His Destructive, Toxic Love

"No need. I just want to go home and rest for a bit. Plus, Brock's still at the neighbor's, and I'm worried about him," Eliza said.

Aaron grabbed his jacket and Eliza's purse, helping her up. "Alright."

Casper emerged from the bathroom, his dark eyes narrowing slightly, a subtle, almost invisible smile playing at the corners of his lips as he watched the two leave together.

Casper didn't leave Oak Falls. Sometimes, he'd find himself at the school where Eliza taught painting. He enjoyed standing outside the window, watching her teach the kids. She taught them how to sketch various flowers and plants, stroke by stroke. "Miss Valerie, is that handsome man outside your boyfriend?" a sharp-eyed little girl asked, pointing toward Casper.

Eliza glanced up and saw Casper giving her a casual wave. "I don't know him. Now, look here. This line is too heavy. You need to make it lighter here," she corrected the child, focusing on the task at hand.

"Got it, Miss Valerie," the kid replied, concentrating on her drawings.

Eliza sighed and stepped out of the classroom. Her expression turned icy as she approached Casper. "Mr. Casper, you're everywhere, aren't you?"

"Just here for business. Did I bother you?" he replied nonchalantly.

"Yes," she answered curtly.

"Ms. Valerie, sometimes words can sting," he remarked with a faint smile before turning and walking away.

Eliza paused, momentarily taken aback, before a colleague called her to the principal's office. She brushed off her confusion and headed inside. "Sir, you want me to tutor someone in painting?" she asked, puzzled.

The principal adjusted his glasses and spoke earnestly, "This person donated a significant amount to our school and paid a hefty fee of a

million dollars. What's there to worry

about?"

She wasn't worried about the money; she was worried because Casper needed the tuition? He had clearly done it on purpose.

"I have a lot going on at home, and there's no one to look after my son. Maybe..." she began, searching for an excuse.

"Our school counts on you. Do you expect me, an old man, to go instead? What's this? Suddenly, money doesn't matter to you?" he retorted.

Eliza didn't crave money. When she

first arrived in Oak Falls, she struggled and had to enter her

paintings in competitions out of

necessity. She won many awardnet

and gained some recognition. If she needed money, she could easily sell apainting. But she preferred a quiet, stable life and didn't want to draw

too much attention.

She didn't need Casper's million dollars a month. But the principal had always been kind to her, and she didn't want to cause him any trouble.

"Did he specifically ask for me?"

"I suggested you to him," the principal admitted, coaxing her to sit down. He handed her a cup of tea. "Consider it a favor to me. Think of it as a month-long vacation."

"Just one month?" she asked, uncertain.

"I only agreed to one month," the principal assured her.

Despite her reluctance, Eliza had to honor the school's commitment.

Casper's house in Oak Falls was a simple, spacious, and modestly decorated apartment. Right opposite the entrance, on a console, was a painting. It was a portrait she had given to Casper years ago. The painting had aged, and the pigments were showing signs of fading.

She stared at it, lost in thought.

"Ms. Valerie," Casper said, gesturing for her to sit in the living room. "This painting was done for me by my late wife. What do you think? Not bad, right?"This is property © of NôvelDrama.Org.