His Destructive, Toxic Love

"Don't you trust me?" Eliza asked Juan, a hint of disappointment in her eyes. "Do you think I'm losing it?"

Juan pressed his lips together, his gaze softening with empathy and a deeper understanding.

"Eliza, have you ever stopped to realize that your love for Casper has never really gone away? It's always been there, even stronger than you might think. That's why you hold onto those little similarities, because deep down, you hope he's still alive, don't you?" Juan's words hit her like a hammer, striking the emotions she had buried so deeply.

It was like a wake-up call.

Did she love him?

Had she never actually stopped loving him? Was that it?

No, she was supposed to hate him. Surely her anger outweighed her love, didn't it?

She just thought it was better for him to be alive than dead.

Yes, that's all there was to it.

Watching Eliza's wavering gaze, Juan knew she was wrestling with her own doubts again.

"There's no shame in loving someone, even if they've hurt you in the past. He's tried to make things right. Can you really ignore that?"

Eliza's eyes flickered with uncertainty. "I..."

"Just hear me out, Eliza," Juan urged. He wanted her to see the truth in her heart before she got stuck in a loop of self-doubt. "During those years with Casper, he did some pretty awful things, but he tried to change. Doesn't saving you more than once count for something?"

"A lot of it was just misunderstandings. The Casper I see genuinely loves you. If you still have even a little love for him, you're not betraying anyone."

Eliza's lashes fell, her heart heavy.

Juan was right.

She just didn't want to face it.

"Do you think..." she hesitated,

fiddling

you thith her fingers, unsure,"

do

he's still alive? Those eyesnovelbin

looked so much like his. I swear it's him, somewhere out there.

Hearing her words, Juan's heart ached for Eliza.

He too wished for Casper to somehow come back.

But that's the stuff of fairy tales.

"People... don't often come back from the dead," he said gently, trying to comfort her. "Just imagine he's

just lost touch. He's moved

living happily somewhere, you've et

started a family, and you're living the life you want. Wouldn't that be better?"

"But... those eyes..." They looked so much like his, they really did.

She searched Juan's eyes for some sign of agreement.

But...

"Eliza," Juan said, gripping her shoulders firmly, hoping to soothe her, "get some rest. You need it, okay?" Eventually, Eliza let herself be convinced.

Was she just seeing things?

Probably.

Just like Juan said, she missed him so much, she wanted him to be alive so badly that she was seeing things that weren't there. Like those eyes.

The meeting in France felt like a dream.

And when it was over, Eliza returned to Falconridge to carry on with her life.

She never expected Manuel to show up in Falconridge.

He came with bags full of gifts, laden with care and affection, leaving her a bit taken aback. "You..."

"I got some prenatal vitamins and

maternity dresses, plus a few

everyday things," he said, as warmly as sunshine, his tone full of

unspoken kindness and

thoughtfulness. "If there's anything else you need, just tell me, and I'll grab it for you."