Ewan mmed the passenger door and marched over to the driver''s side.


    With a press of the gas, the sports car roared to life and shot off into the distance.


    Left behind, Melody sat in stunned silence, feelingpletely ignored-like she didn''t even exist.


    "Ewan! Ewan, where are you going?" she screamed. "I''m your girlfriend! Ewan!" She felt her anger boil over at this.


    30 minutester, the Porsche screeched to a halt in front of a casino.


    Hailey stepped out, her face set in a frown. "Ewan, why did you bring me here?"


    "Do you know what this ce is?" he asked.


    Hailey nodded. "Of course. It''s a casino. A ce like this is nothing but trouble- I''m not going in."


    "What a shame... your precious boyfriend Den is inside."


    Hailey froze, her breath catching in her throat.


    She turned to him, disbelief flooding her eyes. "Ewan, stop making things up! There''s no way Den would be in a ce like this!"


    Ewan let out augh. "Hailey, I told you-you don''t really know him. Come with me, and I''ll show you exactly what kind of man he is."


    Before she could protest, he grabbed her wrist and tugged her toward the casino doors.


    The air inside was thick with smoke and noise, a chaotic mix of people from all walks of life. They crowded around the tables, their faces flushed with excitement as they gambled without a care.


    Hailey loathed being here. As a sheltered young woman from a wealthy family, she had never set foot in such a ce.


    "Ewan, are you serious? There''s no way Den would be here. I''m leaving."


    She tried to turn away, but Ewan''s grip on her wrist tightened.


    "Hailey, look. See for yourself."


    Reluctantly, she lifted her eyes and spotted Den.


    He emerged from the casino d in ck. A cigarette hung from his fingers as he smoked, his rugged crew cut and sharp features amplifying his untamed presence.


    Behind him, a few subordinates followed closely, their postures respectful. "Den, we''ve got a guy here who refuses to pay."


    Several of the men in ck dragged a middle-aged man forward, forcing him to kneel before Den.


    "Den, please, have mercy! It''s not that I don''t want to pay. I just have nothing left! My wife is seriously ill in the hospital, and... I gambled away my kids'' tuition trying to wint back. I swear, I''m broke!"


    Den stepped forward, his men following closely behind. He loomed over the man, taking a long drag from his cigarette. Crouching down, he blew a thick cloud of smoke


    straight into the man''s face.


    A cold smirk curved on his lips as he said, "The money''s there if you''re willing to


    look for it. You could always sell your house."


    The man''s face drained of color. "No, I can''t... That house belongs to my parents! Selling it would ruin them!"


    Den took another drag from his cigarette, exhalingzily. "And yet,


    here you


    f


    are-empty-handed-leaving me with no choice. Debts don''t just disappear... and you know what happens to those who don''t pay."


    The man shook his head frantically. "No! No, please, Den—have mercy!"


    Den rose to his feet, his gaze shifting toward one of his men.


    Without hesitation, theckey seized the man''s hand, mming it onto the surface. The de shed before slicing downward in a swift, brutal arc.


    A bloodcurdling scream tore through the air.


    Hailey flinched, the sound stabbing into her ears like shards of ss.


    Her gaze snapped to Den. Blood spattered across his face, but he didn''t so much as blink. With a stoic expression, he wiped it away with the back of his hand.


    At that moment, Hailey barely recognized him.


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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!