Hailey was about to scream again, but Den quickly covered her mouth with his hand, silencing her.


    "Quiet. My mom and sister will hear. Do you really want them to walk in and see this?" he asked.


    Hailey blinked, her wide, startled eyes meeting his. After a brief pause, she gently pulled his hand away. "I won''t scream. Just let me down."


    Den released his grip, and Hailey eased herself off him.


    However, as she moved, her hand brushed against his crotch. It wasn''t the first time she''d felt it, and her curiosity got the better of her. She reached out again and asked, "What is this?"


    "Hailey, don''t touch that!" Den eximed, trying to stop her, but it was already toote-her hand was on him.


    Den''s chiseled body went rigid, a flush of desire spreading across his face.


    Hailey quickly realized what had just happened. She took a few steps back, her wide eyes fixed on him. "Y-You... you..."


    The innocence in her expression made Den hesitate, and without another word, he turned and walked away.


    Hailey stood frozen. What had she just done?


    She instinctively raised her hand to cover her flushed face, feeling as though she couldn''t face anyone at that moment.


    Just as Den stepped out of the room, Hailey''s voice rang out. "Den!"


    He halted in his tracks.


    Hailey spoke again. "I''m scared the rat mighte back. Could you wait by the door while I shower? I''ll be quick, I promise."


    Den couldn''t bring himself to say no. "Alright."


    A few momentster, the sound of running water filled the room as Hailey stepped into the shower.


    Den opened the window to let in some cool air, hoping the breeze would distract him. The warmth of the room made it all too easy for his mind to wander, and he wasn''tfortable with the direction it was heading.


    About ten minutester, Hailey stepped out of the bathroom. "I''m done."


    Den turned as Hailey emerged. Her long, damp hair cascaded over her shoulders, and she was wearing Aileen''s floral nightgown.


    Although the nightgown wasn''t


    revealing, it was too tight for Hailey. Aileen, still in her early teens, hadn''t fully matured, while Hailey had already blossomed into a young woman. The fabric clung to her body, emphasizing her curves.


    Den stole a quick nce before averting his eyes. "Since you''re done, I''ll head back to my room."


    With that, he turned and walked toward his room.


    Just then, Hailey''s soft, pale hand reached out and tugged at his sleeve.


    Den stopped, trying to pull his sleeve away, but she stubbornly held on, crinkling the fabric in her grip.


    He turned to her. "What''s going on?"


    "Den, do you like me?" she asked.


    Den''s first instinct was to deny it, but he understood that women often didn''t


    need a man''s answer-they already knew the truth.


    A confident smile spread across Hailey''s face. "I knew it. You like me!"


    "I don''t," Den replied firmly.


    Unfazed, Hailey fired back, "If you don''t like me,


    act liten why did you just...


    act like that? Whatever, I don''t care,


    you like me, and that''s the end of it!"


    With that, she stormed into Aileen''s room, leaving Den standing there, speechless.


    After a beat, he turned and made his way back to his room. He sat down at his desk and sifted through the stack of research he had collected on Phantom.


    Just then, his phone buzzed with a notification.


    It was a message from Justin.


    Den opened it and saw that Justin had sent him a video. What could this be about?


    Intrigued, Den clicked on it.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!