Jessica moved with startling precision, her hand snapping up in a blur as she delivered a sharp punch to the man’s nose. The impact was immediate. He stumbled backward, clutching his face, struggling to regain his balance as pain overwhelmed him.
From his vantage point on the second-floor booth, Ethan narrowed his eyes, his expression shifting from indifference to surprise. It was clear this was not the reaction he—or anyone else—had expected from Jessica.
Boyce and his remaining group stood frozen, their disbelief palpable. None of them had anticipated that Jessica, a seemingly unassuming woman, could display such swift and commanding force.
Boyce’s frustration quickly turned to anger. His voice cut through the murmurs of the crowd. “Everyone, act together!” he barked, his tone filled with irritation and desperation.
He assumed that with his group working in unison, taking down one woman would be easy. But reality struck hard, and the truth was quite the opposite.
Jessica was a whirlwind of movement. She stepped into the first attacker, delivering a precise one-two punch that sent him reeling. As Boyce himself lunged forward, Jessica pivoted with remarkable speed, her powerful side kick connecting squarely with his chest. The force of the blow sent Boyce hurtling backward, landing several meters away with a resounding thud.
Gasps filled the room. Onlookers stared in stunned silence, their faces a mix of awe and disbelief. Who could have predicted that Jessica would single-handedly overpower the group so effortlessly?
Jessica lowered her fists, dusting off her hands with calm composure. Her demeanor was so collected it seemed as though the confrontation had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
“That was incredible!” Bethany exclaimed, a wide grin spreading across her face as she approached Jessica. She gave her friend a supportive pat on the shoulder. “You’ve gotten so much better at this. Your skills are amazing!”
Bethany’s confidence in Jessica’s abilities explained her earlier lack of concern during the altercation. For a moment, she looked as proud as a coach admiring a star athlete.
Jessica gave her a small, knowing smile. Her gaze lingered on the group of retreating men. After the incident earlier in her life, she had committed herself to mastering self-defense. Today, her efforts had paid off, and she was glad to see the results.
Approaching the recovering Boyce, Jessica raised her eyebrows in mock challenge. Her voice was calm but edged with sarcasm. “So, do you still think my friend and I should join you for that drink?”
Boyce, clearly shaken, took a moment to steady himself. His eyes darted between Jessica and his associates, who were nursing their bruises. Though his lips curved into a forced smile, his resentment was evident in his trembling hands. “No,” he muttered reluctantly. “I wouldn’t dare.”
Jessica’s smile faded, and her tone turned icy. “Then shouldn’t you and your friends be on your way?”
Boyce nodded stiffly, his bravado reduced to ashes. “Right. We’ll leave now.”
With that, he signaled to his companions, and the group hastily retreated toward the exit. The defeated men barely spared a glance back, though Boyce’s eyes betrayed a flicker of hatred as they met Jessica’s. Silently, he vowed to make her pay for the humiliation she had dealt him.
As the bar returned to its usual rhythm, Jessica strolled back to her seat, calm and unbothered. She picked up her drink, exchanging a few lighthearted words with Bethany, as if the confrontation had never happened. The incident had left a mark on the crowd, though. From the cautious glances cast her way, it was clear Jessica’s strength had served as a warning to any other potential troublemakers.
Tonight, she had proven herself to be more than just a beautiful woman; she was a force to be reckoned with—a rose adorned with protective thorns.
On the second-floor balcony, Ethan leaned back into his chair, his gaze lingering on Jessica. His expression, though calm, hinted at unspoken thoughts.
“Jessica really handled herself well down there,” Alexander remarked, breaking the silence. He glanced at Ethan curiously. “Did you know she was this skilled?”
“Nope,” Ethan replied evenly, taking a slow sip from his drink. His voice betrayed no emotion, but his eyes briefly flicked toward Jessica. He had never paid much attention to her before, dismissing her as unremarkable. But now, after witnessing her confidence and strength, Ethan couldn’t help but feel intrigued.
Though his face remained composed, his mind was racing. There was clearly more to Jessica than he had ever realized, and the layers of her character now seemed worth exploring.
Emily, seated nearby, noticed Ethan’ lingering glances. Her stomach twisted with jealousy. She had already suspected that Ethan was becoming interested in Jessica, but tonight’s events confirmed it. The thought of Jessica capturing Ethan’ attention ignited a determined resolve in Emily.
I won’t let her steal him away, she thought fiercely, masking her emotions behind a forced smile. Determined to divert Ethan’ interest, Emily grabbed her glass and began drinking more than usual, hoping to capture his attention.
Meanwhile, Ryan sat quietly in the booth, his gaze fixed on Jessica. Unlike Emily’s obvious jealousy, his emotions were a confusing tangle of frustration, admiration, and something else he couldn’t quite name.