Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption novel Chapter 2

He was there for her first parent-teacher conference, taught her how to ride a bike, and even did her first hair braid.

Even when she got her first period or needed a bra, it was he who braved the store to get her pads and training bras. For ten years, he was like a brother, like a father to her.

At eighteen, Remington would go to the ends of the earth for Lizetta. At eighteen, Lizetta climbed into his bed, got caught, and it sparked a major scandal in Zion City. Fiona Dashiell, his grandma, beat him black and blue, forcing him to marry her.

His girlfriend, Evelina Hawthorne, left the country heartbroken.

He married Lizetta but didn't love her, playing house without any real affection. A year ago, in a drunken haze, he made a move without a shred of emotion and refused to have children with her.

He resented her for ruining everything and wouldn't let her call him "Remi" anymore. Yet, although she loved him deeply, she kept her feelings hidden, terrified of tainting his image - how could she ever drug him and climb into his bed?

Four years ago, that night, she had no idea what happened. Since then, everyone laughed at her for being promiscuous, and the Dashiell family never accepted her.

She was always compliant and trod carefully. She thought when her mother-in-law brought out the family bracelet and Remington spent their anniversary with her, it was a sign that she was finally accepted and liked by him. But it was all just her foolish fantasy.

Hope and despair were only a hair's breadth apart. Everything that happened today was like a silent slap, waking her up completely.

She didn't want to go on like this. She wanted a divorce - to set him free and to free herself!

"Mrs. Dashiell, why are you sitting on the floor?" Edith stood at the door, looking surprised.

Lizetta turned away, quickly blinked away her tears, and stood up.

"What's up?"

"Before Mr. Dashiell left, he asked me to bring medicine up."

Edith held a glass of water and a pill, and Lizetta knew it was birth control. She took it and swallowed it in front of Edith.

After Edith left, Lizetta closed the door and numbly started to tidy up the mess on the floor. It was only when she saw the bloodstains on the floor that she realized a piece of broken glass had pierced her foot, smearing blood all over her sole.

She laughed at herself mockingly, cleaned the floor, and then attended to her wound.

Descending the stairs to the dining room, the candlelit dinner and cake she had prepared were still neatly laid out.

Lizetta sat down alone, picked up the utensils, and slowly ate, as if paying last respects to her failed marriage.

In the living room, Edith's panicked voice rang out, "Something's wrong; Mr. Joseph Dashiell has a high fever!"