Memphis John had already resigned himself to death. With a fearless expression, he stared directly at the leader of the four-man gang. When he saw the leader rushing toward him, he even closed his eyes, fully prepared to meet his end.
But just as he believed death was about to claim him, a voice rang out.
With the sudden sound, a young girl bravely ran in front of Memphis John. She spread her arms wide, standing protectively in front of him, and shouted with indignation, “You can’t kill my grandfather!”
The leader stopped abruptly, his eyes drawn to the little girl blocking his path.
“Oh?” he said, scrutinizing Daphne with a smirk that quickly turned into a sinister chuckle.
At the same time, Mary stepped forward, mirroring Daphne’s actions. She also spread her arms wide and declared, “You can’t kill my grandfather!”
Both girls understood that this wasn’t some movie scene. This was real. Just moments ago, they had witnessed someone collapse lifelessly in front of them.
Fear gripped their hearts, but when they saw the person they loved most facing death, they didn’t hesitate. They stood firm, shielding Memphis John with their own bodies.
This was something even Kelvin and the others standing behind them couldn’t bring themselves to do.
But Memphis John didn’t blame anyone. When it came to matters of life and death, everyone had the right to choose survival. Yet seeing his two granddaughters standing in front of him left him stunned, moved, and deeply emotional.
Daphne and Mary exchanged a glance, their eyes growing resolute.
The leader of the gang was visibly surprised. He stared at the two girls for a long moment before turning to his men and asking, “Brothers, what do you think of these two girls? Pretty, aren’t they?”
The three men behind him nodded eagerly. “Pretty. Very pretty. Even prettier than that one,” one of them said, glancing at Lucy, who lay on the ground barely breathing, unable to utter a word.
“Heh heh! What are you waiting for then? Grab them!” the leader barked, his greed plain as day. “Once we’re done with the John family, we’ll have some fun with these three women. After we’ve had our fun, we’ll kill them too!”
The leader’s words sent a wave of terror through Daphne and Mary. They exchanged a frightened look before Daphne mustered the courage to shout, “You… you can’t do that to us!”
“Can’t?” The leader took a step closer, his tone mocking and arrogant. “Your lives are in my hands now. Give me one good reason why I can’t.”
“Because… because…” Daphne stammered, digging deep for an answer. “Because my boyfriend is very powerful! If you dare touch me, he’ll find you, and you’ll all be dead!”
“That’s right! My boyfriend is powerful too!” Mary added, backing her up.
The leader burst into laughter, as did his men. This declaration was so absurd they couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Memphis John’s heart sank. He shouted sternly, “What nonsense are you two talking about?”
Daphne pouted and replied, “Grandpa, I’m not lying! My boyfriend is really strong! He told me that if anyone ever dared to harm me, he’d find them and kill them.”
A flicker of pride crossed her face as she spoke, though deep down, she knew it was all a bluff. Yet, strangely, she couldn’t stop herself from thinking about Kayden.
In her heart, Kayden had become a symbol of hope. Just like when her father’s illness had seemed incurable, but Kayden had stepped in and healed him. To her, Kayden was a beacon of possibility.
Memphis John froze, a name flashing through his mind. “Are you talking about… Dr. Scott?”
He remembered Daphne’s bold move of kissing Kayden, though he also recalled how Kayden had seemed indifferent to her.
Daphne nodded firmly. “Yes! It’s Dr. Scott!”
Even Lucy, who was lying on the ground, heard this. Summoning the last of her strength, she rasped, “Dr. Scott? Are you talking about the same Dr. Scott who defeated me with a single move?”
Though her voice was weak, it was loud enough for the four men to hear.
The gang leader and his men froze, their expressions suddenly tense. Lucy’s words carried weight. She had taken all four of them working together to defeat, and now she claimed that someone had bested her in a single move?
Could this man be beyond Grand level-possibly someone at Master level?
While they were still processing this revelation, Daphne’s trembling yet firm voice rang out again.
“I’m telling you, my boyfriend said that if anyone dared harm me, he would kill them!” Daphne stood tall, her voice filled with conviction.
Of course, it was all just a delaying tactic, a desperate gamble to buy time.
The leader’s expression darkened. He sneered, “Do you think I’ll believe your lies? If this so-called boyfriend of yours is so powerful, let him show up right now. Today, the John family is doomed-no one can stop it.”
Daphne’s heart sank. Just as she had managed to sow a sliver of doubt in their minds, it all seemed to unravel.
One of the leader’s men, his patience running thin, growled, “Boss, why waste time talking? Let’s just kill them already! Afterward, we can take that woman and leave. I have no interest in these girls anyway.”
It was clear that Lucy’s words had shaken them. They were afraid. If what she said was true, touching the girls could bring disaster upon them.
“You hear that? The John family’s time is up!” the leader roared, his earlier lecherous demeanor replaced by fury.
“If you two want to die for Memphis John, then you can die with him!” he bellowed.
Behind him, a whirlwind rose into the air like a ferocious dragon, its gaping maw descending toward Daphne, Mary, and Memphis John.
The girls felt the cold grip of despair tighten around their hearts. This was it. No one was coming to save them.
But just as the whirlwind was about to engulf them, a voice, powerful and commanding as if from the heavens, echoed through the air.
“How dare you try to kill Memphis John?”