In a panic, she reached into her pocket, trying to take out her phone to call the police.
But before she could even unlock it, one of her hands was grabbed by the scar-faced man. No matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't break free. She wanted to shout for help, but she knew that in a place as chaotic as this, her cries would probably be useless.
All she could do was say nervously, her voice trembling,
"Let go of me… let go!"
Ashley's mother was completely panicked now. Fear flashed across her eyes as she realized she might truly be in serious trouble this time.
The scar-faced man gripped her arm tightly and began dragging her toward the exit.
If he managed to pull her outside—
If he dragged her into some dim, deserted alley—
Anything could happen.
Diana felt a deep chill of fear spread through her body. Her hands trembled uncontrollably, and helplessness filled her eyes.
At that moment—
A hand suddenly shot out and grabbed the scar-faced man's wrist.
The grip was strong.
With a sudden burst of force, the hand flung the man's arm aside.
Ethan's strength at that moment was surprisingly great. The scar-faced man staggered backward immediately.
Ethan stood tall, around 185 cm in height. Because he had exercised regularly during high school, his build was solid and well-proportioned.
As for why his strength felt so great now, even Ethan himself couldn't explain it. Perhaps it was some strange benefit of being reborn.
"Auntie, do you remember me? I'm Ashley's classmate—Ethan."
His polite and well-mannered appearance was completely different from the decisive force he had just used to throw the man aside.
"Ethan…!"
Diana blinked in surprise before finally recognizing him.
Her name was Diana.
She had actually paid special attention to this boy before. She had always felt that Ethan was a good and reliable young man, and she didn't mind that her daughter often spent time with him and his friends.
She had even teased Ashley once, asking whether she had a good impression of him.
Ashley had simply blushed and refused to answer.
It was obvious that her daughter liked this boy.
But Ethan himself had never realized it. To him, Ashley had always been just a good friend. The thought of anything romantic had never crossed his mind.
After the School examinations, everyone had gone their separate ways and prepared to head to different universities. As for relationships, Ethan had later thrown himself completely into his feelings for Savannah.
Diana never expected she would meet him here tonight.
For a moment, she felt a little embarrassed and didn't know what to say. She could only murmur softly,
"Ethan… it's you. I remember you."
"That… I…"
Looking at the situation in front of her, Diana didn't know how to continue.
At that moment, the scar-faced man finally recovered from the shock.
He glared at Ethan and shouted angrily,
"You little bastard! Who the hell are you? Where did you come from? How dare you meddle in my business?!"
Without another word, the man swung his fist toward Ethan.
"Damn brat! You dare interfere with me? I'll beat you to death!"
Ethan calmly stepped back.
His right hand shot forward, grabbing the scar-faced man's wrist. With a swift twist, he forced the arm backward.
The man immediately dropped to his knees.
"Damn it! You little bastard—let go of me! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!" the scar-faced man screamed, his face twisted with pain.
"Get out of here," Ethan said coldly as he released the man's wrist.
Realizing he couldn't win—especially after noticing Ethan was half a head taller and clearly stronger—the scar-faced man quickly scrambled to his feet and ran away without another word.
Diana rubbed her eyes in disbelief.
Everything that had just happened felt unreal.
Ethan was only a high school graduate, yet the scar-faced man had clearly been a thug who spent his days in rough places like this.
And Ethan had subdued him so easily.
She stood there stunned for a moment before finally calming down.
"Ethan… are you alright?" she asked.
"I'm fine, Auntie."
Ethan smiled slightly, once again looking like a bright, polite young man.
Then he asked with concern,
"Auntie, your hand isn't hurt, right?"
"No… it's fine."
Diana waved her hand lightly, though her cheeks flushed faintly.
Recently, her parents had been urging her to find a suitable man and remarry soon.
After all, her daughter Ashley was about to go to college.
So she had gone out tonight to relax for a while. But she had accidentally walked into this bar—and never expected something like this to happen.
Ashley came from a single-parent family. She had been raised by her grandparents and her mother, Diana, since childhood.
Her father, Rick, had gone to prison for what he did to Diana.
At the time, Diana had been only sixteen years old—still underage.
Because of this, Rick was sentenced to twenty years in prison.
According to the timeline, he was about to be released soon.
But Diana could never allow Ashley to acknowledge him as her father in this life. Nor would she ever have anything to do with that man again.
Diana had discovered she was already several months pregnant before she realized what was happening. Unable to bring herself to abort the child, she chose to give birth alone and continue her studies.
When Ashley was young, she was mostly raised by her grandparents.
After Diana graduated from university and started working, Ashley was about to enter first grade. Only then did she move back to live with her mother.
Diana had taken her mother's surname, and Ashley followed the surname of her grandfather—Diana's father.
Ashley also had an uncle.
Ashley and Ethan were classmates preparing for this year's college entrance, although Ashley was a year younger than Ethan and the others.
She had just turned seventeen after her birthday this year.
That meant Diana was actually not very old—only thirty-three.
Yet no one would guess she already had such a grown daughter.
The scene just now had been extremely embarrassing.
She had been protected by a young boy.
And the key point was that this boy was her daughter's classmate.
As an adult, she felt incredibly awkward.
But at that moment, when she secretly glanced at the tall, sunny, handsome boy beside her, she suddenly felt a strange sense of reassurance.
He seemed calm and mature far beyond his age.
She couldn't help sighing inwardly.
No wonder her daughter often mentioned him.
A boy this outstanding would make it difficult for any young girl not to feel moved.
For a moment, Diana even felt a hint of envy toward her daughter—for being able to meet someone so excellent at such a young age.
Then another thought surfaced.
"Hey…"
Her mood suddenly sank.
Why had her own life been so miserable?
Just as she sighed inwardly, a sudden hot current surged up from her abdomen—an obviously abnormal sensation.
She frowned slightly and shook her head involuntarily. Her consciousness began to blur.
Ethan noticed immediately.
"Auntie, are you feeling uncomfortable?"
"Yes… a little."
"It might be because there are too many people smoking inside. The air isn't circulating, and it's too stuffy. I'll head out first—we can talk another time."
Diana felt heat spreading through her body. Her head spun, and her whole body felt extremely uncomfortable.
She decided to leave quickly and get some fresh air.
She didn't want to cause a bigger scene.
Just as she stepped toward the exit—
Her vision suddenly darkened.
Her body swayed, and she nearly lost her balance.
Fortunately, Ethan reacted quickly. He stepped forward and supported her.
"Auntie, did you drink too much just now? I'll help you outside to get some air."
"Okay…"
Diana felt her body growing hotter and hotter. Her head was spinning as she leaned on Ethan's arm and slowly walked outside with his support.
The street outside the bar was lively and noisy.
Ethan helped Diana walk along the roadside.
The evening breeze in early May was still slightly warm.
But instead of feeling refreshed by the wind, Diana only felt her body growing hotter.
Her breathing became uneven.
A strange restlessness spread through her legs.
Diana wasn't stupid.
At this point, she understood what was happening.
She had been drugged.
She had only seen such things happen on television before. She had never imagined she would encounter it herself.
The one who had drugged her must have been that scar-faced man earlier.
Diana knew she had to get home as quickly as possible.
Otherwise, something terrible might happen.
"Ethan… help your aunt get a taxi. I need to go home urgently," Diana said anxiously.
Her voice became softer and softer as her body weakened.
Unable to support herself any longer, she leaned completely against Ethan.