His Destructive, Toxic Love

The hospital was tucked away behind tall birch trees, keeping it in the shadows year-round. The iron gate was locked tight, and every now and then, a chilling scream would break the silence. Eliza pressed the worn-out doorbell at the entrance. A small hatch in the door slid open, revealing an unfriendly voice, "Who are you here for?"

"Hi, I'm here to see Robin."

"It's not visiting hours." The hatch slammed shut.

Eliza knocked again, more urgently this time, "Please, I just need to see him for a moment."

The hatch opened slightly, and the voice was now clearly impatient. "I already told you, it's not visiting hours."

"Then, when can I see him?"

"Friday."

The hatch closed again, and Eliza's heart sank. As she turned to leave, a gut-wrenching scream echoed from inside, making her grip her coat tighter.

No. She couldn't let her brother stay in there any longer.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

When she got home, she cleaned out a room and stocked it with some essentials. She hadn't earned a dime in the two years since she married. Robin would occasionally send her some money, a few thousand here and there. She hadn't touched any of it.

After doing some quick calculations, she realized she had saved up tens of thousands, enough to cover part of her mother's medical bills at the local hospital. She couldn't afford better treatment, but she could at least keep her mother alive. As long as her mother was alive, Eliza felt like she still had a sense of purpose.

Grabbing her purse, Eliza hailed a cab to her mother's hospital.

"Doctor, I'm Rose's daughter. I'm here to—"

The doctor looked up from the medical records, eyes narrowing slightly. "Eliza?"

Eliza froze, more surprised than anything. "Aaron? What are you doing here?"

"I came over because... well, why are you here?"

"My mom's hospitalized here. I'm here to pay her bills."

Aaron adjusted his glasses, puzzled. "Wasn't your mom at Casper's hospital? Why'd she move here?"

"The costs were too high. I couldn't afford it, so..." Eliza forced a sad smile, "...Aaron, I need to go pay the bills."

Aaron stood up, taking the bill from her hand. "I know this place well. I'll take you to the payment office."

"Thanks."

Everyone in the Welton family, including Aaron, the family doctor, knew Casper and Eliza's relationship was strained. But moving Eliza's mother out of a top-notch hospital didn't sit right with Aaron. On the way to the payment office, he asked, "Did you and Casper have a fight?"

"No."

"At Welton International's hospital, your mom might have had a chance to recover. This place doesn't have the same facilities; she might not..."

"I know."

Of course, Eliza knew. But did she have a choice? Casper could even stop the treatment here at any moment.

After paying the bills, they walked out of the payment office. From a distance, they saw the most prestigious car in Falconridge, unmistakably Casper's. Casper got out of the car first, then went around to the back seat to lift Nova out, handing her the crutches. Throughout, he was incredibly patient and gentle. In a moment, Eliza understood why Aaron was there. "Did Casper send you?"

"I'm here because Casper wanted the medical records for Nova's knee surgery before sending her abroad for treatment. Don't overthink it."

Eliza scoffed lightly. Casper really was going all out for Nova. Nova's knee injury was an accident. Back then, she was still the daughter of the Pinotti family.