Den remained silent for a moment before gently pulling Hailey''s hands away from him.
He turned to face her. "Ms. Lambert, do you think I''m a charity project for you?"
Hailey shook her head. "No, that''s not what I meant. I believe in your ability and talent. I want-"
Den smirked. "You want? Everything you''ve said has been about what you want. You''re forcing your ideas onto me."
Hailey shook her head again. "Den, I really didn''t mean it like that..."
"Don''t deny it. You want to control me! But I understand. You''re a wealthy heiress.
In your eyes, you''ve never truly seen me as your equal. You think you have the right to decide my future."
Upon hearing his ice-cold, ruthless words, Hailey''s eyes reddened. "Den, I told you, that''s not true. Is that really what you think of me?"
She was just worried about him. She felt for him.
She didn''t want him to stay in a ce like this. He had so much potential-he could go further, reach higher.
But he wouldn''t listen. He didn''t even try to understand her.
Did he really think she was such a selfish person?
Den saw the tears pooling in her eyes, glistening under the dim lights. She looked so hurt, so vulnerable.
His fingers curled into fists by his sides. "Hailey, just leave. We are from two different worlds. You already have Ewan by your side. He seems to have turned over a new leaf. Perhaps you should be with him. Even if not him, you have plenty of better options."
Hailey blinked rapidly, andrge tears rolled down her cheeks. "Den, why do you always push me away? Aren''t we together? If there''s a problem, we can talk about it."
"Together?" Den chuckled mockingly. "Who said we were together?"
Hailey was taken aback. "Then... everything between us...''
Den shrugged, his eyes running over her in a way that was bothzy and taunting. "We were just having fun."
Hailey froze. "Fun?"
"Yeah. It wasn''t like I forced you. You were the one who threw yourself at me. You''re a rich young woman, beautiful, easy-going... and you came to me willingly. It didn''t cost me anything, so why not enjoy it?"
Hailey gasped, her breathing growing unsteady. "Den, is that really what you think?"
"What else?"
Tears fell freely from Hailey''s eyes.
So, this was what he thought of her. To him, she had been free entertainment, nothing more.
At that moment, Den stepped forward, feaning close to Hailey. He reached out to wipe her tears, then said with a smirk, "Why were you looking for me, Ms. Lambert? Did you miss me?"
Hailey pped his hand away immediately. She looked up at him with teary eyes. "Den, I hate you!"
Den froze.
Just then, Ewan came running. "Den, did you do something to Hailey?"
Ewan grabbed Den by the cor and threw a punch at him.
Den didn''t dodge. The hitnded squarely on his jaw, splitting his lip and drawing blood.
Den raised his hand and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
His
unruly. dn
Osments were wild anders
Hailey was startled. She hadn''t expected Ewan to show up so suddenly. She
quickly grabbed his arm.
"Enough, Ewan! Stop it!"
Ewan pointed at Den and shouted, "Den, Hailey likes you! You should be grateful for that! Do you even know your own worth? Youe from nothing, and now you''re just another street thug. Go take a good look in the mirror. You don''t deserve Hailey!"
Hailey''s face turned pale. "Shut up, Ewan!"
Ewan shook off Hailey''s grip and moved to punch Den again.
But this time, he didn''tnd a hit.
Den easily caught his fist mid-air and shoved him backward.
Ewan lost his bnce and staggered a few steps before falling hard to the ground.
Hailey quickly stepped in front of Ewan. "Den, that''s enough!"
Den looked at her. "Consider me taking that punch as returning the favor I owed you."
If he hadn''t let it happen, Ewan would never have been able to touch him in the first ce.
Hailey was momentarily stunned.