His Destructive, Toxic Love

"Dylan called today and said he missed you. How about we pick him up from school together this weekend? What do you think?" Fiona's face had this gentle, warm glow, like a wife chatting casually with her husband about everyday life.

his

Casper moved over to the dining table. He glanced at the spread of beautifully arranged dishes, then lifted gaze towards Fiona, still bustling in the kitchen. It was hard to reconcile this image with the fact that she had drugged him and taken those photos.

"Casper, I noticed your wardrobe is a bit too monochromatic. Got any free time tomorrow? Let's hit the mall. 'I'll help you pick out some new clothes. You'll stand out at parties, business meetings, and any other social gatherings." She spoke so naturally, he almost forgot she wasn't the lady of the house. She hadn't done those outrageous things, right?

"And about your bedding-it's all silk. Sure, it's fancy and matches your status, but you should get some cotton sets too. Trust me, cotton is way more comfortable."

"I've already called someone to get new curtains made. I'm thinking of brightening up our bedroom and Dylan's room. The current ones are just too gloomy. Don't you think life should be a bit more vibrant?" She finished serving the soup and brought the bowl to the table with oven mitts on. Noticing his intense gaze, she playfully waved her hand in front of his eyes, teasing, "Am I that stunning? You're staring like you've never seen me before."noveldrama

"Fiona," he called out, his voice a bit cold. She giggled shyly, her ears turning a shade of pink. "Hmm?"

"Let's be real. I won't dig into what you've done. Leave Falconridge, take Dylan, and live your life." His

emotions were a tangled mess.

Fiona was the woman Rory had net

loved deeply, yet she had never

cared for him, not even a little. "Rory asked me to take care of you, and I intend to keep that promise."

He placed a card on the table. "This should be enough for you and Dylan to live comfortably. For Rory's sake, I'm willing to let bygones be bygones.

Fiona's smile faltered. Her eyes widened in shock, blinking rapidly as she tried to keep her cool, "What are you saying?"

"Fiona, after Rory left, I found out everything about where you went and what you did. Are you going to keep pretending?" Casper disliked deceit, especially when it was right in front of him. "I can ignore the fact you drugged me for those photos, but if you're set on breaking up my family, I won't go easy on you."

Fiona was taken aback. Casper had investigated her. He knew everything. Her heart dropped, and she slumped into her chair. "But Rory's request for you to take care of me was real."

"If Rory knew how you've been deceiving me, what do you think he'd feel?" If it weren't for Rory, Casper wouldn't have been this calm. "You can take my offer or leave it. Either way, you'll have to face the consequences."

He stood up, ready to leave. Fiona, panicked, shot up and reached out to stop him. "Am I not good enough, Casper? Haven't I looked after you? You need a supportive partner, and I can be that. Don't do this. I want to be with you. I can be a good wife. For Rory's sake, don't abandon me."

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Abandon? She picked quite the dramatic word, putting Casper in the hot seat of moral judgment. It left a bad taste in his mouth, his expression darkening. "There was nothing between us to begin with, so how can it be abandonment? Fiona, I have a wife and child. My wife wants a divorce because of you and this so-called debt of gratitude. That's already unfair to me. Don't hold me hostage any longer. If you can't accept what I'm offering, then just leave."