Hailey was about to scream again, but Declan 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."

Declan 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!" Declan exclaimed, trying to stop her, but it was already too late—her hand was on him.

Declan’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 Declan 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 Declan stepped out of the room, Hailey’s voice rang out. "Declan!"

He halted in his tracks.

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

Declan couldn’t bring himself to say no. "Alright."

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

Declan 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’t comfortable with the direction it was heading.

About ten minutes later, Hailey stepped out of the bathroom. "I’m done."
----
Declan 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, stillin her early teens, hadn’t
fully matGred, while Hailey had
already, lossomed into a young»
wongan. The fabric clung to her
bedy, emphasizing her curves.

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----
Declan stole a quick glance 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.

Declan 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?"
"Declan, do you like me?" she asked.

Declan’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.

Aconfident smile spread across Hailey’s face. "I knew it.
You like me!"

“| don’t," Declan replied firmly.

----
Unfazed, Wailey fired back, "If you ~
don’t likeme, then why did you just.
act like-that? Whatever, | don’t, care,
youl like me, and that’s the end of itl"

With that, she stormed into Aileen’s room, leaving Declan
standing there, speechless.

After a begt;he turned and made his
way backto his room. He sat dowit
at his desk and sifted through the
stack of research he had collected
onPhantom.

----
Just then, his phone buzzed with a notification.
It was a message from Justin.

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

Intrigued, Declan clicked on it.