"Isn''t this exactly what you wanted?" she muttered, her voice lifeless, her head buzzing.


    Casper nced at the wound on his hand, a mix of irritation and anger shing in his eyes. "Go get the first-aid kit," he barked. Eliza stood still, unresponsive.


    "Are you deaf? Go!" he shouted, his voice sharper.


    Eliza froze for a moment before turning to fetch the kit. She ced it in front of Casper.


    He looked up, frustration in his gaze. "You expect me to handle this myself? How am I supposed to manage that?"


    "I''ll do it," she replied softly.


    She took out the alcohol, cleaned the blood from his palm, applied antiseptic, sprinkled healing powder, and wrapped it all up with gauze, securing it with a neat knot. Her movements were smooth and gentle as if she''d done this a thousand times.


    "All done," she said.


    "Useless at most things, but pretty handy with this," he sneered.


    Eliza didn''t bother to respond. She was used to his cutting remarks by now.


    "Why did you stop me? Isn''t that the oue you wanted?" she asked, her tone t.


    He gave her a half-smile, his eyes mocking. "Did you really think I wanted toe home to a corpse?"


    So that was it. He just didn''t want to traumatize himself. She stayed silent.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    "I might hold off on taking you to the police station for now, but Eliza, I''m going to find out whether you stabbed Nova or not. And if it turns out you did, you''ll pay."


    Eliza listened quietly. If he did a proper investigation, the truth woulde out. But if he turned a blind eye, who knew?


    "However, you can still make amends."


    She looked up, puzzled. "Make amends? How?"


    "Join me for a social eventter," he said.


    Eliza didn''t want to go, and remained silent.


    He nced at her. "We''re going to Daniel''s ce in the south of the city. His wife loves ying the harp. You two might have a lot inmon."


    "Why don''t you take your secretary?" she suggested, unwilling to force herself into something she disliked. "I can make amends in other ways."


    Casper scoffed. "Eliza, what makes


    you think you can negotiate with me? If you want your mother''s clinical trial to stop and for Robin to stay in the hospital for another year, feel free to skip this."


    Eliza felt her temper rising.


    Casper''s cool, detached voice cut through the air again. "I''ve heard your mother''s trial could wake her up. If it''s halted, it might cause a blood vessel to burst, possibly leading to... death."


    Eliza shook her head, bitterness flooding her heart as she looked at his handsome face. Her voice trembled with emotion. "Could you be any more despicable? Must you always threaten me with my family?"


    "Eliza, you are Mrs. Welton. You have an obligation to cooperate with me," he said, raising an eyebrow, a mocking smile lurking in his eyes.


    Casper had his reasons for wanting


    Eliza to apany him. Daniel was a tough nut to crack. They''d been negotiating a coboration project for nearly a year, and he still hadn''t agreed. With almost a billion in profits at stake, Welton International wasn''t ready to give up.


    By chance, Casper found out that Daniel''s wife was Eliza''s college ssmate. Both had been in the orchestra club and had a good rtionship. Daniel''s first wife had been with him for ten years without having children. After their divorce, he married his current wife, who, despite being young and beautiful, had given him twin boys within a year.