Hailey and Den silently walked down the corridor, until Hailey finally broke the silence with a question. "Den, who was that woman just now? What did she bring you to the hotel room for?"


    Den quickly pulled his arm away from her touch. "I don''t owe you any answers."


    Undeterred, Hailey reached up and ced her hand on his forehead. "Den, you''re burning up! Are you sick?"


    Her soft, delicate hand brushed against him, and the sweet scent of her closeness made Den''s eyes re. He quickly pulled her hand away, his voice cutting as he snapped, "Don''t touch me!"


    The sharpness of his words made it clear he was repulsed, and Hailey''s eyes glistened with hurt.


    As a pampered, sheltered young woman, she had never encountered such coldness before.


    A mix of confusion and pain washed over her as she looked up at him, wondering


    if he really disliked her that much.


    She hadn''t done anything wrong.


    For a moment, the sadness in her eyes seemed to affect Den, but he didn''t speak. Instead, he turned and walked away.


    Like a shadow, Hailey followed, unable to let go of the distance between them.


    They stepped into the elevator one after the other. Their silence was heavy, and neither of them said a word.


    Suddenly, the elevator jerked twice before it began to plummet rapidly. Hailey let out a sharp scream, her body thrown forward by the sudden drop.


    But before she could crash into the elevator''s walls, a hand shot out, grabbing her arm and pulling her into a searing embrace.


    Den steadied her, holding her securely against him. "It''s just a malfunction, don''t worry."


    As Hailey''s fear began to subside while in his protective grip, a warm sensation spread through her chest.


    Moments ago, she thought he didn''t care for her, but now she realized he wasn''t as indifferent as she''d believed. He was looking out for her.


    She nced up at him. "Den, what''s happening? You''re burning up. Are you sick? Should we go to the hospital?"


    Den tightened his grip on her arm, his voice low and strained. "It''s fine."


    "But you''re like a furnace," Hailey said, her hand instinctively reaching toward his waist.


    The moment her hand brushed against him, Den''s breath hitched, his body reacting sharply to her touch.


    He had never been in a rtionship or been with a woman, but Adeline''s earlier words about the body''s desires kept echoing in his mind.


    Now, with the aphrodisiac coursing through his veins, those desires were bing impossible to ignore.


    Den lowered his head and pressed his lips against Hailey''s.


    Hailey''s eyes widened in shock, her pupils dting-was this really happening?


    Was he the one initiating the kiss?


    He kissed her with an intensity that left her breathless, and her legs buckled beneath her, making her stumble.


    Den quickly steadied her by the waist, pulling away just for a moment. His warm breath fanned over her flushed skin. "I''ve been drugged," he murmured.


    Hailey''s mind struggled to catch up. "W-What?"


    Den met her gaze. "Can I kiss you?"


    Hailey''s body seemed to melt at his touch, and before she knew it, she wrapped her arms around his neck, rising on her toes to return the kiss.


    Neither of them had much experience, yet their connection felt effortless, as if their past moment together had alreadyid the foundation. They became entwined, like two lovebirds swept up in a tender, intimate dance.


    Hailey''s heart raced with affection for Den. Kissing him felt sweeter than she ever expected.


    Den pressed Hailey gently into the corner as he kissed her again, his hands slowly exploring the contours of her body.


    Meanwhile, Hailey''s cheeks reddened as she buried her face against his chest, her voice barely a whisper. "Den."