His Destructive, Toxic Love

Minna had a personality that was all about having her cake and eating it too. She wanted it all, and there was no room for compromise.

"In my world, Eliza, it's simple-there are no multiple-choice questions. Don't try to play mind games with me."

"Ms. Minna, you've got it wrong. I just noticed how you light up at the mention of cats, and I felt a bit sorry for you. If you're not interested in a one-of-a-kind portrait of Whiskers by Mona, just forget I mentioned it," Eliza said with a mock sigh. "Seems like you don't love your Whiskers as much as I thought."

Minna couldn't figure out if Eliza was being genuine or just playing her.

Whether Casper got released or not was up to her, and she wasn't scared of what might happen.

"I might let you see Casper," Minna conceded, laying out her terms. "But I need Mona's painting."

"Deal," Eliza agreed without hesitation.

Minna took the lead, guiding Eliza down to what could only be described as a dungeon.

The entrance was fortified with a heavy steel door, designed to keep anyone from escaping. As the door creaked open, a chill swept in, and just as Eliza was about to step inside, a guard stopped her. Minna glanced at her watch, "You've got ten minutes. Convince him to work with me. What I'm offering is more than he could make in a lifetime."Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Eliza shot Minna a look.

To most men, this might seem like a golden opportunity. But for someone like Casper, who was accustomed to running the show, being controlled by a woman was out of the question. Eliza was let into the dungeon.

The damp, musty air hit her as she laid eyes on the beaten man, holding back tears.

Casper's heart ached at the sight of Eliza. "What are you doing here?"

"Are you alright?" she asked, seeing his face and body covered in blood. "Why is she doing this to you? When will this madness end?"

Casper hadn't expected Minna's sudden outburst that left him battered. But they were just flesh wounds, nothing major.

"It'll be okay soon." He pulled her into a tight embrace, concern in his voice, "Did Minna bring you here?"

"Yes." She nodded, her hands gently inspecting his injuries. "She wants me to convince you to team up with her. Does she really want to marry you, or is she after something else?"

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"None of that matters." He gazed softly at her, the face he'd missed so much, "What matters is, whatever she wants, she won't get it from me."

Her heart ached seeing him this way, not expecting their reunion after a year to be under such circumstances. She held him tighter.

His blood on her hands, her heart clenched, tears threatening to spill, "To keep you safe, I'll let you do things you don't want to."

"Don't overthink it, this will all be over

poned a gun from his

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pocket and pressed it into Eliza's hand, "Take this. Hide it well, it might save your life."

"If you give me the gun, what about you?" she protested, her mind racing for an escape plan. "Keep the gun, I'll figure out a way out." "Don't do anything rash."

Casper didn't want her taking any risks.

Minna might be unstable, but without Kaleb's order, she wouldn't dare kill him. Eliza, however, was a different story.

"Listen," he said, holding her face

and kissing her gently, "Don't go head-to-head with Minna without a solid plan. At worst, let her lock you up too. This will all blow over soon, and won't let anything happen to you."

"I get it." She'd already devised a plan, offering Casper a reassuring look, "Don't worry about me." Eliza wanted to say more, but before she could, a guard came in, grabbed her arm, and led her away.