Chapter 100

Gunshots echoed through the shooting range.

Ethan Sullivan's slender fingers gripped the trigger with steady precision. His hawk-like gaze never wavered. He always came here to vent his frustrations. Today was no exception.

"Have you both lost your minds? Using me as target practice?"

Oliver Valentine stood twenty meters away, trembling beneath an apple balanced on his head. His bulletproof vest was soaked with sweat, making him look like a walking bullseye.

Xander Quincy adjusted his scope with mechanical precision. The cold clink of metal filled the air.

"Begin."

At Ethan's command, two shots rang out simultaneously.

Bullets sliced through the air, striking dead center. Ethan's movements flowed like water, each shot perfectly aligned, the holes nearly overlapping.

The moving target activated.

Ethan's eyes narrowed. His fingers danced on the trigger as bullets chased the shifting target, leaving flawless patterns.

"Final round."

Xander's voice carried stubborn defiance.

Both men raised their weapons, aiming at the wobbling apple atop Oliver's head.

"Hey! You can't—"

Oliver's protest was cut off by gunfire.

"Bang!"

The apple exploded.

"Ah!" Oliver crouched, clutching his forehead. "Xander, you missed!"

First round: Ethan's flawless victory.

Xander's face darkened. "Again."

Ethan smirked coldly. "Bring it."

Oliver fumbled for his phone. "Julian! Get to Monarch Lounge now! These lunatics are trying to kill me!"

The second round escalated.

Paint pellets splattered across Oliver's body in vibrant bursts. He darted around like a rainbow-colored rabbit.

"What the hell?"

The private room door burst open. Julian Langley stormed in, surveying the chaos before locking eyes with Ethan.

Ethan's gun arm dropped.

Xander seized the moment, nailing Oliver's forehead with a paint round. "I win," he gloated.

"What are you doing?" Julian demanded, stepping closer.

Ethan stared at the floor, voice rough. "She won't talk to me."

"Who?"

"Evelyn."

Julian froze. He studied Ethan's red-rimmed eyes and suddenly understood.

"You hurt my sister?"

Ethan shook his head like a chastened child. "Someone framed me... She misunderstood."

The rare vulnerability in his voice left Julian speechless.

An eerie silence filled the room.

Finally, Julian gritted his teeth. "Ethan, your acting puts my Oscar to shame."