His Destructive, Toxic Love

Casper pulled his gaze away, his voice gentle and reassuring. "Don't worry, I've already arranged everything with a hospital abroad. Your leg is going to get better." "Will you come with me, Casper?" Nova asked, her eyes hopeful.

"Of course," he replied.

Nova's tears turned into a smile. "Thank you, Casper."

Eliza made her way to the nurse's station. "Nurse, can I switch rooms?"

"Ms. Eliza, all our rooms are full right now. We can't make a switch for you," the nurse said apologetically.

"Then... I'll check out," Eliza said. She just couldn't stay another minute here.

The nurse was taken aback. "Ms. Eliza, your knee isn't fully healed yet. Why do you want to check out? If you really need a different room, let me see what I can do." "Thank you for your help."

"Please go back for now. Walking around isn't good for your knee. It could cause complications."

The nurse escorted Eliza back to her room. Casper was chatting with Nova, making her laugh uncontrollably.

When Eliza entered, Nova grinned. "Elle, Casper is such a jokester! I'm so jealous you have such a funny husband."

"My husband?" Eliza scoffed. "I thought he was yours."

Nova's face turned red. "Eliza, are... are you upset?"

She glanced nervously at Casper. "Casper, please talk to Eliza. I don't want any misunderstandings because of me." Eliza held back her anger. She didn't want Casper to hold this against her. She and her family couldn't afford that.

Soon, the nurse found a new room for Eliza, placing her at the end of the hallway. Her new roommate was an elderly lady.

"Come on, this medicine isn't bitter. Take it, and then you can have some candy," an old man coaxed the lady, his voice full of patience, tenderness, and love.

Eliza watched them with a pang of envy. The elderly lady must have been spoiled her whole life.

After the lady took her medicine, the man handed her a rainbow lollipop. "Here's your reward."Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

Then he turned to Eliza, offering her a lollipop too. "Here, young lady, this will make the medicine less bitter."

Eliza tried to refuse. "No, sir, I..."

"It's okay. Take it," the old man insisted, placing the unwrapped lollipop in her hand. "It's very sweet."

Eliza was touched, accepting the lollipop and putting it in her mouth. The sweetness spread through her mouth instantly.

'So this is what sweetness feels like,' she thought. After years of bitterness, she had almost forgotten the taste of sweetness.

With the lollipop in her mouth, she opened her tablet to work on her resume. She had a degree from the Art Academy of Falconridge. Though she had little work experience, finding a job teaching art to children shouldn't be too hard.

Her focus was entirely on the resume. She didn't notice a man walking in until his eyes fell on her tablet, making her realize he was there.

Panicking, she closed the tablet.

"Looking for a job?" Casper's face darkened.

Eliza didn't hide it. "Yes."

"Who gave you permission to look for a job?" He was clearly displeased.

Eliza didn't see what she had done wrong. She was divorced and needed to support herself. "Why can't I look for a job?"

"Eliza, you need to know your place."

Eliza laughed coldly, meeting his angry gaze. "And what about you, Mr. Casper? What's your place? Are you my husband or Nova's?"

"Are you comparing yourself to her?" His face twisted with disdain. "You think you're even in her league?"