Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

"Who do you think you are? Do you run Dashiell Hospital? Every single penny for my brother's stay here has been paid by me. Why can't he stay here?"

Wendy sneered, "You? Paid the medical bills? Stop bluffing. What ability do you have to cover such high expenses? It's all thanks to Remington and the Dashiell family!"

Lizetta found it amusing. "Even if I did rely on Remington, it's because he's willing. What's it to you, a distant aunt who's barely related?"

People nearby began to snicker and gossip.

"Thought she was the mother-in-law-turns out, just some distant aunt, meddling in other people's business."

"Come on, take this drama elsewhere. Let the patients recover in peace."

Wendy's outburst was clearly disturbing others, and they started to chastise her.

Unable to maintain her composure, Wendy snapped, "What do you all know? How can it not involve me? I—"

"Why don't you explain exactly how I'm under your care and how it's relevant to you?" A cold, stern voice suddenly sounded from behind.

Lizetta looked up to see Remington stepping forward from the crowd, with a tense-looking Cedric following closely behind.

Cedric hurried over, his face filled with worry and apology. "Madam, I'm so sorry. I accidentally ran into Ethan, which let Mrs. Dashiell know you were here. When the President heard, he immediately rushed back out of concern."

Wendy's expression shifted the moment she saw Remington's cold demeanor. She quickly changed her tone. "Remington, why are you here? Don't get the wrong idea, Wendy wasn't meddling in your affairs. She just wanted to advise Lizetta that if she still relies on you to take care of her brother, she shouldn't cause such a scene over something so trivial."

Before she could finish, Remington cut her off coldly. "Thaddeus's hospital bills are covered by Liz! And if what you call 'something trivial' is Shirley repeatedly insulting Lizetta in public, then by that logic, am I free to call Wendy a shameless, bullying, old hag?"

His words were ruthless. Wendy's face turned bright red, and her eyes filled with humiliation and anger.

"How can you say that to Wendy? I'm your elder!" she cried.

Remington's lips curled into a cold smile. "Such a small matter-surely it's beneath Wendy to bicker with someone younger, isn't it?"

"You-!" Wendy was left speechless.

Remington turned to Lizetta, ignoring Wendy. "Are you okay? What did she do?"

Before Lizetta could respond, Zora jumped in, "She was pulling at Madam's hair with all her strength! She yanked out so much!"

Remington's gaze immediately darkened as he glared at Wendy, his intense look causing her to turn pale. She quickly backtracked. "I only wanted to bring Liz downstairs. We're all family-can't we talk things out in person? Remington, you can't just believe her side of the story! You've even gone so far as to... send your own mother away for her "

Remington's expression hardened. "Enough!"

Mrs. Dashiell flinched and clutched her chest, falling silent.

Lizetta frowned. What did Wendy almost say about Hanna?

She'd felt before that Remington was hiding something, and that feeling was returning now. She turned to him and asked, "What does she mean? What have you done with your mother for my sake?"--- "What do you think you are? Do you run Dashiell Medical Center? My brother's been staying here, and every single penny spent, I've covered it. Why shouldn't he stay?"

Wendy scoffed, "Your medical bills? Cut the act, how could you afford such steep expenses? It's all thanks to Remington, all thanks to the Dashiells!"

Lizetta laughed, "Even if I were relying on Remington, it's his choice. What's it to you, a distant cousin who's barely related?"

Bystanders snickered, joining in the conversation.

"I thought she was his mother-in-law or something. Just a distant cousin and she's this nosy?"

"Let's move along. Is this a place to make a scene? Let the man rest."

Wendy's commotion clearly bothered everyone, drawing widespread criticism.

Wendy, unable to save face, snapped, "What do you all know? How is this none of my business? I..."

"And just who am I supposed to be taking care of, and how is it related to you?"

A deep, stern voice suddenly came from behind.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

Lizetta looked up to see Remington making his way through the crowd, with a visibly anxious Cedric trailing behind.

Cedric hurried over, his voice filled with urgency and apology.

"Ma'am, I'm sorry, it was my fault for accidentally bumping into Ethan, which let Mrs. Dashiell know you were here. The boss heard about it and immediately rushed back, worried about you." Upon seeing Remington's stern face, Wendy quickly changed her tune.

"Remington, you're here? Don't get me wrong, wasn't meddling in your affairs. I was just advising Lizetta, since she still needs your help with her brother, to stop causing trouble. Making a mountain out of a molehill..."

She was cut off by Remington's icy interruption.

"The medical

al bills

for Thaddeus's

stay are covered by Liz! And if by 'a small matter,' you mean Shirley publicly insulting Liz time and again, then would it be alright for me to call

Wendy shameless, acting like an

entitled old hag?"

Remington's words were anything but polite. Wendy's face turned beet red, her eyes welling up in humiliation.

"How can you speak to Wendy like that? I'm your elder!"

Remington smirked coldly, "Such a small matter, Wendy shouldn't be squabbling with the younger generation, right?" "You!" Wendy was at a loss for words.

Remington turned his attention back to Lizetta, "Are you alright? What did she do?"

Before Lizetta could reply, Zora quickly chimed in.

"She was yanking on Mrs.'s hair! She pulled out so much of it!"

Remington's gaze shifted back to Wendy, his look so intimidating that Wendy paled, immediately softening her stance.

"I was just trying to get Liz to come

downstairs, We're all family here, better to talk things out face to face. Remington, don't be fooled by her don't just listen to her side of the

story For her, you even sent your own mother to..."

Remington's expression turned cold, "Enough!"

Mrs. Dashiell shuddered, covering her mouth.

Lizetta furrowed her brows; what was Wendy about to say about Hanna?

She had felt before that Remington was hiding something, and now that feeling returned.

She turned to Remington, "What do you mean by for my sake, what did you do to your mother?"