No, Den couldn''t. He hardened his heart and pushed Hailey away. "Hailey, I''ll say it again. We have no future. Go home."


    Hailey wanted to say something. "But I..."


    "Hailey," he called her name with extra weight in his voice. "Don''t make things harder for me. Go home."


    If he had said anything else, maybe she wouldn''t have left. But he said not to make things harder for him.


    Hailey let go of him and turned to leave.


    After taking a few steps, she couldn''t help but look back at him onest time. Then, she waved her small hand. "Goodbye, Den. If anything happens, call me, okay? I''ll always be waiting for your call."


    Then, just like that, her delicate figure disappeared from sight.


    Den watched her walk away. She was so obedient and so well-behaved. He really didn''t want to let her go.


    But he had things to do.


    Just then, his phone rang, the familiar chime breaking the silence. It was a call from Ste.


    Den answered, and Ste''s voice came through immediately. "Den, where are you right now? My dad''s here. He''s looking for you. Come back quickly."


    Bob was here.


    Den ended the call, slipped his phone back into his pocket, and turned to leave.


    Ste was already waiting at the entrance when he arrived. "Den, you''re here. Where''s that waitress? Why did you take her away? What''s your rtionship with her?"


    He looked at Ste. "I..."


    "Shh, Den, you don''t have to exin anything. As long as you belong to me, that''s all that matters. I didn''t tattle to my dad either."


    Den said nothing more.


    The two of them walked up to Bob. "Mr. Xanders."


    "Den, you''re back. Looks like you and my daughter had a great time tonight."


    Ste smiled and said, "Dad, you should give Den more time off so he can apany me."


    "Den, look at that! My daughter''s heart is already leaning toward you, haha!"


    With that, Bob raised two sses of liquor, handing one to Den. "Come on, Den, let''s have a drink."


    Den took the ss, clinked it against Bob''s, and downed it in one gulp.


    Upon seeing Den act so


    straightforwardly, Ste was


    overjoyed. She had spiked them t


    Tonight, she was going to make him hers.


    Den set down the empty ss. "Mr. Xanders, let''s head back."


    Bob nodded. "Alright, let''s go."


    The three of them left the bar.


    Za to luxury cars were p


    curb, and several men ked


    ck suits were standing nearby.


    One of them stepped forward and opened the back door. "Ms. Xanders, Den, please get in."


    Den was about to step into the


    car Something suddenly felt


    off. A wave of heat surged through his body-his skin burned, and his throat went dry.


    Den had been in the underworld long enough to know exactly what was happening-he had been drugged.


    Den turned to Bob. "Mr. Xanders, was there something in that drink?"


    He had already figured out that the problem was in the liquor.