His Destructive, Toxic Love

Every word she said hit him right in the heart, leaving him utterly defenseless.

They'd been married for two years, and she had always been as gentle as a kitten. This sudden burst of aggression was completely out of character.

His eyes darkened.

He retreated to his desk, pulled out a cigarette, and placed it between his lips. He couldn't answer her question.

With a flick of his lighter, he took a deep drag. "Haven't you always wanted to work? I found you a job."

"I don't need you to find me a job," she replied coldly.

He took another deep inhale and exhaled a cloud of gray smoke. "Seems like you also don't need your mother to come back to life."

"What exactly do you want?" She knew Casper was up to no good. After misunderstanding her relationship with Aaron, he probably wanted to send her to some shady place. "Do you want me to work in a nightclub?"

"A nightclub?" He scoffed like he'd just heard a joke. "Are you good at pleasing men or serving them submissively? You're as stiff as a board in bed. Who would like that?"

His insult stung. Stubbornly wiping away her tears, she asked, "Then where do you want to send me?"

"To the back alleys of Miami to hustle or to Las Vegas to run scams. Could you do that?" He blew a cloud of smoke right into her face in anger.

She coughed a few times, waving away the smoke. "I can't."

"Then just go to work like you're supposed to." He picked up an employment contract from his desk and handed it to her. "Report to the company tomorrow." Eliza eyed him warily, then looked down at the paper.

Welton International, Design Department.

The words burned her eyes. She immediately handed the contract back to Casper. "I'm not going to Welton International."

He frowned. When they first got married, she had begged him more than once, dreaming of joining the Design Department at Welton International.

Back then, she was naïve and innocent, always dreaming of going to work with Casper and coming home together like a couple straight out of a romantic movie.

She had submitted her resume to the Design Department of Welton International multiple times. With her qualifications and experience, she met all the hiring standards.

However, Casper still intervened and refused. He wouldn't allow her to work, and going to Welton International was out of the question.

After that, she didn't bother trying.

Now...she wanted to be as far away from Casper as possible. If given the chance, she'd never want to see him again.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"I won't go."

She wouldn't accept a job with strings attached.

Her repeated refusals infuriated Casper. He fiercely stubbed out his cigarette, grabbed her by the arm, and pressed her onto the couch, his hands propped beside her.

"Work at Welton International to keep your mother alive, or don't and let her die. Choose one," he demanded.

Eliza moved her lips. It was always an ultimatum. It seemed she never really had a choice.

"What's your real reason for wanting me to work at Welton International?" She met his gaze directly, those dark abyss-like eyes plotting something she couldn't understand.

He chuckled mockingly. "I'm just curious how you'll manage to date other men right under my nose."

So that was his reason.

She looked up to meet the scorn in his eyes. "If I truly want to do that, it'll be impossible to prevent it from happening."