His Destructive, Toxic Love (Jasper and Eliza)

Casper had just driven away from Welton Estate when Eliza sprang out of bed. She was still in her pajamas, watching the tail lights fade, feeling a strange burst of excitement. She quickly dressed in a white sweater, washed denim jeans, sneakers, and a fitted-down

jacket. She even wore the pearl earrings Casper had given her.

Eliza made herself look like she was heading out for a morning jog and went downstairs. "Ma'am, you're up early. I'll get breakfast ready right away," Marian said respectfully.

Eliza stretched and gave an exaggerated yawn. "I'm going for a quick run first."

"Ma'am, it's freezing outside. Are you sure?"

"Exercise keeps me healthy," Eliza said, bouncing on the spot a couple of times before jogging out of Welton Estate.

By nine in the morning, Falconridge was buzzing with excitement as the highly anticipated engagement party commenced. Nova, dressed in a haute couture gown and wearing a tiara, soaked in the envy and well-wishes from everyone around her.

out, framing the grand event as Casper's triumphant fresh start after his divorce, with headlines and stories that were both

through his phone, when the news of the accident caught his eye. Intrigued, he clicked to enlarge the image, but it

while she was on a morning run and died on the spot. We found an ID in her pocket...

in a

to be some sort of twisted joke, right? Shaking, he called the TV station to verify. They confirmed that she had died on

advised prompt

the engagement party, frantically searching for Casper. "Mr. Casper,

with urgency, struggling to get the

out

QUMS

usually composed Dillon, a wave of dread washing over

stay composed. "It's Eliza.