Hailey stood frozen in ce, locking gazes with Den.


    Den stiffened.


    Ste followed his gaze and turned her head. She spotted Hailey as well. "Den, who is she?"


    Den didn''t respond.


    Hailey immediately turned and walked away. She wanted to leave. She hated the ce as it made her feel suffocated.


    Perhaps she was walking too fast or distracted, for she bumped straight into a middle-aged man.


    Hailey quickly apologized. "I''m sorry. I didn''t mean it."


    The man scowled and nagged at her, "You think saying sorry is enough? Damn it, I''ve lost a lot of money today, and now youe and ruin my mood..."


    Then, he took a good look at her face. He stopped mid-sentence, clearly taken aback by her bright, fresh features.


    His gaze swept over her from head to toe. "I didn''t expect to run into such a cute little thing."


    Hailey had juste from school and was wearing a white sweater and a pleated skirtyered under a puffy white down jacket.


    Her long hair was tied up in a high ponytail, making her lookpletely out of ce in this seedy casino. Her presence stood out like a bright, untainted light in the darkness.


    The way the man leered at her made Hailey feel deeply ufortable.


    She frowned. "I already apologized."


    Then, she turned to leave.


    However, the man stepped in front of her, blocking her path. "Where are you going, cutie? Come have some fun with me."


    "Move. Get out of my way. I''m going home!"


    The manughed. "Whose home? Mine? I can give you a home, sweetheart."


    Hailey was disgusted and spun around to leave.


    But before she could, the man grabbed her arm. "Don''t go. Stay and keep mepany."


    "Let go of me! If you don''t let go, I''ll scream for help!"


    "Go ahead and scream. The more you scream, the more fun it is for me."


    The man yanked Hailey toward him.


    Just as hand


    him


    was about to cry out, a


    suddenly appeared, gripping t


    man''s


    wrist and forrying away from her.


    "Who the hell dares to ruin my fun?"


    The man grumbled, but when he looked up and saw Den, his expression froze.


    "Den..."


    Den''s sharp features were cold and ruthless. "What are you doing?"


    The man forced out augh. "Den, I was just ying around with her."


    Den remained indifferent. His


    alone was enough to


    Chill own the man''s spine. "She


    wasn''t willing. Didn''t you hear her?"


    send


    The man hesitated. "Den, please release me. I won''t mess with her anymore."


    There was a crisp cracking sound.


    With just a slight twist of his wrist, Den snapped the man''s arm. The man let out a blood-curdling scream.


    Den flung him aside, sending him crashing into the wall.


    The man clutched his broken wrist, his face contorted in pain. "Den, how dare you do this to me!"


    His expression turned dark as he spat, "Do you really think you''re someone important? Just because the boss Values you? Just because his daughter likes you? You''re nothing more than apdog. Life is precarious in this business. You might not even know what killed you."


    Hailey stood at the side, her fingers curling slightly.


    Den remained emotionless. "You won''t know how I''ll die, but I know exactly


    how you''ll die."


    He then called out, "Guys!"


    Two men in ck stepped forward. "Yes, Den."


    Den gave a simple order. "Take him away."


    "Understood."