His Destructive, Toxic Love novel Chapter 707

The man chuckled, shaking his head with amusement. It was smart for girls to stay on their toes these days. He didn’t think she was wrong to be cautious.

Chelsea had booked Eliza a room with a balcony that overlooked the lake. Even as nature seemed to be shedding its layers in this season, there were still ducks gliding peacefully across the water. It felt like the only place where someone could truly clear their mind.

That afternoon, Eliza bundled up in her thick down jacket, planning to relax by the lake for a bit. As she reached the elevator, she spotted the man who’d helped her with her luggage the day before.

“Heading out?” he greeted her warmly.

“Yes,” she replied, offering a polite but distant smile.

“I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself yesterday. I’m Gabe.”

Eliza simply nodded with a light “Oh.”

He seemed to be waiting for her to introduce herself, but she didn’t bite.

“Do I look like a bad guy?” he asked, clearly entertained by the situation.

“Not at all,” she said, momentarily caught off guard by his question.

Gabe looked at her, his smile unwavering, “And you are?”

“Eliza,” she replied.

The winter wind had a bite to it, but the sun was shining brightly. Eliza strolled slowly toward the lake, enjoying the solitude. This time of year, tourists were scarce. Occasionally, she saw couples, cuddling and tossing stones by the water.

She and Casper had never shared those intimate moments. Not once, even on trips. What woman wouldn’t want to stroll hand in hand with her love in such a romantic setting? But could she say he didn’t love her? His gestures of love were always grandiose, all or nothing—wills, wealth, and shares. A thousand people express love in a thousand ways. Maybe that was just Casper’s style.

The wind tousled the strands of hair that escaped her hat. The crisp air was invigorating, each breath a refreshment. She sat by the lake for a while.

Her phone buzzed with a message, “Have you arrived?” It was from Casper. She’d asked him not to bother her, but he couldn’t resist. “I have,” she replied. “Good.” After that, the messages stopped. For some reason, she felt a pang of loneliness.

The lake was peaceful, occasionally disturbed by the ducks paddling by. She sat there, lost in thought. Throughout her marriage to Casper, she’d often stood by lakes like this, wondering if she should just end it all. She’d lamented how unfair life was, giving her a man who stole her heart but wouldn’t give his in return. She’d often doubted herself, thinking she wasn’t pretty enough, her figure wasn’t perfect, her personality wasn’t engaging, she wasn’t lovable. In time, she realized something. Dislike is just that—dislike. Even if she turned into gold, it wouldn’t matter to him. In those painful years, she felt like she was going crazy.