His Destructive, Toxic Love (Jasper and Eliza)

"Come back to the old house with me," he said.

Eliza looked at him, puzzled. "Why go back to the old house?"

"Don't you want to know who drugged you? If I hadn't shown up in time that day, who knows what could have happened?" His voice was urgent, full of concern and a fierce determination to protect her. Figuring out who was behind it wasn't rocket science.

The only ones from the Welton family who had it out for her were Mae and Katie. Both were Casper's relatives. Even if he figured out it was one of them who drugged her and sent her to that place, what could he really do? "Casper, even if we find out who did it, what are you going to do about it?"

"I've got my ways." His eyes glinted with a harsh resolve.

Eliza doubted Casper had any good solutions.

To him, she was just an outsider, not really part of the Welton family. And in her heart, she believed he didn't have any real answers for her either.

All this trouble started because of him. If he hadn't been so relentless in chasing after her, no one would have tried to hurt her.

"From now on, stay away from me. The less you're around, the less I get hurt."

He had always felt sorry about this. Seeing her get hurt was the last thing he wanted.

It pained him, but he didn't push any further.

I won't

need you to stay away. Sure, I'm grateful you set up that meeting with

get involved with me,

missing even the smallest flicker of emotion in

he was too rich? Because he had been married before? Those reasons seemed too shallow.

him a reason. If she had to, it

she didn't want Casper to

like you. Isn't

love you, to accept you. Your

on someone else's pain. Doing

irritation, and an equally inexplicable sense of grievance and

We're just not right for each other. Let's

a trace of discomfort appearing in his eyes. "Really... have you

could end quickly, allowing her to return to her calm and

carried a

stood there, his heart in turmoil

such pain,

know whether to agree or

to be