His Destructive, Toxic Love (Jasper and Eliza)

The staff brought out more paintings from behind Manuel, one after another, which were supposedly masterpieces by renowned artists.

Honestly, Eliza had never seen such a concentrated collection of fakes in her life. Was there not a single genuine piece in a mansion as grand as this? Or was Manuel planning to sell Casper a counterfeit? "The paintings Mr. Manuel has collected are quite nice, indeed. They would make fine decorative pieces for a home," Eliza said, offering him a graceful way out.

Manuel couldn't help but glance at Eliza again, pausing for a few seconds before he smiled. "If you like them, Ms. Eliza, I could gift you a few."

"Thank you, Mr. Manuel. I appreciate the thought," she replied.

Amid the polite exchange, Casper caught on. It didn't really matter to him whether the paintings Manuel was offering were real or fake. Business collaborations were always like this. Today, he might spend a hundred million, but that could potentially bring him back billions later. The paintings were merely tokens in a larger game.

He just never expected Eliza to actually discern their authenticity.

"Mr. Casper, this young designer here is quite talented," Manuel began, but Casper cut him off, "Mr. Manuel, don't get any ideas. She's taken."

"Is that so?" Manuel smiled slightly, his gaze lingering on Eliza. "What a pity."

When they left, Casper still spent twenty million on a painting.

the way back, Casper's long, well-defined hand propped his chin as he turned to look at her. "How did you

depth. It wasn't hard to tell. Even the paper was artificially aged, and the seals were a bit messy.

in her memory, made her light

of a

turned to meet his gaze,

she had tried so hard to understand him and blend into his world. She longed to. be understood, to be discovered, to be cherished. But he never gave her the chance. His mind was always on Welton International or Nova, showing her nothing but disdain

real attention he gave her was in the form of revenge. So, she wouldn't

heart dies, it's dead.

nor

window indifferently, peaceful and serene. Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly, enough

car's privacy screen went up. He grasped the back of her head, moving to kiss her. She pushed him away with effort, not speaking, just

laughed suddenly. "That look of yours is

like me anyway. Does it matter whether I am

slightly, scoffing,

at Casper's phone, Nova's name flashing on the screen. Eliza

"Hello?"