a dream of holding her, feeling an immense emptiness.

A couple of nights ago, he had sneaked into her room, watching over her as she slept.

He had wanted to hold her tight, to meld into her being, but he was afraid of waking her up.

He had only dared to gently hold her hand, to stroke her hair, to massage her when she seemed uncomfortable.

She recognized him and turned icy cold again.

If his current shamelessness allowed him to hold her a bit longer, he didn't mind being even more shameless.

"I'm talking to you!" Lizetta pushed him.

Remington then nestled closer within her embrace, murmuring, "Liz, brother feels bad, I just need to sleep it off..."

His chin was stubbled with a rough beard, prickly as needles, easily poking through the knit sweater.

As he rubbed against her, the stubble grazed her sensitive skin, stirring a mix of heat and breath, sparking a thrill of tingles.

This unfamiliar yet intimate ambiance easily evoked memories of their past fiery encounters.

Lizetta's cheeks flushed with embarrassment and annoyance, forcefully patting his back, exasperatedly saying.

"Remington! If you don't let go of me now, I'll get serious!"

The man didn't seem to take her threats seriously, slightly pulling away to look at her.

"Easy there. Be careful, or I might

actually lose my senses from this fever, become legally tent,

and then I'll have to stick

for

life!"

His handsome face was flushed, his lips pale yet dry, making the lines on them more evident.

Those deep eyes were also reddened, yet they looked like those of a pitiful big dog.

It was only then that Lizetta noticed how much thinner he had gotten, his jawline more pronounced when he looked up at her.

But none of that diminished his handsomeness; if anything, it added a certain morbid charm.

Lizetta froze, her attempt to pull him away losing its force.

Remington's lashes fluttered down,

the light smile in his

dhe hugged her againe.net

pressing his face against her.

However, as soon as he did, something kicked him on the face.

Remington was initially baffled, and when he got kicked again, this time right on his nose, he jolted up from Lizetta's embrace, looking at her incredulously.

"Is that... Daisy?"

Lizetta's lips curved slightly, finding humor in his dumbfounded expression.

She suppressed a smile, "Daisy's teaching you a lesson!"

Of course, it was Daisy.