His Destructive, Toxic Love

"Why am I even doing this? Do I have nothing better to do?"

Tears blurred her vision as she shook her head. "Unless the real culprit is found, you're the murderer. You and Nova, both of you are murderers."

"Fine." It was his first time being wrongly accused, and he was livid. "Even if the police can't find the truth, I'll get to the bottom of it myself. Just don't come crying for forgiveness later." "Get out, just leave..."

The door slammed shut. Casper stormed down the stairs, fuming.

Nova, hidden in the shadows, limped over with her cane. "Casper."

He didn't look up at her, pulling a cigarette from the pack and lighting it up.

The smoke curled around his chiseled side profile, making him look even more brooding and attractive.

"Casper, how's Eliza?" Nova asked cautiously, sitting beside him. "She blames me, but I don't mind. She lost her mother; it's natural for her to be upset. I get it."

He took a deep drag, the smoke swirling in his mouth, before slowly exhaling. Through the wispy smoke, he looked into her slightly blurred eyes. "What about you?"

She stared at him, startled, panic flickering in her eyes as if she hadn't expected this question. "Me? I... What?"

"Rose was Eliza's mother but she also raised you. Why don't I see even a hint of sadness in you?" He reached out and held Nova's jaw, stiffened by dermal fillers. "Tell me, are you really not involved in this?" "Casper, you don't believe me either?" Tears welled up in her eyes, her lips trembling. "Is there no trust between us anymore?"

He looked into her inscrutable eyes for a moment before slowly retracting his hand, taking another drag from the cigarette, and blowing out a stream of gray smoke.

He leaned back against the couch, a barely noticeable smirk appearing on his lips.

Trust? To him, that word seemed to grow increasingly ambiguous and elusive. He felt like he could never truly understand Nova.

"Nova, was it really you who gave me that portrait back then?"

After receiving the portrait from that girl, he searched everywhere for the girl. But just two days later, Nova showed up on her own. She even wore the same sun-protective clothing, the same cap, and a high ponytail as the girl did that day.

He believed Nova and treasured her.

Was it really her though?

Suddenly, he covered the lower half of her face with his hand.

Nova panicked, turning her face away. "Casper, are you just looking for excuses not to love me?"

The next second, she burst into tears, sobbing as if the whole world was against her.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"It's okay, Casper. If you don't love

me, I won't blame you. I can't give you the happiness you want. I'm not in good health, and I can't have.

children. It's only right for youn

reject me. Go love someone else; I

won't blame you."

Trembling, Nova stood up, leaning on her cane.

She thought Casper would stop her and then explain that he didn't stop loving her, but he didn't. He just kept smoking casually.

Her melodramatic act was for nothing.

"Casper, I'll be going. I'll find some

other place to stay; it doesn't matter where. After all, my family home is gone, and I have nowhere left. Any shelter will do; it doesn't have to be nice. I've always been unlucky, but I'm strong."