His Destructive, Toxic Love

"Me?" He let out a chuckle, finding the accusation utterly ridiculous. "Why would I want him to say that? What would I gain from it? Eliza, can you stop being so biased against me?" She was furious, but she couldn't stay angry. "I refuse to believe he's that kind of person."

She shook her head. Her father was a devoted husband and father. He couldn't possibly be such a man.

Suddenly, she grabbed Casper's shirt, her eyes trembling slightly. "What did you do to him to make him change like this?"

"His change has nothing to do with me. I didn't report him back then, nor did I help him escape, Eliza..." He gripped her shoulders firmly, trying to calm her down. "...I'm also a victim. I've been set up, too." "Who on earth would go out of their way to do this to you?" Eliza shoved him away forcefully.

She had just asked Mikey, who had reported him five years ago. He said it was Casper, and the contents of the USB Zach gave her were true.

Casper had orchestrated the whole mess, and now, here he was, pretending to be a victim.

"Casper, how can you lie like that? My dad said it was you. You reported him back then and slapped him with baseless accusations. Why won't you still admit it?"

Casper was stunned. He hadn't anticipated Mikey to spout such lies. "Did Mikey tell you who sent him to Crescent Creek?"

Eliza's face was icy. "He did. It was Aaron."

Mentioning this only increased her disdain for the despicable man before her. How could one be so kind and the other so evil?

"If it weren't for Aaron's help, my dad would be ruined by now." Eliza's voice dripped with anger.

Casper suddenly laughed. Aaron had really twisted the story well.

"So, you thought I made up everything about his current situation?" He countered, his eyes showing his disappointment in her and pity for himself.

"I have the right to doubt you."

He sighed a bitter smile on his lips as he grabbed her chin, making her meet his eyes. "Eliza, do you really trust Aaron that much? Where's your logic and judgment? Where's your brain?"

His voice was low, tinged with barely hidden anger.

"You are telling me I should trust you?" she mocked.

"Can't you trust me just once?" he pleaded, looking into her eyes. "Just once."

She knocked his hand away,

standing up and looking down at et

him with cold contempt. "You're simply not trustworthy, nor doPlease check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

you

deserve my trust."

She turned to leave.

He reached out and grabbed her wrist. "If you think I've deceived you, I can go to Crescent Creek with you so you can see the truth."

"Mr. Casper, do you plan to stage

another performance for me?" Eliza

found laughable, her tone filled it

with disdain. "Do you really think I'm that gullible?"

He sighed deeply. He knew from the moment she faked her death and fled that she had resolved never to see him again.

Her disappointment in him was absolute. Winning back her trust seemed impossible.

"I'm being sincere." He looked into her eyes, his gaze genuine and pure.

She scoffed. "Areyou even capable of being sincere?"

He admitted he had been a jerk, but every day since losing her, he had felt remorse.

"Elle."

"Casper, don't call me that," she said, feeling nauseated. "What right do you have to call me that?"