His Destructive, Toxic Love

Are you headed to Summer Village? Haven't you heard about the accident on that winding mountain road?" The taxi driver switched on the radio, which was looping the same grim news: "A van got hit by a massive boulder from a landslide, and everyone inside didn't make it. They've shut down the scene."

Eliza's eyes widened in shock.

A van?

Everyone gone?

Could it be...

"Do you know what kind of van it was?" she asked anxiously.

The driver had only caught the news on the radio and hadn't seen any images

from the scene. "I'm not sure about the details, but the news mentioned a Riverdale license plate."

Riverdale?

Her company's van had a Riverdale plate.

Eliza's heart sank, feeling like a punch to the gut, making it hard to breathe.

Could it really be true?

"Can we still get through?" Her voice had a noticeable tremor.

The driver glanced at his GPS, "The road's shut, but we can head to a nearby hotel, if you'd like..."

"Yes, let's go there." She needed to find out more, and fast.

The rain continued to pour.

Eliza felt an overwhelming heaviness in her chest.

If the van involved was indeed her company's...

She couldn't bring herself to imagine the tragedy.

When they arrived at the hotel,

She paid using the facial recognition system.

The thoughtful driver advised her, "It's probably best not to head to the accident site alone; it's too risky. This hotel is packed with the victims' families. Just wait here with them for any official updates."

"Thank you," she replied.

The hotel was modest in size,

Yet the parking lot was crammed with vehicles of every kind.

Word had it that the van wasn't the only casualty.

The landslide had also hit several passing cars.

She let out a deep sigh.

What was supposed to be a routine business trip had turned into something nightmarish.

Eliza headed to the front desk to check in before figuring out her next steps.

Dillon emerged from the elevator and spotted Eliza at the desk, doing a double- take.

He thought he was seeing a ghost.

After a quick rub of his eyes and another look, Eliza turned, and their eyes locked.

Dillon almost jumped out of his skin.

"Eliza, what are you doing here?" she asked, key card in hand, puzzled by the shock on his face, "Do I look like a ghost to you? Maybe openyour eyes a bit wider?"

"Mrs... Eliza?" Dillon cautiously addressed her.noveldrama

Eliza narrowed her gaze, thinking he must be out of his mind, "Dillon, what's up

with you? Memory loss? Don't you recognize me?"

"It's not that... weren't you in that van?" He hesitated, "...Where did you come from?"

"I got left at a rest stop and caught a cab here after hearing about the accident." She figured Dillon might know more, so she pressed on, heard from the cabbie that a van with a Riverdale plate got hit by a rockslide. Is that true?"

Dillon paused, then gave a silent nod, "Yes."

"That van, it couldn't have been our Crystal Clear van, could it?" She prayed

silently that it wasn't.

Dillon didn't answer right away.

His silence was deafening.

Eliza's head spun, her body suddenly feeling weak. Dillon quickly reached out to steady her, "Eliza, what's done is done. Let's wait for the official word."

"How could this happen?" Was she lucky to have dodged this disaster? Dillon sighed, contemplating life's unpredictability.

Eliza being alive was a small blessing amidst overwhelming misfortune.

"Mr. Casper was on his way here today because he was keeping an eye on the weather. Even with the slippery roads in the rain, he drove slippery

here to ensure your safety, but who

would've thought..."

Eliza began to piece it together, "... Did everyone think I was in that van?"