His Destructive, Toxic Love

Casper felt the pressure hit him like a ton of bricks. Sure, he had money, looks, status, and all that jazz, but to Eliza, none of it mattered. What she wanted was something simple yet profound a relationship where they were equals, where things felt easy and right. Manuel seemed to get that. And Casper? Well, he was just a guy with a past full of mistakes and no real edge. His handsome brow furrowed ever so slightly as he set his phone down and focused on the road ahead.

When Eliza woke up, she grabbed her phone and spotted an unread message from Manuel. "Eliza, are you back in Oak Falls? Need a lift?" She quickly typed back, "On my way, no need to pick me up, thanks." Manuel shot back, "No worries. Just shoot me a text when you're home safe, okay?" "Will do," she replied.

Eliza gazed at the messages, feeling a warm glow inside. Manuel was a genuinely good guy, as gentle and polished as a knight in shining armor. If they'd met before she got married, she was sure she would've picked him in a heartbeat. Casper wouldn't have stood a chance. But life had a funny way of doing things. It brought her to meet someone as wonderful as Manuel at a time when she was a bit of a mess, carrying her share of scars. Life was full of what-ifs, and hers seemed especially poignant.

"Who was that?" Casper asked, snapping her back to reality. She locked her phone screen and said, "Just a friend." He didn't pry and changed the subject, "Have you thought about working in Falconridge again? It might save you all the back-and-forth."

She had tried working in Falconridge before, but things never seemed to pan out, and she'd always find herself back in Oak Falls, the only place where life felt steady. "Oak Falls is pretty nice," she said.

Casper was a bit taken aback but understood. "That's fine. If you like Oak Falls, I'll just visit more often. Oh, and Robin's been doing better lately. I really believe he'll bounce back strong."

Robin's name always stirred up

mixed feelings in Eliza. Casper had gone above and beyond to help Robin, making it impossible for her to ignore his efforts, even if she wanted to. But he was the reason they were in this mess to begin with. So while she appreciated his efforts, it wasn't something she felt grateful for. "Let's hope so," she said, a bit awkwardly.

Neither felt much like talking, and the car ride was quiet all the way to Oak Falls. "Wanna stay at my place?" Casper asked, testing the waters. Eliza didn't hesitate, "No, thanks. I'll head to my own place."

"My place is spacious and comfy," he tried to argue, but Eliza shook her head, "I'm just one person. I don't need a big space."

"Alright then," he said, resigned. He didn't push any further, turning the car toward Eliza's apartment complex.

Once they parked, Eliza got out of

the car, "Thanks for the ride," she said. "It's no big deal for us, right?" he said, trying to keep a friendly smile, worried his lack of expression might scare her off. Eliza managed a small smile, "Goodbye."

"Elle," he called out hurriedly, hopping out of the car and catching up to her at the building's entrance. He pulled her into a gentle hug, almost pleading, "Could I... maybe stay over tonight?" "It's not a good idea," she replied firmly. Casper didn't back down, "I promise I won't bother you. I can cook, do laundry... It's just that staying in that big house alone gets a bit... spooky."