His Destructive, Toxic Love

To Casper, May's death was a baffling affair.

"Casper, she called out your name as she died. You met with her multiple times before her death. What did you talk about? Why would she end her own life if not for unrequited love? Wasn't it all because of you? You indirectly caused the death of my child, and now you refuse to own up to it?"

Veins bulged on Aaron's hands like he was a wild animal about to unleash fury. In the next second, he grabbed Casper by the collar. "You should bear full responsibility for her death. No matter how I choose to avenge her, you deserve it. You caused the death of my wife. I might as well cause the death of yours."

"What are you planning to do?" Casper grabbed Aaron's wrist, yanking it down as a warning. "If you dare touch Eliza, I swear I'll annihilate the Martin family."

"Fine, let's all go down together."

Over the years, Aaron had led a life of pretense, playing the gentleman and the lover. He was acting every single day and was tired of it.

To hell with the Martin family. He was his own person, separate from the Martin family.

He didn't care.

Casper knew Aaron too well. Aaron had always been a complicated person, but in recent years, he seemed to have mellowed down. Casper thought Aaron had changed because of May's death, but he was wrong. Aaron hadn't changed at all, he was just hiding his true self. ""You've lost your mind."

"Casper, I have nothing left. And what do you get? You got to meet the girl of your dreams in the prime of your life. A girl who only had eyes for you, who didn't see the filthy, despicable, ugly parts of you. She loved you so much, she married you. Why do you deserve that?" After completely crushing Aaron's happiness, why did Casper still deserve happiness? No, Aaron would never allow it.

Casper was suddenly stunned.

How did Aaron know about his first meeting with Eliza? How did he find out?

Could it be that Nova's impersonation was...

"Was it you who arranged for Nova to come to me?" Casper realized he had been played from the start.

Aaron burst into hysterical laughter. He pointed at Casper, laughing at his naivety and how love could turn him into a fool.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

"It was me who sought out Nova.

She was nothing but a greedy,

lustful bitch, coveting the position of Mrs. Welton. What I never expected was that you sacrificed so much for her even as she weaved one lie after another. You pushed a girl who only had eyes for you to suicide, to flee, and to sever ties with you. Tell me, how incurably foolish was that?"

A metaphorical thunderstorm exploded over Casper's head. He raised his hand to grab Aaron by the neck. His face turned ferocious, and his eyes were ablaze. "So, it was you

all along, my dear old frenov

"I'm telling you this because I know that no matter how much you try to explain the truth to Eliza, she won't believe you." Aaron's eyes reddened, a sick madness in his gaze. "She will only ever trust me in her life. Fun, isn't it?"

"You..." Casper's dark gaze emanated a chilling coldness.

His fingertips tightened, turning Aaron's face purple. Aaron didn't resist, letting Casper handle him roughly.

The angrier Casper got, the more thrilled Aaron became. "Casper, you owe me. You owe May, and I will take I'll get my payback bit by bit," he gasped, a twisted gleam in his eyes.