His Destructive, Toxic Love

Eliza was knee-deep in work in Paris. Casper had sent Dillon over to lend a hand with some of the trickier tasks. He wasn't exactly taking it easy himself, though.

One morning, Casper headed over to the famous artisan Andrew's studio in Paris. He'd been holding onto a multicolored diamond for a while now, and it was about time to see the finished product. After a quick knock and a nod from Andrew, Casper stepped inside the studio.

"Good morning, Mr. Andrew," Casper greeted.

Andrew stood up, shaking Casper's hand enthusiastically. "Casper, I've been waiting for you to come by. Let's take a look at your diamond."

He guided Casper over to see his carefully crafted masterpiece. There was a diamond ring bigger than a pigeon's egg, a crown encrusted with nine hundred and ninety-nine diamonds of all shapes and sizes, and a necklace featuring precisely 101 diamonds. Bracelets, earrings, brooches-each piece thoughtfully designed with a specific number of diamonds to symbolize good fortune. Under the lights, they all seemed to compete in shining the brightest.

Andrew, puffing on his pipe, couldn't hide his pride. "This is the most stunning diamond I've ever worked with, and honestly, my finest creation. Casper, your lady's one lucky woman. I'm sure she'll say yes to your proposal.noveldrama

Casper gazed at the jewelry, which was nothing short of priceless art, his eyes brimming with hope. Would she say yes? Would she accept his proposal without a second thought? He believed she would-after all, he'd put his heart into this. She had to.

"Mr. Andrew, thank you for handing over such beautiful pieces. I'm sure she'll love them," Casper said earnestly.

Andrew waved him off with a casual air, taking another puff. "Casper, what she loves is you, the person. These are just the cherry on top. If she says yes, it's because you deserve it, not because of the sparkle of these diamonds."

If he was someone she could count on, someone she could trust with her life, he was sure she'd say yes. "You're right," Casper nodded.

...

After a long day, Eliza finally managed to grab a coffee. The Paris Film Festival had wrapped up, and

Crystal Clear had made quite a splash, landing a bunch of custom orders. She thought about how busy she'd be once back in Falconridge.

"Dillon, what's Mr. Casper been up to lately? Seems like he's busier than I am," Eliza asked, sipping her coffee.

Dillon, keeping things under wraps, handed her a beautifully wrapped box. "Ma'am, this is a lovely dress Mr. Casper picked out for you himself. He'd like you to wear He's planning to take you to see the

it later.

night view from the mountain top."

Eliza was baffled. Late autumn? In a dress? On a mountain top? Had he lost it?

"Why a night view? I'm not going," she protested. She dreaded the cold, and this kind of romance felt like pure torture.

Dillon exchanged a glance with

Brian, who chimed in quickly, "Ms. Eliza, there's a private party on the mountain tonight. I think Mr. Casper needs you there for some social event. Don't worry, there's a hotel up there too-it's a popular spot on social media, really pretty,

Eliza squinted suspiciously. Social obligations? Why hadn't Casper mentioned it?

"Alright," she sighed, taking the dress. Brian said, "Let me do your makeup, it's almost time."

"Thanks, that'd be great."

Eliza wasn't overthinking it. If Casper needed her there as his wife, she wouldn't let him down, even if she was exhausted to the point of wanting to scream. Where could you find a more understanding wife?

"Brian, you'll drive me, right? I need a nap in the car," she said.

Brian nodded, meticulously working on her makeup. "Of course, Ms. Eliza."

"Have you been to the mountain top? Is the view any good?" she asked again.

Brian shook his head, a bit

embarrassed. "Not yet, but I've heard the stars are incredibly bright, and you can see all of Paris. It's

supposed to be gorgeous. I think Mr. Casper wants to have a romantic moment with you."