Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Lizetta stared blankly as the woman efficiently calmed the baby. "Are you his mom?"

Suppressing the disappointment in her heart, her voice came out hoarse.

The woman, having soothed the baby, put him back. "Who else?"

As she straightened the stroller and prepared to leave, Lizetta blocked her way, and the woman grew impatient.

"What do you want?"

"I just need to make sure the baby is really yours before you take him away!"

The mom's impatience became evident as she glared at Lizetta. "What do you mean? Didn't you see the kid recognizes me? Are you mistaking me for some kidnapper?"

Lizetta stood her ground. "What kind of mom leaves her baby unattended and disappears? It's best to make sure."

Turning to a nearby waiter, who initially thought Lizetta was overreacting, he too began to feel uneasy.

A waiter immediately contacted the manager via walkie-talkie, while the woman's expression turned even sourer.

"What leaving alone? I just went to the restroom, came out to find my phone left at the sink. I was gone for just a minute or two to grab it. Mind your own business!"

She attempted to push the stroller away again, but Lizetta grabbed the handle.

"If I'm wrong, I'm willing to apologize."

The two waiters also tried to calm the woman down. The manager arrived promptly, confirming through surveillance footage that the stroller was indeed brought in by the woman in question. After personally viewing the surveillance clip, Lizetta stepped aside.

Yet the woman persisted, "Weren't you going to apologize?"

Knowing Lizetta had come with Remington and Jerome, the manager was about to confront the woman for her attitude, but Lizetta raised her hand to stop him, bowing slightly to the woman.

"I'm sorry for my intrusion; it was out of line. But I still want to remind you, it's best not to let your baby out of your sight, especially when they're this young."

Lizetta's apology was polite and sincere, but the woman remained irritable.

"Yeah, yeah, got it. What a busybody."

She hastily pushed the stroller away, clearly disregarding Lizetta's advice.

The manager frowned. "Some

people, eh? Miss, don't take her to et

heart, and thank you for your

concern earlier. It could've led to an accident otherwise."

Lizetta turned to the manager. "Could you do me a favor?"This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

"Of course, just tell me."

"I'd like you to make a copy of the surveillance video from just around the corner, and if it's not too much

trouble, hand it to the mom that just left."

Clearly, the woman hadn't taken Lizetta's warning seriously.

But the mere thought of the baby facing any accidents due to familial negligence made Lizetta's heart ache.

"Not a problem at all, I'll get right on it. You can count on it," the manager immediately reassured.

As he and the waiter left, Lizetta stood there, staring down at her fingers which still glistened with drool.

She thought, she had washed her hands after coming out of the restroom.

Making a call from the patio, she hadn't used that hand to open the door or grab her phone; her fingers should be clean... "What are you spacing out here for?"

A familiar man's voice suddenly rang out above her, and as Lizetta looked up to see Remington, the emotions stirred up by the recent incident welted up again.

She particularly didn't want to face him. Not answering, she started heading back to the private room.

Remington quickly grabbed her shoulders, leaning in slightly.

"Why are your eyes red? Have you been crying? What happened?"