His Destructive, Toxic Love

"We're all family here, no worries." He opened the car door and got out, then courteously opened the back door for Eliza. "Please, get in."

Eliza was internally screaming a thousand different ways to say no.

She felt like a lamb on a spit, doomed no matter which way she turned.

Oh well.

If she was destined to face this, she might as well get it over with. It was only a matter of time.

She bent over and slid into the back seat, right next to Caleb.

Casper settled into the passenger seat.

The car slowly began to move.

Caleb's gaze flicked over Eliza's face a few times before he leaned in and lowered his voice.

"Sis-in-law, are you and my brother into some kind of cosplay?"

Eliza blinked, bewildered. "...???"

"My brother's lost some of his memory. The part that's gone, it's not all about you, is it?" Caleb was itching to dig up some gossip. "And weren't you in a car accident three years ago... How are you still here?" Eliza's eyebrows knitted together. "Are we that close? You're quite the detective, aren't you?"

"Strangers yesterday, friends today," Caleb said with his usual easy charm. "Besides, we're all one big family, right?"

"Legally speaking, if a person dies, the marriage ends, so..." Eliza's stare was icy, her voice only for Caleb's ears, "...I have no relationship with the Welton family now."

"Ah." Caleb sounded as though he heard a heart shatter.

It wasn't his heart.

He felt bad for his dear brother.

"Sis-in-law, you're pretty ruthless."

"Don't call me sis-in-law," Eliza warned.

Caleb ignored her, still grinning and nosy. "So, how did you and my brother reconnect? Seems like he's really into you. He wouldn't be trying to win you back, would he?"

"Are you done yet?"

"So, even after the memory loss, he still fell for you?" Caleb marveled "The power of love, huh? It

transcends time, distance, and even amnesia. That's something.

Eliza: ...

She hadn't expected Caleb to be such a chatterbox.

Why hadn't he been this annoying when they were kids?

AQUMS

Eliza turned her face away, looking out the window, refusing to engage any further.

Caleb cheekily posted a status on his social media.

---Ah, love, truly enviable. After all the twists and turns, it's still you.

The car slowly approached the Welton family's quaint and dignified ancestral home.

Sitting in the car, Eliza's eyes flickered with confusion.

"How... Why are we here?" She was surprised by the sight before her. Casper smiled gently as he turned around, his smile tender.

He got out of the car, walked to her side, and gently opened the door for her. "Last time at your place, we missed out on a family dinner. I've always felt a bit regretful about that. Today I wanted to bring you to my place, to give you a taste of @real Welton family feast, as a way... for you to return the favor, how about it?"

Eliza looked at him, a flood of indescribable emotions welling up inside her.

Caleb, watching this unfold, couldn't help but shiver, feeling a wave of goosebumps all over.

He quickly got out of the car, wanting to escape the ambiguously tender atmosphere.

"I don't think this is appropriate. I should go," Eliza frowned slightly, turning to leave.

Casper quickly grasped her wrist. "Now that you're here, you might as well stay for dinner."

"You didn't say we were coming here," she protested, not liking the surprise, "Some other time, I'll treat you instead."

Casper, as if he hadn't heard her complaint, smiled gently, with a touch of indulgence. "Come on, let's try the food at my place."