His Destructive, Toxic Love novel Chapter 512

He shrugged off the situation and stood up, grabbing his jacket as he headed out the door. The woman, realizing there was nothing more to gain, spat in annoyance and left too.

Out on the street, the man, caught between tipsiness and sobriety, sat on the steps by the roadside. He gazed at the fading ruby-red horizon, awkwardly tugging at his lips in thought. His large hand ruffled his messy hair before it fell heavily to his knees. His head dipped down, lost in contemplation as the sounds of the city faded into the encroaching dusk.

Minutes later, the city was abuzz with a sensational piece of news that thundered onto the front pages of every major outlet.

"#Welton International's leader spotted at a bar late at night, inebriated with a mysterious woman."

The accompanying photo artfully captured Casper’s silhouette entwined with the woman under dim lighting, later showing him alone on the curbside steps, the gentle breeze hinting at a deep, indescribable emotion. The image was both enigmatic and intriguing.

This wasn’t just news to Dillon in Falconridge. Eliza, having just finished her class, saw the notification pop up on her phone. Initially, she brushed it off as another piece of gossip. But later, when she revisited her phone, she realized Casper was at the heart of the scandal.

The photo's angle led to wild speculation: the man seemed entranced by the woman’s face, her smile as bright as a blooming flower, her hand casually draped around his neck, painting a picture of mutual attraction. Eliza frowned at the image, her eyes drifting back to the woman's smile. From her attire, she looked like someone who frequents bars and nightclubs.

Could this be… a setup? Hold on. Did he really go to drown his sorrows in a bar after leaving here?

After work, she drove over to the bar from the news photo and quickly found him still sitting by the road. The dim streetlight cast a long shadow, amplifying his loneliness. She parked and walked over, her hair dancing in the cool night breeze, lending her an air of serene allure.

The man had his face buried in his knees, unclear if he was asleep or just deep in thought.

“Casper,” she called softly.

“Hmm?” His head lifted slowly, confusion flickering in his eyes. “You… why are you here?”

“What are you doing here?”

Dillon glanced at Eliza, then forged ahead, “The news about you and the woman at the bar has hit the headlines.”

Drinking with a woman? He hadn’t been drinking with any woman. What was this about?

He quickly put his hand over Dillon’s mouth, “Let’s take this outside.”

Eliza shook her head, seemingly unfazed.

Once the two men settled in the car, Casper finally asked, still perplexed, “What headlines? Let me see.”

Dillon handed him the phone. Seeing the baseless news, Casper felt both angry and exasperated, “This is ridiculous. How does such nonsense even make the headlines?”