Shattered Illusions Love Lies and Redemption (Lizetta and Remington) novel Chapter 1305

He and Kimberley weren't actually close; realistically, they hadn't even met that many times.

In the past, the moment Kimberley pretended not to recognize him, he would have played along, ignored her, and walked away.

But perhaps it was because Nelson Madden and Lizetta had been mercilessly teasing him about Kimberley lately.

Running into her today, recognizing her, only to have her pretend not to know him and actively avoid him like the plague had inevitably left a sour taste in his mouth.

It felt like a minor blow to his male pride.

"Since she's doing fine, I won't intrude."

Seeing Kimberley's uneasy and bewildered expression, Jerome suddenly realized how pointless and ridiculous his behavior was.

He gave her a curt nod, turned around, and strode briskly toward the parking lot.

Watching his figure disappear into the distance, Kimberley felt her grip on the food container go slack. The insulated box nearly crashed to the ground.

Steadying her nerves, she finally turned and walked toward the hospital cafeteria.

She had to commit to the act. Besides, she needed to ensure Jerome was truly gone before she dared return to the ward.

Ten minutes later, Kimberley emerged from the cafeteria. Confirming the coast was clear, she slipped back into the inpatient building.

She took the elevator to the pediatric floor and made her way to a private room at the very end of the hall.

Inside, a little girl in a pink striped hospital gown was sitting quietly on the bed, flipping through a picture book.

At the sound of footsteps, she looked up. Her pretty eyes instantly curved into crescents as she called out in a sweet, soft voice.

"Mommy, what took you so long? Candy has been waiting forever."

The little girl looked about three or four years old. Her soft, fine hair was tied into two little buns on top of her head, secured with pretty pink ribbons.

Looking at Candy's pale little face, drained by her illness, only intensified the pain.

She pressed a kiss to her daughter's cheek. "Mommy is fine. I just ran into a friend in the elevator and chatted for a bit."

"What friend?"

Candy seemed immensely curious, poking her head up from Kimberley's embrace and blinking her large eyes.

Kimberley parted her lips, but staring into her daughter's crystal-clear eyes, she suddenly found herself at a loss for words.

After a long pause, she finally replied, "A very nice man who helped Mommy once. Candy doesn't know him."

Noticing that Candy wanted to ask more, Kimberley gently rubbed her daughter's head and turned to the nanny.

"Gia, go ahead and process Candy's discharge. I want to transfer her to a hospital in Zion City."