His Destructive, Toxic Love

Back then, Casper rarely came home, barely touched the meals she carefully prepared, and almost never got drunk.

Once in a blue moon, he'd come home, plastered because of something Nova said or did, and she'd jump at the chance to take care of him. But... her attempts were always met with disdain. She couldn't wrap her head around it. She was putting her heart and soul into being good to him, so why was he so cold and dismissive?

She would constantly compare herself to Nova, trying to figure out what she lacked.

Feeling wronged, she'd cry herself to sleep, night after night.

But come morning, she'd pull herself together and whip up a delicious breakfast for him. Only for him to never even touch it.

The silent treatment, the cold shoulder-perhaps the most brutal way to hurt someone.

Over time, she transformed from a warm, passionate woman into an aloof ice queen.

Years flew by in a blur.

And there she was, in the same spot, making hangover soup for a man who didn't even remember her, all under the pretense of friendship. She let out a sigh.

The irony wasn't lost on her; it was almost funny.

Carrying the soup upstairs, she nudged the bathroom door open, hoping Casper would drink it.

But...

The tub was overflowing, water everywhere, turning the bathroom into a mini flood zone, with him just sitting there, motionless.

She put down the soup and rushed to turn off the tap.

She pulled the drain plug to help the water flow away faster.

"Casper, are you asleep?" she asked softly, giving him a gentle shake.

No response.

Worried, she touched his forehead.

It was burning hot.

For such a big guy, he sure seemed fragile. She remembered him being so strong and healthy before, what happened...

Was it all the injuries, one after another...

Were all his injuries because of her?

"Casper, you have a fever. I'll get you some fever meds. Just stay put, okay?"

Eliza rummaged through the medicine cabinet, but then remembered he'd been drinking.

She wasn't a doctor. Was it safe for him to take the medicine?

Better not risk it. If something happened, she couldn't live with herself.

"Maybe I should just cool you down physically."

It took all her strength to drag him from the bathroom to the bed, leaving her drenched in sweat.

As she reached to unbutton his shirt, his hand caught hers, "What are you doing?"

Eliza's forehead twitched...

Now he decides to be modest?

"To cool you down. How else can I do it without taking off your clothes?"

"Oh." He let go.

This was the first time she'd

undressed Casper, even if it was just

Ser his fever. Her f

careful, almost hesitant.

belongs to en.kikistor were

His physique was always impressive, yet she had never seen him work out. Strange.

A few scars adorned his abdomen.

She chose to ignore them.

Her gentle hands, the alcohol

over his skin, taking slowly dropping his

temperature. Content belove net

He shamelessly enjoyed her care.

Letting her gentle hands move over his chest and abdomen, front and back, thoroughly swabbing with alcohol.

"I must have owed you in a past life," Eliza muttered, sweat dripping from her forehead.

Casper started to come around,

raising his hand to take the

hangover soup she made, gulping it down, "Stop fussing, I'm not die

swnonna

"I'm not worried about you dying, just don't die in front of me, okay?"

After cooling him down, she picked up a thermometer to check his temperature.

Still a bit feverish, but much better.

"Thanks, babe." He looked at her, his face full of tenderness.

Eliza got goosebumps, rolling her eyes, "You must be really out of it, I'm not Susan."