His Destructive, Toxic Love (Jasper and Eliza)

Repaying a debt was a whole different ballgame.

Eliza could tell good from bad.

"Casper, saving my son doesn't make you a saint. You might be just like Aaron, with some hidden agenda."

She wasn't about to trust anyone again. Not even Casper.

He let out a dry, sarcastic laugh. Even though he'd saved her son, she still saw him as a dark and twisted villain. No matter how many times he played the hero, it wouldn't change a thing.

He should've known better than to hope that she'd see him differently or that she'd look at him with any warmth.

He realized now that she wasn't going to be kind or friendly towards him. In his world, such hopes were just a luxury.

Inside, he felt a sense of helplessness, and it wasn't just anger. It was more like a deep, gnawing sadness.

"Yeah, I have hidden motives. I'm a bad guy, a real piece of work, okay?"

He didn't even bother changing his shoes before heading upstairs.

Eliza. She realized her words might have been harsh, cutting deep, but that was just how she

as Aaron could turn dark, how could Casper, already a villain, ever become a good

needed to figure out

Eliza thought of someone.

Caroline.

had been closer to Aaron than Casper ever was. Maybe she could

picked a Friday afternoon for

this was their

welled up, trying to force a smile that ended up looking awkward and ugly. Eliza broke the silence.

tightly. "You're alive, that's

"I'm doing okay."

She was dying to

everything, even that

he's a father

he probably didn't. "I haven't told

Casper would try to take Brock away.

me, so do you think he would love Brock? He has plenty