His Destructive, Toxic Love

"Come back to the old house with me," he said.

Eliza looked at him, puzzled. "Why go back to the old house?"

"Don't you want to know who drugged you? If I hadn't shown up in time that day, who knows what could have happened?" His voice was urgent, full of concern and a fierce determination to protect her. Figuring out who was behind it wasn't rocket science.

The only ones from the Welton family who had it out for her were Mae and Katie. Both were Casper's relatives. Even if he figured out it was one of them who drugged her and sent her to that place, what could he really do? "Casper, even if we find out who did it, what are you going to do about it?"

"I've got my ways." His eyes glinted with a harsh resolve.

Eliza doubted Casper had any good solutions.

To him, she was just an outsider, not really part of the Welton family. And in her heart, she believed he didn't have any real answers for her either.

All this trouble started because of him. If he hadn't been so relentless in chasing after her, no one would have tried to hurt her.

"From now on, stay away from me. The less you're around, the less I get hurt."NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

He had always felt sorry about this. Seeing her get hurt was the last thing he wanted.

It pained him, but he didn't push any further.

"I'm sorry. From now on, I won't let you suffer any more injustice."

"Casper, I don't need your apologies. I need you to stay away. Sure, I'm grateful you set up that meeting with Dr. Roth, but that doesn't mean we're mixing business with pleasure."

"If you don't want to get involved with me, at least give me a reason."

He looked at her intently, not missing even the smallest flicker of emotion in her eyes.

Was it because he was too rich? Because he had been married before? Those reasons seemed too shallow. He didn't buy it.

Eliza couldn't give him a reason. If she had to, it would be their past.

But she didn't want Casper to know about that.

"I don't like you. Isn't that reason

enough? You can't force someone to love you, to accept you. Your love

can't be built on someone else's pain. Doing this will only make me dislike you more."

She felt a sudden, inexplicable irritation, and an equally inexplicable sense of grievance and pain.

"Really, Casper. We're just not right for each other. Let's just be friends, okay?"

His brow furrowed slightly, a trace of discomfort appearing in his eyes. "Really... have you decided?"

"Yes." She responded quietly, hoping this undeserved entanglement could end quickly, allowing her to return to her calm and peaceful life. "Please, let it be so."

Her voice carried a hint of pleading.

He stood there, his heart in turmoil with complex emotions.

Seeing her in such pain, his heart clenched.

Suddenly, he didn't know whether to agree or refuse.

Love wasn't one-sided. Love wasn't meant to be painful. Better to let go, then.

He managed a smile, though it was filled with bitterness. He still tried to maintain his dignity.

He stepped forward and pulled Eliza into a tight embrace. "Don't beg me, Val. Causing you pain was never my intention. If letting go makes you happy, then I promise I'll do it."

Eliza suddenly froze.

Why did it hurt somewhere deep inside when he said that?

IMS

His embrace was as warm and strong as ever, yet her body grew colder by the second.

Shouldn't she be happy?

"Casper, I hope you find happiness, truly."

For the first time, she hugged him back.