The knocking grew louder.
Victor's heart pounded as he rushed to push some chairs against the door, trying desperately to block it. The pounding didn't stop—it echoed through the house, shaking him to his bones.
Then suddenly… silence.
Victor froze, breathing hard. He leaned close to the door, listening. Nothing.
He let out a shaky sigh of relief and turned—
BANG! BANG!
A deafening crash shattered the moment of calm. The door flew open, throwing the chairs aside like they were nothing. Standing in the doorway was Maddox, his hand gripping a thick metal rod, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
Victor stumbled backward, his face pale with terror.
Maddox stepped inside slowly, looking around the small living room as if inspecting it. Then, pushing his hair back, he smirked.
"Haa… looks like you already know why I'm here, old man," he said, dragging one of the fallen chairs upright and sitting in front of Victor.
Victor's hands trembled. He clasped them together and shut his eyes tightly.
"Please… I don't have the full money yet," he begged. "Just give me one more month. Please."
Maddox tilted his head, amusement flickering in his eyes. He bent down to Victor's level.
"Why do you people always have to be so pathetic?" he muttered.
Victor kept pleading, hands still locked together. Maddox sighed, then stood and walked over to a nearby stand filled with family pictures. He picked one up—a photo of a smiling girl—and turned back toward Victor.
"Your daughter's pretty," he said, his voice turning cold. "She'll probably make a lot of money dancing in one of our clubs. Maybe then you could pay off your debt."
The words stabbed through Victor like a knife. Something inside him snapped.
Before Maddox could react, Victor lunged forward and punched him hard across the face. The hit left a small cut on Maddox's lip.
"Never," Victor growled, trembling with anger, "say that kind of filth about my daughter."
Maddox paused for a moment, then laughed—a dark, mocking sound. Wiping the blood from his mouth, he sneered, "Old bastard…" and raised the metal rod.
But before he could strike, something yanked him from behind — then a sharp punch crashed against his jaw.
Maddox stumbled back, stunned.
When he looked up, Ash was standing in front of him, eyes blazing.
"Dad!!" Ellie's voice cried out as she ran into the house.
*************
Thirty minutes earlier....
Ash and Ellie were walking down the street toward her house. The afternoon sun painted the sky in soft shades of orange and pink. They talked casually on the way—mostly laughing over old, silly memories.
"The last house at the end is ours," Ellie said, pointing ahead with a small smile.
As they drew closer, Ash noticed something off. The front door was slightly open, swaying faintly with the wind.
"Ellie," Ash said, frowning, "do you guys usually leave the door open?"
"Oh, it's probably Dad," she replied with a shrug, walking ahead.
But before they could reach the porch, a noise echoed from inside the house—a crash, followed by a deep voice. Ash's expression changed instantly. His pace quickened, and within seconds, he reached the door.
What he saw made his blood run cold.
Maddox was standing in the living room, gripping a metal rod, towering over Victor, who was on the floor.
Ash didn't hesitate. He stormed in and threw a hard punch straight at Maddox's jaw, sending him crashing against the wall.
Moments later, Ellie appeared behind him, eyes wide in shock.
"Dad!" she screamed, running to Victor's side. "Dad, what's going on?!"
Victor's hands trembled as he stammered, "I—I'm sorry, Ellie… I'm really sorry."
Ellie turned toward Maddox and Ash, trying to understand what was happening. Maddox, now on his feet, spat out a bit of blood and glared at Ash.
"What the hell is your problem?" he growled.
Ash didn't answer, his mind racing. IfMaddox is here, then it can only mean one thing…
Maddox wiped his mouth and sneered. "Look, Ash. I'm not in the mood for your pitiful hero acts today. Let's just collect the money and leave."
That word—money—snapped something inside Ellie. She turned sharply toward her father.
"Money?" she repeated, disbelief written all over her face.
Maddox smirked. "What, the old man didn't tell you? He's in debt."
Ellie looked at her trembling father, her voice shaking. "Dad… how much?"
Victor stayed silent.
"Dad!" Ellie yelled, tears welling in her eyes. "How much are you owing?"
Victor finally spoke, his voice weak. "Ten million rubles…"
Ellie froze.
"Ten million?" she whispered, pushing her hair back in disbelief. "Dad, when did you even borrow that much?"
She pressed her fingers against her forehead, trying to process everything. "Does Han know about this?"
Victor shook his head silently.
Ash stepped closer, his voice calm but firm. "Ellie, please. Calm down."
Tears streamed down her face as she snapped, "Ash, how do you expect me to calm down? Where will we get ten million rubles from?!"
Ash looked at her—then turned to Maddox, his expression turning serious.
"Let's talk outside," he said quietly.
Maddox scowled, annoyance written all over his face.
"There's nothing to talk about," he snapped.
Ash stepped forward, trying to drag him out, but Maddox shoved his hand away, raising his voice.
"The hell, Ash! You know we can't leave here without the money!" he shouted, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You want us to go out and… what? You'll start pleading to me to give them time while you know very well how things work."
Ash bit his lower lip. Deep down, he knew Maddox was right. If they left empty-handed, their superior wouldn't take it lightly—but he couldn't leave Victor and Ellie to face this alone.
Maddox sighed, pushing back his hair, and turned to Victor.
"Old man ? Just send that daughter of yours. In a year, she can make some real money, you know."
Victor trembling, eyes wide with desperation.
"No! You can take me… but please, not my daughter. Not my princess," he begged.
Maddox sneered.
"Huh, you really think with that old body of yours you can…" He stopped mid-sentence, noticing something, and his eyes flicked to Ellie.
Ellie stepped forward, holding an envelope tightly in her hands.
"Will this be enough for now?" she asked, her voice trembling but steady. "It's not much, but I promise to find the rest." She bowed slightly in front of Maddox. "Please… give us at least a month."
Victor opened his mouth to protest, but Ellie cut him off sharply.
"Dad, please… stay out of this."
Maddox exhaled heavily, annoyance still evident. He snatched the money, flipping through it briefly.
"One month," he said, his tone sharp and cold. "That's your last chance."
Then, leaning forward, he held Ellie's chin gently but possessively, his smirk cruel.
"Or… you'll have to use this," he said, nodding toward her pretty face.
With that, Maddox turned and left. Ellie exhaled shakily, while Victor sank to the floor, burying his face in his hands.
Ash was staring at the floor, lost in thought when he heard Ellie's voice cut through the heavy silence.
" Ash...since when did you become a debt collector "