His Destructive, Toxic Love

"I still need to take care of my dad."

"The party starts after 8 p.m., and your dad goes to bed early. It won't be an issue," Chelsea said, her main goal tonight was to convince her friend. "Look, I even brought you this beautiful dress."

She handed the elegantly wrapped bag to Eliza, nudging her to try it on. "I picked this dress just for you. You're going to look absolutely stunning."This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

Eliza felt torn.

But she didn't want to dampen Chelsea's excitement.

"Just this once, okay?" she relented.

"Okay, just this once."

The white dress and the red-and-black fox mask made Eliza look like a fairy descended to earth.

Chelsea wore a sky-blue dress paired with a white tassel mask, looking indescribably sensual.

Hand in hand, they entered the party.

Only when they saw the extravagantly dressed guests did they realize how conservative they were. "Elle, let's go over there."

Chelsea excitedly pulled Eliza to a corner of the room to sit down.

Upstairs, Caleb, holding a black mask, kept his eyes on the two women who had just walked in.

Even with the mask on, he recognized Eliza immediately.

In his memories, Eliza wasn't the party type.

Seeing her here was quite the surprise.

But then again, women, when freed from the chains of men and family, ought to live a little.

He nudged his brother, Casper, with his elbow, grinning. "Bro, guess who just walked in?"

"Hm?" Casper, holding a glass of red wine, looked puzzled.

Caleb pointed toward Eliza and Chelsea. "Over there."

Casper's gaze finally shifted...

"Bro, now that your memory's back, you should remember everything from before. Don't you plan on winning my sister-in-law back?" Caleb took a sip of his sparkling wine, smirking. "Look at her, dressed so conservatively and still wearing a mask, but she's surrounded by men. A beauty's glow can't be hidden."

Casper's intense gaze softened as he finished his wine.

Susan approached, holding a cute Hello Kitty mask, and said coquettishly, "Casper, care for a dance?"

"I'm too old for dancing."

Casper coldly declined Susan's invitation.

Setting down his glass, he took the mask from Caleb, put it on, and quickly headed downstairs.

Within minutes, Susan and Caleb saw Casper approaching Eliza.

"I thought he said he was too old to dance?" Susan pouted, annoyed, grabbing Caleb's arm. "Who is that woman? He won't dance with me

but can dance with someon@else?"

Caleb removed her hand from his arm and dismissively said, "Depends on the person." Susan huffed in irritation.

Meanwhile...

Eliza raised her head slightly, her gaze landing on the man before her.

Like before, she gently waved her hand,

with

a hint of apology and distance. "I'm sorry, I don't I dance."

swno

"Please, give me a chance."

He deliberately lowered his voice.

Eliza, recognizing the vaguely familiar tone, finally looked up into the man's eyes.

The mask covered his entire face.

With only his eyes visible, she couldn't recognize him.

"I really can't dance."

"I'll teach you," he insisted.

Eliza glanced at Chelsea, who was having the time of her life, with no one to cover for her.

"I'm sorry, really can't. Please ask someone else," Eliza said evasively,

standing up with an apel

sw n

smile. "I'm going to the restroom."

Watching her flee, the man's extended hand clenched in frustration.

Upstairs, Caleb, watching the man standing alone, nearly choked on his wine.

It seemed she really wasn't interested.