His Destructive, Toxic Love (Jasper and Eliza)

The painting came together quickly.

"Not bad, definitely worthy of an art teacher." Casper reached out, took the painting, and studied it closely. "Ms. Valerie, your skills are way better than you give yourself credit for. This looks like something a world-class artist would do." Eliza's eyes darkened. Her voice was cold and detached. "I'm glad you like it."

Casper handed the painting to Robin. "Do you like it?"

Robin looked at the painting of himself and clapped his hands excitedly, like a kid who just got a special present.

"You've been amazing today." Casper smiled, expertly unwrapping a lollipop and gently placing it in Robin's mouth.

Eliza didn't know what to feel a mix of hate, resentment, and disgust at Casper's fake niceness.

Sadly, she couldn't say anything. She couldn't show any reaction.

Casper turned to Eliza. "He told me to thank you."

Eliza forced a smile, quietly packed up her things, and left the room.

Casper followed her out. "Got any plans tonight? Let me take you out to dinner."

refused, her face

not looking surprised.

have dinner?" She grabbed her things and

his head. "Mr. Casper, is

was, do you think she'd come

overestimating himself. He was just someone people wanted to escape from, even if

too. "Mr. Casper, if she really is your wife, do you even want her back? Didn't you regret what you did to her when she passed away? Plus, in these three years, so much has happened to her..." Casper lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and seemed deep in thought. It looked like he needed a moment to clear

A few days later...

in Falconridge, Casper saw a post from Aaron on social

wife

were of a family of three at an amusement park: one with a woman holding a toddler, another with him

a sudden surge of anger and slammed his phone onto the

just walking into the office, jumped at the noise. "Mr.

face was dark, his voice unusually

Aaron posted something?

name and checked his feed. He

Dr. Martin