Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Liz took another step towards Jerome's car when she felt a firm grip on her wrist. Rem didn't loosen his hold; instead, he tightened it, causing a slight numbness in Liz's forearm.

Frowning, Liz turned around to see Rem's handsome face illuminated by the car headlights. His complexion was pale, making his drooping dark eyes seem even colder, shimmering with a chilling light. His lips slightly raised, "Since when do you call him that? Or did you do it just for me to hear?"

Ever since that morning at the doorstep of the Madden family, Rem had been irked upon hearing Liz refer to Jerome in such a familiar way.

He had stormed off in anger before, but even with mental preparation, he still couldn't handle it, easily getting infuriated.

"Mr. Dashiell, why would I do anything just for you to hear?" Liz bit her lip, displeased, implying he wasn't that significant to her.

She tried to pull her hand away again, but Rem's jaw clenched tighter, his eyes full of dark jealousy.

Out of the corner of his eye, Rem saw Jerome had parked and was unbuckling his seatbelt to get out. Suddenly, Rem bent down and scooped Liz up.

Bang!

Before Liz could react, she was stuffed into his car behind them. He followed, slamming the door shut.

"What are you doing!"

Liz scrambled up from the seat, trying to open the door, but it locked with a click.

Outside, Jerome was quickly approaching, bending down to knock forcefully on the window twice.

Liz glanced at Jerome outside, then glared back at Rem.

"Have you lost your mind, you..."

She didn't finish her question, as Rem suddenly leaned in, closing the space between them.

His height and physique made him even more imposing in the confined space, enveloping Liz with his presence. She fell silent, instinctively shrinking back. "Remington!" she said, annoyed.

"What did you call me?" he loomed over her, his handsome face stormy in the dim light of the car.

Liz opened her mouth to speak, but he covered it with his hand before she could.

"That's not right!"

Unable to speak, Liz glared at him, furious.

Rem had been behaving, gentle and accommodating, like a docile

with

O threat. She had taken cane?

him

tame cat.

evels.net

Little did she know, his dominating, coercive nature hadn't changed at all. She moved to bite his hand, but he narrowed his eyes, darkly amused.

"Go ahead, bite. What's fair is fair. I won't mind biting back once you're done!"

His words were deliberate, each one dripping with anticipation and excitement.

Crazy!

Liz immediately stopped any movement of her lips.This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

Jerome's knocking on the window turned to pounding, making Liz frown in embarrassment and frustration.

"Promise me you won't call him that, and I'll let you out," Rem said, slightly loosening his grip.

Liz scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Why

should I promise you anything?

Jerome is the grandson my grandparents adopted, my legitimate brother. Why shouldn't I call him brother? You're being unreasonable."

"You can call him 'big bro'!" Rem insisted, his voice deep.

Liz pushed his hand away. "I already have a 'big bro'! I want to call Jerome 'brother'!"

She was referring to Thad, and

initially, she did want to call Jerome

"big bro," but Jerome had suggested "brother" to avoid confusion.