Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

“So you’re up to speed on Joseph’s condition, right? I know you overheard me talking with Wilma that night.”

Lizetta nodded, about to offer Hanna a few comforting words, when she continued, “You and Remington better get cracking on making a baby.”

Lizetta choked. Clearly, her mother–in–law had taken the reins and decided for her. Whether or not to have a kid was never really her call to make.

Thank goodness she’d had enough of this life!

“There’s no way Remington and I can have a child. I just asked the doctor, and he said with Joseph’s

condition…”

Joseph’s illness wasn’t at the point where a bone marrow transplant was necessary, and even if it was an emergency, there wouldn’t be time to pop out a kid. Plus, the odds of Lizetta’s baby being a match were slim.

With medicine advancing at lightning speed, leukemia wasn’t a death sentence anymore, especially for a well–connected family like the Dashiells.

Hanna was obviously freaking out, barking up the wrong tree. If having a baby was the only way to save Joseph, with the bond between Lizetta and Joseph, she’d be willing to make that sacrifice without Hanna pulling all the strings.

“Shut your trap! You have to have this child!” Hanna cut her off.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Seeing Lizetta frown, she softened her tone.

“Don’t worry; I’m not expecting you to do this for free. I’ll throw in 10 million if you deliver, 30 million if it’s a match, and we can negotiate a separate price for each transfusion. As soon as you’re pregnant, I’ll advance you 2 million.”

Hanna sat there, all high and mighty, stirring her coffee, as if she believed Lizetta couldn’t resist such a juicy.

carrot.

Lizetta’s fingers turned ice–cold. In Hanna’s eyes, her child was just a bargaining chip, devoid of emotion, to be demanded and dispensed with, just like Lizetta herself.

She clenched her dress, her mind replaying the moment Jolin had left the Dashiell family for money, and

Hanna’s contemptuous sneer.

“A bunch of bloodsuckers! How could Remington be outsmarted by such a woman!”

“Mrs. Hanna Dashiell, please don’t be upset. It’s just 2 thousand; think of it as tossing a coin to a beggar.”

The bitter memories made Lizetta stand up abruptly.

“To tell you the truth, my relationship with your son is toast; we’re in the middle of a divorce, so no more babies. You’re 52, not menopausal yet, right? If you really think you need a baby to save your son, why don’t you give it another shot? These things, you gotta do yourself; don’t you think?”

She grabbed her purse and left, leaving Hanna sitting there, dumbstruck, unable to believe what she’d just heard.

Wilma hurried over from another table.

“Mrs. Hanna Dashiell, what’s wrong? Did Mrs. Lizetta Dashiell get under your skin again?”

“Ungrateful wretch! The Dashiell family really wasted their time on her; even a dog knows to be loyal to its master! She’s making up crazy lies like divorce just to avoid having a baby!”

Lizetta paused in her stride, and then walked away with even more resolve. She headed back to the hospital, pushed open the door to Joseph’s room, and was greeted with laughter and chatter – Fiona and Remington

were both there.

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Seeing Lizetta, Fiona immediately waved her over, “Liz, come here! Why the special treatment for Joseph? Am I not your favorite old baby?”

The octogenarian pouted over the food, looking as forlorn as a kid fighting over candy. Lizetta chuckled, sat next to her, and linked arms with her, “So, what do you fancy, Grandma Fiona? I’ll cook anything for you.”

“I know, Liz’s sweet and sour pork is delish. That’s what I’m craving.”

Joseph passed a piece of pork her way, but before Fiona could take a bite, Lizetta caught the scent and suddenly turned her head, gagging.

Fiona’s eyes lit up, slapping Remington’s arm excitedly, “You sly dog! Is Liz pregnant? Such great news, and you didn’t tell me!”

Lizetta took a deep breath to steady herself and turned to meet Remington’s deep gaze.