Chapter 1
That night was the regular poker gathering for the local police officers.
Adam and his partner, Mark, arrived at the home of their colleague Bruce.
Bruce, who was in his mid-forties, owed a significant amount of money to his fellow officers because of his gambling addiction.
The debt had ballooned to a critical level.
“Hey there.”
Bruce greeted the two men with a smile.
“Come on in.”
As soon as Adam stepped inside, he noticed an adorable young girl in the kitchen.
She looked to be in her late teens.
“Hello.”
she said, greeting them the moment she saw them.
Her voice was delightful.
“Hello.”
Adam was slightly surprised.
He hadn’t known Bruce had a daughter.
“This is Sophie, my daughter,”
Bruce said, introducing her.
“She’s eighteen and in high school.”
Adam looked at her.
She was a girl with fair, smooth skin, long, lustrous blonde hair, and large, beautiful blue eyes.
She was of average height, with a slender, lovely figure.
“I’m Adam, and this is Mark.”
After introducing himself, he glanced at the man beside him.
“Hey,” Mark said.
His partner, Mark, raised a hand in greeting.
A former basketball player, Adam had a sturdy, muscular build and deep gray eyes behind his glasses.
“She’s running the show tonight — acting as our hostess. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask her,”
Bruce said.
Adam felt a warning bell ring in his mind as he stole a glance at the girl.
“Alright, let’s get the game started.”
As the night wore on, the three men focused on their hands.
Meanwhile, the beautiful girl moved quietly around them, serving snacks and refilling their beers.
She would either watch the game unfold or read a book she had brought from her room.
During the game, Adam began to wonder if Mark was eyeing her in a lecherous way.
Mark was the same age and build as Adam, but he was a man who always treated women crudely.
He was a lecherous man who knew no shame.
Although Mark was a good friend to Adam, his true nature sometimes made Adam uncomfortable.
Several hours had passed since the game began.
Bruce kept losing.
Finally, he put down his cards and spoke.
“Guys, I’m out.”
he said, his face twisting with humiliation.
“What about the debt you owe us?”
Mark asked, shifting his gaze toward the girl.
“Bruce, I’ve got a good idea. I might be able to reduce your debt.”
Mark’s eyes settled on Sophie, who was sitting next to her father.
“She’s your daughter. If you let me spend some time with her, I’ll wipe the slate clean on what you owe.”
Bruce stared at him with drunken eyes and immediately shook his head.
“No. Sophie’s still a child. I can’t let her get involved with someone like you.”
Bruce rejected the proposal vehemently.
“She’s my daughter. She’s not some easy woman like the ones you go for.”
“I see. Then I expect you to pay back the debt by tomorrow,”
Mark spat out.
“I hear you’ve borrowed money from the captain, too. Do you really intend to pay us back?”
Bruce raised his voice.
“Get out, all of you. The place is closed.”
“Papa…”
Sophie spoke in a clear voice.
“It’s all right. I’ll go with Mark.”
Her face was pale, but her tone was resolute.
“It’s settled, then. I know she’s a minor. I just want to have a talk with her.”
Mark grinned.
Bruce’s face had gone pale, and a cold sweat beaded on his skin.
Deep anxiety was etched across his features.
“Hey, I promise I won’t hurt her. I just want to have a little fun.”
Mark turned toward Adam.
“Adam, what about you?”
Adam, who had been listening to the exchange, shook his head and rejected the proposal.
“No, we shouldn’t do that. Let’s just go home.”
Adam rose from his seat and grabbed his partner’s thick arm.
“Mark, you’ve had too much to drink. Let’s go outside and clear your head.”
He rummaged through his wallet and pulled out a substantial amount of cash.
Then he handed the money to Mark.
“Mark, I’ll cover Bruce’s tab,” he said.
That was his proposal.
Mark accepted the bills, though he still looked irritated.
“Let’s go, Mark.”
Adam grabbed his jacket and turned back to Bruce.
“Bruce, you really ought to give up gambling.”
Bruce gazed at the young, intelligent officer with drunken eyes.
Adam shifted his gaze to the girl.
“Thanks for tonight.”
Her large, clear blue eyes were fixed on him.
“Thank you, Adam.”
she said softly, her voice modest and polite.
As Mark continued to leer at her,
Adam forcibly ushered him outside.
“Let’s go.”
Adam gripped his shoulder firmly.
“See ya, Adam.”
Adam glanced back at her and nodded.
“See you later.”
Sophie smiled shyly.
