Evelina’s words were cut short as Hanna grabbed her hair and pped her hard across the face twice.


    Hanna’s fingers, adomed with long, manicured nails, left scratch marks on Evelina’s face


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    Evelina’s screams attracted the nurses, who peeked around curiously. Concerned about her image,


    Hanna finally let Eveline go.


    She straightened her clothes, spat at Evelina, and quickly walked away.


    Evelina stumbled backward, and that’s when Ray stepped up to help her, saying, “Miss Hawthome, you


    should probablyy low for a while. If anything happens to the baby, all this drama would have been for


    nothing.”


    Evelina pushed Ray away, covering her face in shame and left without a word,


    As the door to the hospital room closed, Lizetta, who had overheard themotion, was taken aback.


    The Hawthomes and the Dashiells were old family friends, and Hanna had always been warm towards


    Evelina.


    She had clearly preferred Evelina as a daughter–inw


    Now, learning about Evelina’s deception and seeing Hanna’s violent reaction, Lizetta wondered, “Is


    Joseph’s condition really that


    serious?”


    Lizetta, still in shock, looked at Remington with concem.


    Hanna’s hope had been pinned on Evelina, and her outburst suggested desperation. Could it be that


    she saw no hope for Joseph’s recovery?


    “Maybe you should worry about yourself first,” Remington said, pulling Lizetta to sit by the bed and


    reaching for the iodine on the nightstand. As he dabbed the lodine on her scratched skin, Lizetta


    flinched at the sting


    “Being a bit dramatic, aren’t you?” Remington chuckled, but his actions softened. He instinctively blew


    on her hand and gently stroked her wrist, his movements tender and caring


    Lizetta watched him, touched by his gentleness and momentarily forgetting her anger.


    She remembered a time when pain didn’t faze het having been toughened by numerous injuries as a


    child.


    When she was beaten to a pulp by Hans, she didn’t shed a tear or make a sound, determined not to


    show weakness.


    Back then, she was fearless, but her time with the Dashiells, especially with Remington, had gradually


    brought back her sensitivity to


    pain.


    Remington had gone to great lengths to heal her wounds, using both internal and external treatments,


    even surgery, to fade her scars. Though some scars remained, they didn’t bother her. However,


    Remington found them unsightly, insisting, “Liz, you are going to be a dancer. You need to be wless


    on stage, under the scrutiny of countless eyes. How can you have scars?”


    Lizetta knew it wasn’t just about the scars. Remington didn’t want her to be constantly reminded of the


    abuse and nightmares she endured at the Gardenias.


    He even found a special ointment, imed to be an diligently for over two years, nurturing her back to


    health


    acret form for healing and fading scars. He made sure she applied it


    or he was satisfied.


    Since then, Lizetta had be more sensitive to pain, knowing


    W relief of being cared for and cherished.


    But four years ago, after a terrible night that left him injured and her in the hospital, Remington


    disappeared.


    She had lost the man who cherished her.


    Now, when Lizetta saw the concern and tendemess in his eyes, her grievances melted away, her eyes


    moistening with unshed tears, no longer wanting to hold onto past hurts.