His Destructive, Toxic Love

David didn't want to bother Eliza.

She had been hurt by love, and such wounds take a long time to heal. There was no way she'd be ready to accept him anytime soon.

Eliza had no clue what David was thinking, but she knew her situation wasn't ideal. "David, I have a child. Mr. Carter and Amaya know, and they would never approve of us, even if it were just for show. You should find someone else." "They would only feel sorry for you and not look down on you," David sighed deeply. "I know it's a big ask, but my parents really like you. I'd be extremely grateful if you could play along with this act. It would fulfill my dad's wish." Eliza wasn't against helping out. But helping in this way could easily backfire.

"David, let's go see your dad first. I need to think about this."

"Alright."

Carter's illness was worse than David had let on. Amaya was crying every day, looking exhausted. Eliza didn't know how to comfort her but agreed to stay a few more days at Falconridge to keep her company. After visiting Carter, David offered to take Eliza home. "Why don't you stay with us?"

"No need, David, I've booked a hotel," Eliza remembered Amaya's love for matcha-flavored desserts. "Amaya seemed really down. I'll get her a little cake to cheer her up. You can take it to her later." "That's really thoughtful of you."

"Amaya has been very kind to me. It breaks my heart to see her like this."

"Then let's head to the shop up ahead."

It was a typical dessert shop. The display was filled with an array of goodies.

Eliza pointed to a matcha-flavored mousse cake behind the counter and asked the server, "Do you still have this? I'd like one."This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

"Yes, we do."

"Casper, they have my favorite matcha mousse here. I want one," said a young woman with a bell-like voice tinged with a childlike tone.

Eliza turned around. A young woman stood there. The man beside her, Casper, was incredibly familiar.

The server apologized, "Sorry, but this is the last cake we have."

"Casper, you know I love matcha mousse," the young woman clung to Casper's arm, pouting. "I really want it."

Eliza hadn't expected to run into

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Casper in a small cake shop. The woman by his side was petite and charming, dressed in designer clothes, with an ambiguous attitude. Eliza guessed their relationship was intimate.

David also saw Casper. Disappointed, he said, "It's first come, first served. We were here first; it should be sold to us."

"Have you paid for it already?" The

woman took out her phone, scanned the shop's payment code, and said smugly, "I've just paid. This matcha mousse is mine."

"Why can't you be reasonable?" David said angrily.

The woman hugged Casper's arm and scoffed, "It's your fault for not paying first."

Eliza's frown was barely noticeable. She looked at Casper and then at the woman, turned her face to the server, and said, "I asked for this cake first. Shouldn't it be mine?"

The server was in a difficult position. If the woman hadn't paid, it would be simple. But now that she had, it was complicated. "This..."

"Ms. Valerie." Casper stepped forward, finding the situation somewhat amusing. "It's just a cake. Why make a big deal out of it?"

"So, Mr. Casper, are you saying I should just give this cake to your girlfriend?" Eliza's expression grew even colder.

Casper pulled out his wallet, took out a few bills, and handed them to Eliza. "Is this enough?"