Chapter 104
Chapter 104:
Everything unfolded so swiftly that before anyone could fully comprehend the situation, Paul’s face was already turning a shade of red from the metal rod Ashton had pressed against his throat.
Paul instinctively tried to resist, but to his surprise, it felt as though a mountain, not merely a person, was bearing down on his nearly 300-pound, six-foot-three frame. He found himself unable to move even an inch.
“I’ll only warn you once,” Ashton declared, his voice ice cold as he slightly tightened his grip. “If you or your men make a move, your neck will snap.”
Shocked by the intensity of this seemingly mild-mannered young man, Paul found it difficult to breathe and quickly signaled his men to stand down.
Observing their leader easily subdued and their comrades swiftly neutralized, the remaining gang members were too frightened to act.
Emalee, emerging from her daze, caught Ashton’s brief glance. Understanding his silent cue, she swiftly extracted her phone and dialed the police.
In moments, sirens wailed outside the abandoned factory. A substantial number of officers stormed in, promptly apprehending the gang members.
Demoralized by Ashton’s formidable display of strength, the gang saw no point in resisting and surrendered without a fight.
The lead officer, upon learning how Ashton had singlehandedly managed the entire gang, clapped him on the shoulder and remarked, “Impressive, young man. You managed to turn the tide in such a perilous scenario. If there were no witnesses here, I’d think you were embellishing the story!”
The girls, now recovering from their initial fright, converged around Ashton, effusively praising him.
“Officer, you must give Mr. Baldwin a commendation! It was incredibly dangerous, but Mr. Baldwin saved us just in time. We could have been doomed without him!”
gⱯlnσν𝓮𝓁s﹒𝓬𝗈𝗺, the heart of fiction
“Yeah, Mr. Baldwin was amazing! He sent those guys flying with just a single move. It was truly spectacular!”
“And he didn’t even flinch at their threats. Mr. Baldwin stood his ground. He’s my hero!”
“Unlike some people who began pleading for mercy the moment things got tough. No manliness at all!”
The girls continued to sing Ashton’s praises, expressing their disdain for Phillip’s behavior was palpable. Emalee stood nearby, her brow deeply furrowed in disappointment with Phillip. Compared to Ashton, Phillip’s actions seemed outright repulsive.
Ashton noticed Emalee’s conflicted expression and gently inquired, “Are you okay?”
Emalee bit her lip, struggling to voice her gratitude amid the surge of strong emotions. It was as if a lump had formed in her throat, preventing her from speaking. In the end, she simply nodded silently, her eyes red with unshed tears, before turning to walk away.
Feeling completely embarrassed, Phillip quickly followed her, attempting to justify his disgraceful behavior while evading the scornful glances from the others.
Ashton merely shook his head slightly, opting to remain silent.
Emalee’s decisions were hers alone; regardless of what others might say, they could not alter that.
Meanwhile, the girls, already impressed by Ashton’s display of medical expertise, now viewed him with even greater admiration.
Ashton could almost see the stars in their eyes as they looked up at him.
After turning Paul and his gang over to the police and finishing their statements, the group’s spirits were buoyant.
Following a brief pause, Ashton once again guided the girls toward the Campbell family manor.
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