His Destructive, Toxic Love

She rarely let herself drift back to memories of her childhood. Thinking about those days always felt like trying to recall a half-remembered dream. Eliza picked up her glass, taking a long sip. "After they found out I wasn't their biological daughter, they eased up on me. Eventually, they sent me back to the Pinotti family. I went from being Eliza Lin, the millionaire's darling, to just Eliza, the kid of a civil servant."

She leaned her head on her hand, her eyes holding a glimmer of soft sadness. No one could truly understand what it felt like to be suddenly tossed into a new family. Even fewer could grasp how she managed to shed the habits she'd picked up during her years with the Hendersons, practically overnight.

"In the end, I was thrown away. There wasn't an ounce of regret or hesitation- they were over the moon to get Nova back, ready to start planning her life anew. But then... they passed away too soon."

Eliza couldn't quite pin down why these thoughts were bubbling up now. Maybe they were old wounds that had been troubling her for far too long. "Cheers to that," she said with a strained smile, clinking her glass against Casper's before taking another hearty drink.

He gently stopped her, concern softening his gaze. "Take it easy."

"I'm okay," she reassured, though her voice carried a hint of nostalgia. "Just caught up in the past. Luck and misfortune are just a flicker apart, but love... or the lack of it... that's the mystery I can't unravel. Do you think..." she looked straight into Casper's eyes, searching for an answer, "did they ever love me? They raised me for so many years. Why was it so easy for them to let me go?"

He had no answers to offer, nor did he know how to help her move past these thoughts. If the Hendersons were still alive, maybe he could help her find some peace. But they were long gone. No matter how many questions lingered, the answers were lost to time.

"Let's not dwell on the hard stuff," he suggested gently. Eliza let out a small, bitter laugh, exhaling deeply and swallowing back tears. Yeah, time to let it go. The answers would remain a mystery.

She propped her chin on her hand, eager to shift the focus. "Tell me about you."

"What's there to say?" he teased, lightly pinching her nose. "What do you want to know?"

"I'm curious about your early love life-how did you woo the ladies back in the day?"

Casper chuckled, shaking his head. "I don't have any juicy stories there." "Really?" she asked, skeptical.

"Honestly. was a late bloomer when it came to romance. Whend was younger, dating wasn't on my radar Women just didn't pique my interest-it was hard for anyone to really get to me."

Eliza pouted playfully, "You're a tough nut to crack, aren't you?"

"Maybe for others, but not for you," he said, handing her a skewer. "Don't just drink, have some food."

She waved off the offered skewer and took another sip of her beer. "Ah... this is the good stuff."

"Don't go getting tipsy now," he warned with a grin.

Eliza shrugged it off, setting her glass down with a satisfied smack of her lips. "Beer doesn't get me drunk."

"Elle, I've got to head to Bathton soon. When I get back, we'll dive into wedding plans. How does that sound?"

Eliza blinked, surprised. Bathton?

That tiny country, with its uniquenet Yoarchal monarchy. "Workt

you there?" she asked.

Casper nodded. "There's a project with the Bathton royal family. Should take about a month, then I'll be back."noveldrama

"That long?" She counted the days on her fingers. "So, you'll be back just in time for the holidays?"

"Yep, we'll celebrate together, stay

up late,

e whole family together for

He was clearly

looking forward to it.

Eliza grinned, teasing, "Just make sure the Queen of Bathton doesn't whisk you away into her harem!"