His Destructive, Toxic Love (Jasper and Eliza)

"It's not something very valuable," he said.

"Really, Aaron, I appreciate the thought," she replied, feeling so awkward that she clasped her hands behind her back.

Aaron's face fell, his eyes losing some of their sparkle. "It won't be a burden; I picked the cheapest one. I don't need anything in return. Can't you just accept it?" He looked almost pitiful.

Eliza felt a wave of guilt wash over her. Was she being too cold? It was just a birthday gift, after all.

"Aaron, please don't be like this... I... I'll accept it, but promise me you won't get me anything next time."

She brought the box in front of her and looked at Aaron, who was still standing. "Aaron, please sit down."

A spark returned to Aaron's eyes. "Open it. I think girls like this kind of thing."

Girls? She was hardly a girl anymore.

Eliza pursed her lips and smiled. "Alright."

Inside was a music box. Made of crystal, completely transparent, with a small figure of a girl playing a harp at its center. The music playing was a famous harp piece.

It was indeed a surprise. Music boxes were common, but one with a harp-playing girl was truly rare.

"Do you like it?" he asked, his eyes hopeful.

liked it. "This must have been hard to

quite easy," he

Aaron. I really like your birthday

slice

"Thank you."

that moment,

Eliza and Aaron sitting opposite each other. Eliza was offering Aaron cake, and he was happily reaching out to

slight smile

tender, almost flirtatious. It was irritating, piercing

your wife," Dillon, sharp-eyed, recognized

scoffed, "Living the good life,

it hard to defend Eliza. The scene before them was bound to

party," Casper said, striding forward

Aaron off guard. The rare smile on his face felt to Eliza like a harbinger of

someone's birthday

е

smiling as he glanced at Eliza

Aaron. "I remember

is in spring,