His Destructive, Toxic Love

Casper:

...

He sat up, pointing at himself, blinking in disbelief, almost too frustrated to speak.

"Indulging my own selfish desires? Valerie, last night you were the one clinging to me, refusing to let me take you to the hospital. You forced me, and now you're acting like nothing happened once your pants are back on?"

Eliza's face flushed bright red. Her ears turned a matching shade.

She slept with him? She had no memory of it.

"I blacked out," she said, getting out of bed and hurriedly putting on her clothes. There was no way she could be interested in Casper, let alone sleep with him. "Even if I did sleep with you unknowingly, I can make it up to you. Name your price." Casper was about to say something.

Fearing he would demand something outrageous, Eliza quickly added, "Even if it's a night at the top club in town, hiring a male model would only cost a few grand. You might not even measure up to them, so think carefully before you speak." Casper: ...

Trying to brush him off with money? And comparing him to a male model?

This woman really had no conscience.

"You slept with me. You need to take responsibility," he stated bluntly.

Eliza looked at him in shock, then let out a soft chuckle. "Me? Take responsibility for you? Are you out of your mind?"

"Anyway..." He touched his shoulder, where her nail marks were, and then his neck, covered in kiss marks, "You figure it out."

Eliza: ...

She couldn't bear to look directly at her own handiwork. Grabbing her shoes, her face flushed, she quickly left the bedroom.

She truly had no memory of what happened after she passed out yesterday.

But... The marks on Casper... He must have rescued her. Otherwise, she wouldn't have ended up in his bed but would have been violated by those thugs. Ugh. What difference did it make, sleeping with Casper or being violated by thugs?

Take responsibility? For what? She didn't even want to think about it.

Eliza admitted her thoughts were in turmoil. She needed to calm down.

For several days, Eliza didn't see Casper again. She was busy at the hospital, preparing for Mikey's surgery.

David's appearance left her slightly taken aback. Since their last encounter, they hadn't been in touch, as he was reportedly dealing with Carter's passing.

She didn't know how to start the conversation. Her lips pressed together slightly.

"I'm here to apologize," David said, looking significantly worn, his eyes full of remorse. "When my father passed, I lost it a bit. I was... rude to you."

"There's no need," she responded coolly.

"Eliza," David's gaze was dim, filled with complex emotions, "We've known each other for years. You understand me. My father meant a lot to me. His loss was unbearable, especially since he left with regrets. I... Host control, and I'm sorry."

MS

Eliza didn't quite grasp David's intention. Was he here to apologize or to place blame? "David, no one wants to carry regrets, including your father. You don't have to..."

"I know. I'm not blaming you. I blame myself for not being good enough, for not being attractive enough, for not being able to make you fall for me..." He lifted his eyes, his gaze deeply affectionate as he looked at her "But you know, my feelings for you have never changed.

"I've always wanted to be the closest person to you, your most beloved. I..."

Eliza couldn't bear to listen any longer, interrupting him, "David, I'm sorry, but I really have no intention of remarrying."