His Destructive, Toxic Love

She wasn't holding out for love anymore. She didn't believe she could handle it, and she definitely didn't think she'd have anything more with Casper. "Juan, I don't have the strength to love anymore, and I sure don't have the courage to love the same person again. He's got his life, and I just want to quietly live out mine."

Juan understood. Eliza had always been more sensitive than others, even as a kid. Later, when she and Nova switched places, the parents who had been by her side for over a decade suddenly stopped loving her. Back then, she was like a wounded deer, constantly licking her wounds.

Casper was the lifeline she clung to. But no one could have guessed he'd drag her into an even deeper abyss.

Juan couldn't deny he felt for her, but people had to look forward. Staying in the dark would never bring happiness.

"I just hope you don't always see yourself as being against him. Even if there's no future with him, you need to learn to let go."

Eliza took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. She was learning to let go, but some things weren't that easy to forget.

"Easier said than done."

"Take your time." He watched her melancholic profile and smiled gently.

Juan dropped Eliza off at her apartment building, ready to leave.

"Get some rest. I'll come pick you up tomorrow," he said.

Eliza wasn't thrilled about attending the reunion party set up to welcome Juan back. "Forget it, I won't go. It's been too many years; it'll be awkward."

"It's all arranged. Not showing up wouldn't be right. Besides, with me there, what's there to feel awkward about?" Juan wanted Eliza to get out more. She'd been living too bottled up, "Alright, I'm off then."

Eliza watched Juan's car drive away. Turning around, she was startled to see a man in front of her.

Clutching her pounding chest, she snapped, "You...what are you doing here?"

"I'm homeless now." He looked pitiful, like a child, his cheeks flushed, still smelling of alcohol. "Take me in, please."

Eliza: ...???

Hadn't she just left his place? How was he suddenly homeless?

"Casper, it's the middle of the night. Stop messing around and go back before your fiancée starts worrying."

She didn't want to deal with him. Walking towards the building, she led the way up the stairs, and he followed closely behind. Until she opened her door, and he squeezed in as well.

She was already exhausted and just wanted to take a shower and sleep. And yet, he had the nerve to waltz in like he owned the place. "Casper, what exactly do you want?"

"To spend the night here." His intentions were clear and straightforward. "You wouldn't refuse to help a friend, right? Besides, I'm running a fever."

"Why don't you have your fiancée take care of you at home instead of crashing at my place? What are you trying to imply?"

She was utterly baffled. Eliza checked on Mikey in his room, who was sleeping soundly, which reassured her.

"You should go back, Casper, please. It's really easy for people to get the wrong idea."

It would be different if he had no girlfriend. Susan seemed to care a lot about him after all. Being a woman herself, Eliza could easily guess a woman's thoughts.

"She's just a girl, very sensitive. You

should be more considerate of her

feelings. She didn't want another Eliza to emerge. "You're not young anymore; caring for someone should come naturally."

"She's not my girlfriend, why should I care for her? he replied, visibly

annoyed by her lecture. What

fiancée: What arranged marriage. As long as he didn't acknowledge it, that contract was nothing but scrap paper.