His Destructive, Toxic Love

Eliza was stunned.

Casper had regained his memory?

She looked at him, unsure and hesitant.

"You...?" She couldn't believe it. Did he really remember everything? "...recognize me?"

"Of course, silly," he smiled, his fingertips gently brushing her earlobe, creating an undeniably intimate atmosphere. "What do you think, do I recognize you?"

Eliza felt a chill run through her body. When had he regained his memory? Just now? Or had it been a while? Or had he never lost it at all? Was he playing her? These thoughts made her face grow colder. She grabbed Casper's hand and pushed him away forcefully. "Is this fun for you?"

Casper was taken aback. He couldn't understand why she was reacting like this. "What do you mean by fun or not fun?"

"When did you get your memory back?" Her eyes bore into his, filled with an unfamiliar hostility.

Casper was at a loss for words. Did it really matter when he remembered? "What do you really want to know?" he asked helplessly, feeling hurt by her defensiveness. "Memory or not, I'm still me. I haven't changed."

"Are you still you?" She shook her head, disappointment etched on her face. "So, the one who liked Valerie, was it you with your memory or without it? Or are you saying that, no matter what, I'm just a fool in your eyes, someone you can manipulate and toy with?" Casper was silent. His feelings for her hadn't changed, memory or no memory. How could she think this way?

"Is that what you think of me?" he asked, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.

Eliza shook her head. She couldn't see through him anymore. To her, he could never be sincere. That was an undeniable fact.

"Just go."

She felt utterly drained. Why did it always feel so exhausting to be with Casper? She didn't want to play these games anymore. She could never outplay him.

"Eliza, can't you stop being so biased against me? When I lost my memory and forgot you, you were happy, weren't you? You could easily reject me, leave me. Have you forgotten that we are husband and wife, that we haven't divorced? I can have you back by my side at any time."

"Why would I want to be friends with you? Because I didn't want to see you hurt, I wanted you to be happy, not because I wanted to 'play' with you as you claim."

"Is it wrong that I like you? Is it wrong that I love you? Is it wrong that I don't want to leave you, that I want us to be together properly? The only reason I wanted to let go of your hand was to make you happy. Is that wrong?" Eliza gave a bitter laugh. He still had the audacity to justify himself. Had he forgotten he had just been trying to do something to her?

"Since we agreed to stay friends, why go back on your word? If you're not playing with me, then what is this?"

"If I wanted to play with you, I could

have done that a long time ago." He was furious. yet tried desperately to suppress his rage. "I just can't control my feelings for you, I can't control my love. Seeing you with another man drives me insane. Do you understand?"

Love?

Eliza shook her head with a bitter smile. To her that wasn't love. It was control. They could be close, they could be friends. But everything had to be within his tolerance. Clearly, the sudden appearance of another man was not within his acceptable range. Thus, his possessiveness reared its head once more.

That was Casper. The same Casper as before, unchanged.

"I don't understand, and I don't want to. Casper, let's end this, completely, never to see each other again." She slumped against the wall, her voice weak. "The kind of never again that lasts a lifetime, okay?"