His Destructive, Toxic Love

She wasn't sure what he was up to, turning her head away with a hint of annoyance. "What exactly are you trying to do?"

"You said we needed some space to cool off. It's been a week, and I'm good now. How about you?"

Eliza's eyes, beautiful yet slightly furrowed, found it a bit amusing. "You're all cooled off? If I hadn't been here eating, if I hadn't bumped into you, Mr. Casper, would you still have cooled off? Would you still have come looking for me to say this?"

"Probably not." He admitted, "But isn't it just a coincidence?"

"Hmph."

Casper scooted closer to her, almost brushing against her. "If you're cooled off too, let's head home."

"Casper, back off a bit," Eliza said, not liking how he always tried to smooth things over this way. "I wonder, what was going through your mind when Kate called me Ms. Eliza today?"

"She did it on purpose." He wasn't clueless.

Eliza chuckled lightly, "Oh, so you noticed?"noveldrama

"Her intentions are as clear as day. How could I not see it?" He took Eliza's hand

in his, gently caressing it. "Don't worry, I won't let her get away with it."

"Mr. Casper, quite the self-assured one, aren't you?" she teased.

Casper didn't get ruffled, just grinned like a goofball. "If I didn't have this confidence, how insecure would my wife feel?"

Insecure?

Did he really think he was providing enough security?

"Casper, how can you even talk about security?"

"I've been loyal, not tempted by what's out there. I love you, our kid, our home. Don't you feel secure?"

He was convinced he was doing his best.

Eliza laughed like she'd heard something funny. "You really know how to toot your own horn. Isn't our situation now because you couldn't give me that security? Or did you just conveniently forget, Mr. Casper?"

"Not at all," he said, still laid-back, his smile deepening. "I own up to it, always apologizing. Just forgive me, and watch me do better."

He brought her hand to his lips for a gentle kiss. "Come on, let's go home, yeah?"

"I've got a business trip tomorrow." Her heart hadn't lightened much from Casper's words. "Drop me at the office; my stuff's there."

"Funny coincidence, I'm off tomorrow. I'll go with you," he said, like it was the most natural thing.

Eliza's voice was cold, cutting him off, "Not gonna work."

"Think of me as an extra assistant."

Her gaze was icy, words firm, "I don't take assistants on business trips."

"Really not taking me?" He looked like a puppy.

"Not taking." Her answer was unwavering.

She wanted some alone time, to quietly think things through.

"Alright then."

He gave in, respecting her choice.

It felt like there was a wall between them.

Even though they were close enough to feel each other's warmth.

She felt cold.

"So, when you get back, how about we take our wedding photos?"

Eliza couldn't give him an answer,

her

Pho in a whirlwind." you really want to take foet

with me, have a wedding?"

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"Of course do, don't you?" He looked forward to showing her off to the world every day. "Elle, our little spats don't have to mean giving up on happiness, right?"

She looked deep into his eyes, unsure.

She didn't know.

"Do you think I'm being petty?"

"A bit, but. He quickly added, not

wanting to upset her, "It's on menet

Sometimes I lack patience, lose my temper-it's all on me. Please don't be mad, okay?"