His Destructive, Toxic Love

"No way, I'm not the type to switch horses midstream," Dillon said with a shake of his head.

Casper chuckled, brushing off the idea. "Come up with something else, man. Don't play with your heart like that."

Dillon wasn't trying to play games with his feelings; he just felt that his relationship with Caroline was dragging everyone down.

Having been around Casper for so long, Dillon saw him as family. The last thing he wanted was for a lackluster romance to cause a rift between them.

"Alright, then... the loser has to call the winner... grandpa." With a mischievous grin, Dillon snapped his riding crop against the horse's flank, "Mr. Casper, see you at the finish line."

"You've got some nerve, kid. Let's see who gets there first," Casper laughed, urging his horse forward to catch up.

Eliza, waiting at the finish line, wore a stylish sunhat and peered down the road through her sunglasses.

Though the autumn air was crisp, the sun was relentless, casting a blinding glare off the ground.

She fanned herself with a sandalwood fan, chatting with Caroline beside her. "So, sis, when are you and Dillon going to tie the knot and give us some wedding sweets?"

Caroline's eyes dimmed a little, and she let out a small laugh, "Actually, he and I... we're about to call it quits."

"What?" Eliza was caught off guard. Dillon didn't seem like the flaky type at all.

Could it be one of those situations where you think you know someone, but you really don't?

"Is there someone else?" Eliza probed.

"No," Caroline replied with a soft smile.

Sometimes, breaking up isn't about someone new coming into the picture. It's more about two people who just can't find a way to make it work, turning love into a tiring ordeal.

"So, was he not treating you right?" Eliza asked, confused.

Caroline maintained her calm demeanor, "Maybe it's just that he didn't love me enough. Don't you think love should be fiery and intense? Ours was just... too lukewarm."

She laughed at her own words, finding humor in her desire for passionate love in her thirties, "Doesn't it sound silly? A woman my age wanting a love that sweeps you off your feet."

Eliza shook her head in disagreement.

She believed that whether love was fiery or simple, what mattered most was that it was genuine.

Was Dillon the one who didn't love enough? Or was it Caroline?

"Do you love him?" Eliza asked gently.

Caroline wasn't sure how to put it into words.

Something was missing between them, "Maybe... I used to love him."

Used to love?

It was a clear sign that whatever love there was, it had faded away.

"What about him? Does he still love you?"

Caroline couldn't say for sure. Maybe he did at some point, "Probably not anymore."

Eliza watched her sister's eyes, which had lost some of their sparkle, and found herself deep in thought.

It was surprising how quickly feelings could fade.

The sound of hooves pounding earth grew louder as Dillon and Casper raced neck and

the finish line. Content eck tel

Eliza turned her gaze toward them.

By the time they crossed the line, it was too close to call a winner.

Which was probably for the

best-neither

of them would have et

been eager to concede and calf thenoveldrama

other r "grandpa."

swrongs to

Marian from the stables quickly handed them bottles of water.

Caroline, with a light touch, mounted her horse and rode off.

"I'm going to sit over there for a Dillon said, handing the reins to

Marian before heading over tool

rest area.

Eliza was about to join him when Casper caught her arm, "Come on, let's go for another round."

"Haven't had enough yet?"

"Nope, one more ride," he said, taking her hand and leading her to the stables to pick out another horse.

Eliza hesitated, not wanting to dampen his spirits, "I'd rather not. I'm not much of a rider."

"Don't worry, I've got you. What's there to be afraid of?"