His Destructive, Toxic Love (Jasper and Eliza)

Chapter 537

The award ceremony was set in a hall that screamed local charm. When Eliza arrived, she was taken aback by how big a deal this event was for Sean. The place was decked out magnificently, and she spotted many familiar faces from TV mingling around. Her seat was right up front. Meanwhile, Juan, her companion for the evening, was seated further back because he was just part of the audience.

Eliza felt a wave of social anxiety wash over her, leaving her slightly on edge. Her palms were slick with sweat. The hall was jam-packed, and in a dark corner of the last row, a man dressed head to toe in black caught her eye. With a black hat and mask, his dark eyes were like beacons piercing through the shadows.

His gaze was sharp and intense, zeroing in on her like a hawk eyeing its prey, as she stood out in her white dress...

The ceremony moved along with entertainment bits here and there. As her category drew near, a wave of nerves hit Eliza. She'd never been to such a grand affair before. Juan was seated far enough away that she had this unsettling feeling of reaching out for support but finding nothing to hold onto.

When her name was announced, her heart dropped, and she made her way to the stage, clutching the hem of her dress. She tried to maintain a calm exterior, but her heart was racing so fast that her English stumbled a bit. Thankfully, she managed to keep it together without any mishaps.

After accepting the trophy and the prize check, she smiled, nodded, and headed off the stage. As she turned to find her seat, she glanced casually toward the back of the venue and, unexpectedly, locked eyes with a stranger.

her seat. But something about the moment lingered, and she turned back to the spot she had just looked at. Those eyes, however, were nowhere to

she gather from just a pair of eyes? Especially from that distance. She almost wanted to believe it was Casper's ghost haunting that man's body. With a sigh, Eliza rubbed

wound down, Juan was off snapping photos with his favorite celebrities when he accidentally bumped

at the mysterious figure cloaked in black. "You here for the awards too? You look

to his friendly nature, Juan tried to pull the man in for a selfie. But the man brushed him off and made a swift exit from

that was rude." Juan

no one had ever

-

before. He made a mental note to dig up some info on

Outside, luxury cars lined the street, and camera flashes kept the night alive. Eliza spotted the man she had locked eyes with earlier,

silhouette were eerily familiar. A bold thought crossed her mind: what if Casper wasn't dead, and he was right here in France? But that couldn't be-news outlets, DNA tests, and

But why? She didn't want his fortune or his shares. What was the secret? Eliza's head throbbed with unanswered questions. She couldn't find a