His Destructive, Toxic Love

Casper turned and quickly slipped out of the hospital room.

Inside, the air felt thick and heavy. The woman, clutching her child's tiny hand, backed into a corner like a scared deer, each step exposing her anxiety and fear. The little boy, trembling, clung to her, his big eyes wide with terror.

Audrey, exuding a chill resolve, slowly approached the trembling mother and child. Her gaze was sharp and penetrating, her voice carried an undeniable authority, "What's your name?"

"Uh, ma'am, I'm Fiona. I went to college with Casper. We've met before," Fiona's voice was barely above a whisper, laced with fear.noveldrama

Audrey didn't recognize the name. This woman was a stranger to her.

"Ms. Song, it'd be best if you left for now. The Welton family has a lot on our plate today, and we can't accommodate you," Audrey's tone brooked no argument.

"Oh, okay, sure, ma'am."

Fiona never dared to look Audrey in the eye. She took the boy's hand and hurried out as if fleeing.

Audrey wrapped Eliza in a warm embrace, as if to melt away all her worries and grievances. "Don't fret, I'll handle this. If Casper's causing trouble, he can pack his bags too."

"Thank you, Mom." Eliza felt grateful for having such an understanding mother-in-law. Audrey was like sunshine in winter-warm and comforting.

After reassuring Eliza, Audrey stepped out and ran into Casper returning. She pulled him aside, her expression stern, her voice low yet authoritative, "What's really going on?"

"Mom, I haven't cheated, there's no other woman, and definitely no illegitimate child." He struggled to find the words but knew he had to, "Do you remember Rory?"

Rory?

A face slowly formed in Audrey's mind. Rory was Casper's best friend from college, someone Casper had spoken of often. They were like brothers, inseparable.

Hadn't Rory passed away years ago? Why mention him now?

"What does this have to do with him?"

"Fiona was Rory's girlfriend. Back when Rory and I went to Myanmar for business, we ran into some local trouble. He saved my life..." Casper's eyes glistened as he recalled the harrowing memory, "... If he hadn't died, he was planning to propose to Fiona."

Audrey was taken aback. There was more to this story?

Casper took a deep breath, trying to steady his emotions, and continued: "Before Rory died, he asked me to look after Fiona. In a moment of impulse promised him that if she agreed, I'd marry her for him. But Fiona was heartbroken and left Falconridge soon after. I thought... it would just fade from our memories, but I never expected..."

He hadn't expected Fiona to resurface after all these years. And certainly hadn't anticipated her bringing up his promise to Rory.

Fiona must have struggled raising her child alone and came back seeking help. But he was married now, with a family of his own, unable to fulfill the promise he made to Rory.

Yet, Rory had saved his life, and

Casper couldn't ignore his dying wish. Now with Dylan being a match for Brock, it felt like Rory was

reaching out from beyond, urapel.ne

him to help the mother and child.

His sense of obligation weighed heavily on him.

Audrey finally understood. So that's how it was.

"Why didn't you tell Eliza? You've left her to stew in her own worries, especially with Brock being sick. She

must be feeling awful. You should've told her."

"Mom, I didn't know how to explain it to her. My mind's in a whirl. I thought maybe once Brock's better, I could figure out how to tell her."