Kennedy Bella usually avoided revealing her identity, especially in public settings.
It could negatively affect her father and bring unwanted attention to herself.
But now, she had no choice. If she didn't play her trump card, who knew what could happen?
"Who are you trying to scare? If you're really the daughter of the Kennedy family, then I must be the Jade Emperor!"
The scar-faced man didn't believe her for a second. A random girl dragged out of a KTV suddenly claims to be the daughter of the Kennedy family?
Was this a joke?
Maybe she'd watched too many sci-fi movies.
"Be a good girl and have a drink with me. Make me happy, and maybe I'll let you leave. Otherwise..."
Drunk and dazed, he mumbled,
"Even if you really are some big-shot's daughter, I'll still enjoy myself first."
When Kennedy Bella realized that even invoking her father's name didn't work,
a sliver of fear finally crept in. She couldn't gamble on whether this man would actually follow through with his threats.
She forced herself to stay calm, her eyes darting toward the door, trying to figure out how to escape.
But a scrawny henchman was guarding the doorway. His height perfectly blocked the small glass window on the door, making it impossible for anyone outside to see in.
Kennedy Bella swallowed hard and stammered,
"Sir, you're still young. Don't walk down the path of crime..."
"Hahaha! Oh my god, you're killing me!"
The scar-faced man burst into wild laughter, but his expression suddenly turned cold.
Those words were the last thing he wanted to hear.
His eyes flashed with menace as he sneered,
"I've always wondered what the daughter of a big-shot tastes like."
With that, he grabbed Kennedy Bella by the shoulders and leaned in to kiss her forcefully.
Kennedy Bella's heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would leap out of her chest.
When all her means of self-defense failed, all she could do was hope someone would save her.
"HELP ME!!!"
Kennedy Bella let out a high-pitched scream.
But this KTV's private rooms were famous for their soundproofing.
No matter how loud she screamed, it was useless.
As the man's bloated face came closer, she felt like she couldn't breathe.
Just when she was about to lose all hopeâ
"BANG!"
The door to the private room flew open, and the henchman guarding the door was sent sprawling onto the ground.
Kennedy Bella turned her head toward the noise.
Standing there was a tall, imposing man with an aura of authority.
He stood ramrod straight, like a steadfast pine tree. His broad shoulders seemed capable of shielding her from any storm.
His sunlit, handsome face carried a playful, devil-may-care smile, radiating unparalleled charm even in the dim light.
Kennedy Bella's heart leaped with joy when she saw him, and she cried out,
"Jerk! Save me!"
James's smile froze. He gave her a disdainful glance and asked,
"Miss Kennedy, didn't you tell them who your father is?"
"They didn't believe me," Kennedy Bella said anxiously.
"Why are there so many brainless people in this world?"
James sighed. After taking in the scene, he looked at the scar-faced man holding her and said,
"Wow, you guys have guts. You even dare to mess with her? Impressive!"
The scar-faced man squinted, sizing up James and the tall man behind him. His voice turned cold as he asked,
"Who the hell are you?"
Jay Johnson, who had entered behind James, scanned the room. His sharp gaze swept over the group of burly men, quickly assessing their combat potential.
They weren't even as tough as Leo's two underlings. If they didn't have weapons, pepper spray wouldn't even be necessary.
Jay sighed inwardly, disappointed.
He had bought the pepper spray ages ago and never had a chance to test its effectiveness.
"Who I am doesn't matter. I'd advise you to let go of that woman before the consequences become something you can't handle," James said calmly, his confidence bolstered by his abilities.
"Don't try that crap on me. Do you think I scare easy?"
Despite his tough words, the scar-faced man's voice wavered slightly.
James didn't look like an ordinary guy with his clothes and demeanor. He wasn't the least bit intimidated by the five men in the room and seemed to have complete confidence in himself.
Especially the tall guy standing behind him, whose calm demeanor, cold expression, and condescending gaze made him seem like a bodyguard for some wealthy family.
What if the girl really was the daughter of a big shot? The consequences...
That thought sobered the scar-faced man up a little. He shouted,
"Even if her dad is the police chief, I didn't do anything to her. I just invited her for a drink. At most, I'll get locked up for a few days."
He had only hugged her and hadn't even kissed her yet.
Based on his past experiences, he figured the worst-case scenario would be a detention of five to ten days.
He tried to bolster his own confidence.
"Brother, you're talking about public security violations. I'm talking about criminal law. Do you know that indecent assault carries a maximum sentence of five years?"
James noticed his hesitation and smiled, shaking his head.
He walked over to the sofa, sat down, and said leisurely,
"Forcing physical contact with a woman counts as indecent assault. And since you're doing it as a group, it qualifies as group indecent assault or humiliation of women. The sentencing standard is up to five years in prison."
"Do you really think the law would side with you?"
After James finished speaking, the room fell silent. No one even dared to breathe loudly.
A drop of sweat rolled down the scar-faced man's forehead.
He knew how much power people like this could wield. If this went to court, there was no way someone like him would escape legal punishment.
Still gripping Bella's wrist, he clung to a sliver of hope and said stubbornly,
"How do you prove she's actually some big shot's daughter?"
"Prove? Why should I prove anything to you? The police will be here soon enough, and then you'll know. I'm just here to give you a chance to beg for mercy."
James poured himself a beer, sipping it as he smiled and observed their reactions.
These men, covered in tattoos and with fierce looks, seemed intimidating at first glance.
But now, they were like nervous schoolkids who had made a big mistake, casting panicked glances at each other.
Even the henchman who had gone out to drag the hostess back was about to piss himself.
He wasn't afraid of jail; he was afraid of offending someone he shouldn't.
Quietly, he let go of the hostess, raising his hands as if to say he had nothing to do with this.
The freed hostess didn't run out but instead hid behind James and Jay Johnson, watching the situation unfold with curiosity.
From the moment James arrived, Kennedy Bella's gaze never left him.
Seeing how he controlled the situation with just a few words,
she felt an inexplicable sense of safety, her eyes shining with joy.
James noticed her staring and assumed she wanted him to make the scar-faced man let go of her.
So he said,
"Let her go now, and it's not too late. If you sincerely admit your mistake, I might let you off."
Whether her father would let them off or not wasn't his concern.
James silently added this thought to himself.
"Did you hear him? Let me go!" Kennedy Bella yelled.
Although she didn't want to let these bastards off so easily, she was willing to follow James's lead.
The scar-faced man considered letting her go but hesitated, worried they'd turn on him once she was free.
Besides, he still doubted her claim of being some big shot's daughter.
Then again, in all his years, he'd never met anyone who dared to falsely claim their father was the police chief.
This thought only made him more conflicted.
At that moment, Bella took advantage of his hesitation and yanked her hand free with all her strength.
She turned and ran.
The scar-faced man instinctively reached out to grab her, catching hold of her shirt instead.
"RIP!"
The sound of fabric tearing filled the room.
A piece of her polo shirt was ripped away, exposing her smooth, fair shoulder and a glimpse of delicate lace trim.
Everyone in the room froze in shock.