His Destructive, Toxic Love

In the end, she couldn't even remember how she drifted off to sleep. When she finally woke up, it was already the afternoon of the next day. She stared at Brian's message on her phone, her head a bit foggy, wondering how it had ended up on silent mode.

"Casper, did you mess with my phone?" she asked, a hint of frustration in her voice. She still had work to tackle.

Casper, wrapped in a silk robe, strolled in from outside, a steaming cup of milk balanced in his fingertips. "I just wanted you to catch some extra rest. Here, have some milk first."

Eliza set her phone aside and took the cup from him. "You know, I'm actually starving."

"Well then, should I... feed you some more?" he teased, flashing a cheeky grin.

Eliza shot him a playful glare. "Mr. Casper, you're really a handful. Take care of yourself."

"If you need something, it's my duty to provide. That's what being a spouse is all about," he replied, settling down in front of her. He reached out, gently smoothing her hair. "Skip the office today. Just relax and get some more sleep."

"We've got to check out the expo venue tomorrow. There's so much on the agenda." She wasn't thrilled about it either, but some responsibilities just couldn't be ignored. "This time, the expo's set up in a nature camp to fit the theme. If you're interested, tag along."

"I might not have time tomorrow," he said, sounding genuinely regretful.

Eliza shrugged it off. "No biggie, you probably wouldn't get it anyway."

"Why wouldn't I? Welton International has a jewelry division too, you know."

"Oh, right. How could I forget?" Eliza handed him the empty cup. "I better get to the office."

Crystal Clear had three venues lined up for the expo, and tomorrow's site was the one that had been carefully chosen to fit the design perfectly. The journey there wasn't exactly smooth sailing.

During the rainy season, landslides were a common occurrence. But now, in winter, Eliza wasn't too worried about those risks.

Bright and early, she and her colleagues piled into a company van, heading to the expo site. The location wasn't exactly nearby a two-hour drive on the highway awaited them.noveldrama

On the way, Casper called Eliza, bringing up concerns about the road conditions. "That area can get pretty damp. If it looks rough, don't push it. Landslides can happen in winter too. Safety first, okay?" '

His concern warmed her heart. "I know, I've got it. Don't stress."

"If anything comes up, call me right away." His tablet was already displaying live updates on the road conditions. "I'm always here."

"You make it sound like I'm heading into some kind of danger. Relax, I've got this." Eliza ended the call with a smile.

They were nearing a service area, and she decided a restroom break was in order. "Anyone who needs a bathroom break, now's the time. We're about to leave the highway and head into the mountains."

Everyone agreed and piled out of the van. The clear weather suddenly turned gray, and a light drizzle began to fall. Feeling a bit queasy, Eliza hurried into the service area.

After about fifteen minutes, they got back on the road. The highway gave way to winding mountain roads, and the weather wasn't letting up—in fact, it was getting nastier, with the light rain turning into a steadier downpour.

Meanwhile, back in Falconridge's conference room, a tablet pinged with a live weather update. The man paused the meeting, his expression turning serious.

Dillon cautiously approached. "Mr. Casper, is everything alright?"

"Let's wrap up today's meeting," Casper announced, standing and grabbing his tablet. He quickly made his way to his office.

Dillon trailed behind, "Mr. Casper, is something wrong?"

Casper, looking tense, pushed open the door to his office and walked up to the floor-to-ceiling windows. The weather at Falconridge had taken a turn too. The ominous clouds were unsettling, and the wind, along with stray leaves and small stones, was tapping against the glass?

He picked up his phone and called Eliza. The phone rang endlessly, but there was

no answer.