Lizetta couldn’t help but recognize the boy in the suit, looking sharp and polished in the photo that was
definitely Remington.
And the little girl, no question about it, was Ste
As she flipped through the pages, they seemed to grow older right before her eyes.
From babies to a young boy and girl.
And in thatst birthday photo, the young boy and girl were dressed up like a bride and groom.
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They were both mounted on a majestic horse, smiling brightly at the camera.
Twelve–year–old Remington, with a joy in his smile Lizette had never seen before, like a child in pure
bliss.
She couldn’t hold back her sobs anymore, mming the photo album slut and pushing it back to the
bottom of the bor
“Liz? What’s wrong? Don’t scare me like that.”
Ynda, hearing the choked sobs, asked loudly with concem.
Lizetta, in a panic, tried to close the box as if she had opened Pandora’s box itself.
But a few orange candy wrappers fell out making her pause.
It was the wrapper of an orange candy.
She let out augh, “Yoli, even my favorite candy from my brother, the orange candy, was also Ste’s
favorite.”
Holding the wrapper Lizetta’s tears fell relentlessly.
She remembered, once upon a time, Quentin had also given her an orange candy.
Tums out, whether it was Remington or Quentin, the candies they held belonged to Ste.
“There, there, don’t cry. Joy will worry about her mom,” Ynda tried tofort Lizetta softly.
Lizetta wiped her tears and put the box back exactly as it was.
She closed the cab, her face cold and impassive.
Picking up her phone, she said clearly, “Yoli, in just over a day, I feel like I’ve witnessed Remington’s
deep love for Ste. They were childhood sweethearts, promised to each other since birth. He lost her
and never gave up looking for sixteen years. What am I? Maybe Just like Evelina said, I’m just Ste’s
stand–in. Is it pitiful? Before I was six, they said I owed Evelina, after eight, I owed Ste? Amr really
just meant to be a Gardenia family daughter, beaten to death by Hans? Why do I owe everyone just for
breathing? It’s so funny!”
Ynda’s heart clenched listening to her, she knew too well what Remington’s presence meant for
Lizetta.
Lizetta received so little love, cherished by Granny Rachel but she passed away too soon.
At six, she was abandoned by her parents, and life in the Gardenia family was even worse.
Though Thaddeus protected his sister, he couldn’t afford to keep her and sent her to the Dashiell
family.
That was when Remington became Lizetta’s salvation, her light
Lizetta always thought Remington was the only one who never abandoned her, who gave her a home
and warmth, simply because she was herself.
But now, Lizetta discovered that Remington’s care was mixed with so much else. This truth was too
cruel for her.
Unable to bear it, Ynda said hoarsely, “Liz, maybe there’s some misunderstanding, it’s not like that.
Even if Remington liked his childhood sweetheart back then, he must have moved on after so many
years.”
Lizetta shook her head, smiling with certainty, “No, Yoli. I’ve never been so clear–headed. He hasn’t
moved on! If he had, he wouldn’t keep hiding it from me! if he had, he wouldn’t care/so much about the
West family’s affairs, he’s even closer and more respectful to Barbara than to Hanna, he’s been
desperately searching for Ste all these years. I’m the spare one!”
Hearing Lizetta speak like that, Ynda was at a loss for words.
“Liz”
“Yoli, I’m fine. I just find myself ridiculous. All this time, as I tried to catch up to him, to grow up, he
already had a deep love in his life. Knowing he didn’t like Evelina, I was d I met him early enough,
that no one could be earlier, that if his heart was empty, it would surely be me who filled it. But how
could I know, I was thete one, fourteen years toote.
“Uz, please stop!” Ynda’s heart was breaking.
But Lizetta was still smiling, tears falling as she did.
“Yoll, I always thought if I tried hard enough, I could upy his heart as his wife, but it’s useless.
Loving him is so exhausting. Yoli, I