Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

"Remington... What are you talking about? Why would I intentionally get caught in the rain?"

Stella's eyes flickered with panic for a moment before she feigned innocence and surprise, shaking her head.

Remington's lips curled into a mocking smile as he pulled up a photo on his phone to show her.

That night, he had brought Stella from a small countryside village to stay temporarily at a local's house in town. The photo was taken by the woman of the house, who found Stella's behavior odd. In the photo, Stella's slender figure stood under the pouring rain, leaving her no room for denial.

"Remember now?" Remington said coldly.

Thinking back to how he missed the wedding just to bring Stella back, and realizing all of this was a deliberate act by her, Remington could barely contain his anger.

His gaze was sharp as a blade, making Stella's face turn pale as she tried to explain.

"No, no, that's not it, Remington. I just couldn't believe I was actually being rescued. I was afraid it was all a dream, so I ran out into the rain to feel the reality of it... You have to believe me!" Stella stepped forward, earnestly looking at Remington and reaching out to touch his arm.

However, Remington stepped aside, scoffing.

"You're quite the talker. Just a moment ago, you couldn't remember anything, and now you recall every single feeling vividly."

Stella wiped away her tears forcefully, the smooth scar from a severed finger mingling with her tears, making her look even more pitiful.

"Remington, does it mean whatever I say now, you won't believe? In your eyes, have I become that loathsome?"

"What do you think?" His voice remained icy.

Stella choked up, bit her lip, and managed a bitter smile.

"I thought the deep bond we shared as kids, the trust and dependence we had on each other when we were kidnapped and fighting for survival... I thought that would never change."Content is property of NôvelDrama.Org.

Remington's lips were tightly

pressed together. "I didn't want it to

change either, but you've betrayed my trust from the start. The Wests have plotted too much."

He had given a lot to the Wests. Every time the Wests faced a crisis, wasn't he the first to help?

If Stella had just stayed quiet or only sought small gains, that would have been enough for him to owe her for a lifetime.

But the Wests wanted him to marry Stella, and likely, they wouldn't stop there but aim to take over the Dashiell Group as well.

"The Wests plotted what?! Remington, you can't just pin baseless suspicions on the Wests because I love you!"

Stella suddenly became agitated, crying out in indignation at Remington.

His expression remained unmoved, his cold gaze judging.

"You better hope I never find the evidence..."

Stella's back broke out in cold sweat from his chilling tone, her lips trembling as she forced out a sarcastic smile.

"Fine, I'll wait. But there won't be such a day! Because it truly has nothing to do with the Wests. The Starlight Group has expanded so fast, and the Dashiell family has stood unshaken in Zion City for a century.

Remington, whether it's the Dashiell family or you yourself, you've made quite a few enemies over the years, haven't you? If one day you realize you've misunderstood me, will you regret it?"

Stella stubbornly stared at him.

Remington, however, didn't return her gaze. His indifferent demeanor grew impatient as he looked towards Lizetta helping Fiona leave.

He didn't answer, not because he agreed with Stella.

Rather, he found the question laughable.

Just the fact that Evelina's miscarriage wasn't an accident, and Stella used it to lure him out of Zion City, meant the Wests couldn't possibly be innocent.

After searching for Stella for years, risking his own life, if he had known he'd find a curse, he would only regret not giving up sooner.