His Destructive, Toxic Love

The car pulled up to Eliza's place. She got out, holding an umbrella over Brock, and turned to the man in the driver's seat, "Hand over the car keys."

"If I give you the keys, how am I supposed to get back?" He couldn't believe she expected him to walk in the rain to find a taxi. "Could you show a little compassion, Ms. Valerie?"

"If you take the car, what am I supposed to drive tomorrow?" She stretched her hand out again, "Give them to me."

Casper had no choice but to hand over the keys to Eliza.

After getting out of the car, he tried to share Eliza's umbrella, but she turned and walked away.

Casper: ...

She wouldn't let him drive, nor share her umbrella. Was she seriously going to let him get soaked?

Once home, Eliza, still anxious about Brock's situation, immediately called the preschool teacher. David listened in from a respectful distance.

The conversation sounded unpleasant, and Eliza angrily hung up the phone.

"What happened?" he asked.

"There's a kid at the preschool who keeps calling Brock a child without a father. I asked the teacher to address it, but..."

Eliza rubbed her temples, "...she said the child's father is some high-ranking executive with a lot of money..."

She couldn't understand. Did having wealthy parents give kids the right to misbehave and bully others from such a young age?

Eliza didn't want to continue. Her eyes filled with sorrow as she looked out at the rain.

David didn't have much of a network in Oak Falls, so he suggested bringing Brock back to Falconridge, "Small towns are like that, full of snobbery and fear of trouble. Instead of letting Brock suffer here, it might be better to return to Falconridge. The preschools there are plentiful."

His reasoning was identical to Casper's. But her job was in Oak Falls, and she wasn't ready to leave.

"Let's talk about it later."

If worse came to worst, she could move Brock to another preschool. The teaching quality might be lower, but it was better than being bullied.

The next morning, Eliza decided to deal with the preschool issue first. During breakfast, the doorbell rang.

She got up to answer it.

"And you are...?"

"You must be Brock's mom. I'm

Olive's dad. My Olive has been saying and doing some hurtful things to Brock at preschool, and I'm really sorry about that. I came here specifically to apologize."

The man's face was filled with a remorseful smile as he bowed slightly, "Don't worry, I've already spoken to the child and even arranged for a transfer to another school. I sincerely apologize

He bowed deeply.

swnovel

Eliza was stunned. Yesterday, the preschool teacher had seemed so conflicted over the phone, saying this family was not to be trifled with. How had things changed so quickly? The man placed a gift on the floor, "I won't disturb your meal any longer, then. I'll be going now."Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Eliza: ...

What was happening? Something clicked in her mind.

She went back to her room and called Casper.

"Did you do this?"

"He came to apologize?" A smug smile played at the corners of his mouth Their child bullied Brock. They had to face the consequences. You don't need to thank me; did it for the child."

"You really like to meddle, don't you?"

His interference was extremely unwelcome to her. Even if his intentions were good.

"I was just seeking justice for the child. What's with your attitude?"

Casper was puzzled; he thought she would at least be grateful. But instead, he was met with complaints.

"Casper, I don't need you meddling in my affairs." She hoped he would understand that not all actions warranted gratitude, "I want you to stay out of my life."

"You can't handle it, so I step in, and you call that meddling? Valerie, are you unable to distinguish between right and wrong?"