His Destructive, Toxic Love

Eliza desperately wanted to get out of there. But what would happen after she left? Casper could drag her back anytime he wanted, and it would just be the same old cycle. "Can I ask you a favor?" she said.

She wasn't sure if Zach would help her. He might expect something in return, and she had nothing to offer. She took off the necklace her mother had given her. "You can take this as a down payment." Zach felt a sudden tightness in his chest. Damn it. Seeing Eliza like this was messing with his head.

"What do I need your old necklace for?" he grumbled, undoing a few buttons of his shirt collar. "Just tell me what you need."

"Can you get Chelsea to come to see me? I need to talk to her. Can you do that?"

"That's it?" He looked at her, confused, thinking she must have lost her mind. "Eliza, your main goal should be getting out of here. Do you want to stay here forever? End up like Robin, completely nuts?" No. Of course, she didn't. But she wasn't about to share her thoughts with him. She chose to stay quiet.

Zach muttered a curse under his breath but didn't push it.

"Fine, I'll get Chelsea to come see you." He took a deep breath and agreed.

For all his faults, Zach was a man of his word, which already made him way better than Casper.

The moment Chelsea walked into Mercy Hospital, her heart ached. Eliza looked worn out, thin, and utterly exhausted. Chelsea only needed one look at her to feel tears welling up.

No wonder she hadn't been able to get in touch with Eliza for a month. She'd been locked up here.

"How can Casper be so cruel? Is he trying to wipe out the Pinotti family? He's a monster."

Chelsea rarely cursed. She'd seen her share of despicable people, but Casper was on another level.

"Why? Why did he lock you up here? You paid the three million; he was supposed to let you go. Why did he change his mind?"

Chelsea didn't know what had gone down between them. Whatever it was, it didn't warrant this.

Eliza

only upset Chelsea more. "Maybe he planned this all along, Chelsea. He's always been unpredictable

alwant to explain. It would

"I can't even..." Chelsea was at a loss for words, her eyes filled with tears as she looked at Eliza. "They haven't hurt you, have they? Did they hit you?"

Eliza shook her head slightly. "No one has hurt me."

"Zach told me yesterday you were here. I thought he was joking... Zach's messed up, but compared to Casper, he's nothing... He said he

could get you out."

"I know, but..." Eliza touched her flat stomach, "...Chelsea, I think I might be pregnant."

Chelsea was too shocked to speak for a moment. Finally, she found her voice. "Pregnant? With Casper's baby?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

Chelsea thought these conditions, a poor appetite, or even a dietary issue, may have made Eliza feel sick. Pregnant? That was terrifying.

"Have you checked?" Chelsea's fingers were ice-cold. "This is serious, Elle. You need to be sure."

Eliza shook her head. She didn't have the means to check.

Chelsea seemed to think of something and pulled a pregnancy test out of her bag, handing it to Eliza. "Go, check with this."