Ste clenched her fists as jealousy burned in her eyes. Even though she was engaged to Den, she knew that Hailey had always upied a ce in his


    heart.


    A woman''s intuition never lied.


    Now, Hailey was back, entangling herself with him once again and making Ste feel threatened.


    She loved Den. She loved him a lot. She didn''t want to lose him.


    "Ms. Xanders, what exactly is going on?"


    Annoyed, she snapped, "All of you, get out!"


    The crowd quickly scattered.


    Just then, Bob arrived. He looked at Ste. "Stelly, what''s wrong? Who made you upset?"


    Ste reached out and hugged her father. "Dad, you''re here?"


    Bob nced around. "Stelly, where''s Den? Wasn''t he supposed to be here with you? Where did he go? Why are you here alone?"


    She couldn''t bear to speak ill of Den. "He just went to the restroom, Dad. Dad, I''m scared of losing Den. I want to marry him as soon as possible."


    Bob frowned. "Stelly, why are you in such a hurry to get married?"


    "Because I want to marry him! But I feel like Den isn''t in a rush. Dad, you have to find a way to make him marry me sooner."


    She pouted yfully. "Dad, you think so highly of Den. Everyone says a son-in-w is like half a son. If I get married, you can hand over the family business to Den, and then I''ll give you a bunch of grandkids. You can retire and enjoy life taking care of them!"


    Bob burst into heartyughter. "You really are ready to fly the nest, huh? Alright, I''ll think of a way."


    "What way?"


    He smirked knowingly. "Simple. You and Den just need to seal the deal."


    Ste''s face flushed. "Dad!"


    "Don''t you want to?"


    "Of course I do!"


    If she could be Den''s woman, then he would have no choice but to marry


    her. At that point, Hailey would be nothing more than an afterthought.


    Den dragged Hailey by her slender wrist, leading her through the corridor. His strides were long and fast, forcing her to stumble as she struggled against his grip.


    "Den, let me go!" she protested.


    Den suddenly stopped. With a sharp push, he pressed her against the wall.


    Then, he reached out and pulled off her mask, revealing her delicate, oval-shaped face.


    "Hailey, who told you toe here?"


    Hailey met his gaze. "What''s wrong with me being here? Where I go is my own business. Do I need your permission?"


    Den was so furious he was momentarily speechless. "Do you even know what kind of ce this is? You shouldn''t be here. Go back to where you belong."


    "If you can be here, why can''t I?" she


    shot back, her lips curling into a


    toine


    shot bn, didn''t you say you


    smirk.


    didn''t know me? Then, why did save me? Why do you care?"


    you


    She felt a burst of joy in her heart. Den cared. He had pulled her out of that scion''s clutches. She had won the gamble.


    Den braced one hand against the wall, effectively caging her in between his body and the cold surface behind her.


    His deep, intense eyes locked onto hers. "Hailey, I''ll say it one more time. You don''t belong here. Go home."


    Hailey lifted her chin defiantly. "I''m not going home. I want to stay with you."


    Den''s expression darkened. "Hailey, there''s no future for us."


    With that, he turned to leave.


    But before he could take a step, Hailey swiftly reached up, hooked her arms around his neck, and pulled


    him down. His face was now mere inches from hers.  fo


    She looked into his eyes. "Den, you have feelings for me. You like me!"