His Destructive, Toxic Love

"Got

it."

How could he not understand? What Eliza was missing wasn't money; it was a solid sense of security and the realization of her own self-worth.

"Let me think about it," she said gently.

Casper nodded eagerly. Her willingness to consider his proposal meant she was really listening to him. He let out a silent sigh of relief.

The most crucial part was proposing to her right away. Only if she agreed to marry him willingly would they truly be husband and wife, and only then could his heart finally be at ease.

He had already passed that dazzling diamond to the craftsman. Besides crafting a massive diamond ring, he was also having a stunning set of jewelry and a one-of-a-kind crown made just for her. This was going to take some time-probably at least six months. During that time, he would need to treat her exceptionally well.

Back at Falconridge, Casper quickly dove into work. After the meeting wrapped up, he was going over tasks with Dillon. He had a lot to say, but his assistant seemed miles away.

...

Casper's fingers drummed lightly on the desk. "What's on your mind?"

"Nothing, nothing," Dillon snapped back to reality, quickly focusing on the documents in front of him. "I'll get right on it."

As he spoke, he fumbled with the files, trying to show he was on top of things.

"Something's off with you," Casper said, closing the file, his eyes sharp and knowing. "I heard that while I was away this past year, you and Caroline have been on and off. What's the deal?" "There's nothing going on," Dillon said, sidestepping too much personal detail, not wanting to delve into it.

Casper didn't press him. Instead, he pulled out an appointment letter. "The Beaconhouse branch needs someone strong in all areas to lay down the groundwork. I think you're the right fit." "Beaconhouse?" Dillon was surprised, sensing there might be more to this. "Are you suggesting..."

"Don't overthink it. Beaconhouse is your mom's hometown, and your granddad's still living there. You've spent so much time here with me, it's about time you went back for a bit." Casper handed him the appointment letter. "A few months won't be too long. I'll have Caroline go with you, and once everything's running smoothly there, you two can come back."

"But if I leave, you won't have a solid assistant here," Dillon worried aloud.

Casper shrugged. "You'll need to sort that out for me before you head off." "Understood."

Before leaving Falconridge, Dillon took great care in selecting a new assistant for Casper. Yet, none seemed quite right. Casper was used to having Dillon around after all these years. The last assistant, Faithe, hadn't lasted long.

Dillon was cautious and meticulous in his search, but no one quite matched up.

"Just find a temporary stand-in for now. They don't need to match you perfectly, just close enough," Casper insisted, not wanting Dillon to delay his trip. The Beaconhouse branch was eager to get started. "Go-to Beaconhouse with peace of mind. I'm looking forward to your swift return."

"Understood."

From the pook of candidates Dillon had prepared, Casper chose a recent college graduate named Summer. She was attentive, smart,

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hardworking, and presented herself well After a month-long trial, Casper was impressed and decided to keep her on.

"Did you get that designer bag I asked for?" Casper inquired as he got ready to leave for the day.

Summer immediately stood up straight. "Mr. Casper, it's already in the backseat of your car, the purple limited edition. I'm sure Mrs. Welton will love it."

Mrs. Welton? That seemed a bit too familiar for Casper's liking. "Call her Mrs. Welton."

Summer's face flushed, and she quickly nodded. "Yes, Mrs. Welton will definitely love it."