Their Mistake, Her Rise - Chapter 21: Chapter 21

"I couldn't just forget what happened. I promised myself I'd beat her someday. That's why I asked to meet you here. I want to train with you, learn from you, and get better."
Zoe's words were a careful blend of truth and deception, so her expression gave absolutely nothing away. Even as Shawn studied her with those sharp, piercing eyes, he couldn't decipher what she was really thinking.
Shawn never forgot details. He remembered the shooting class clearly—how that bullet had barely missed his forehead.
It could have been an accident, yet everything in him sensed intentionality.
Still, he couldn't help but admire her nerve. Few dared to challenge him, let alone a girl. It reminded him of Firefox, the fearless fighter who had once fought him to a standstill.
For some reason, he nodded. "Alright, make your move."
"Wait," Zoe said, glancing around. "There are too many people here. I don't want my classmates watching us. Mr. Ludwig, how about we go to the back of the mountain instead? We'll have more space, and you can teach me properly."
Shawn gave a brief nod before they left the Evergreen Hotel behind.
The chilly night wind whispered around them as dark clouds swallowed the moonlight, leaving the forest in complete darkness.
Zoe's lips twitched into a faint, almost sinister smile.
She'd set a trap, and Shawn was about to walk right into it. Once inside, escape would be nearly impossible. After all, she had spent years building her ruthless reputation in the underworld.
"Mr. Ludwig, it's just ahead..." Zoe murmured, her voice low and deliberately alluring as she glanced at him.
Shawn, who had been quiet and cold the whole time, suddenly moved with military precision. In one swift motion, he seized Zoe's arm and pulled her against him.
Zoe's pulse jumped. Caught unprepared at such close range, she realized she might have no choice but to fight back and expose her true skills.
However, she didn't want to show her real plan yet. She pretended to be surprised, then "accidentally" tripped over a rock and fell into Shawn's arms.
Shawn was watching for her next move, so he didn't expect this, but he caught her easily.
Standing six-foot-three with a tank-like build from years of training, Shawn made his chest feel like a brick wall against her.
Zoe had to admit he looked like a magazine cover model. When she leaned against him, she felt his whole body stiffen. 'So sensitive?' she thought, hiding a smirk. 'Who would've thought the mighty Shawn could be this flustered?'
His face—all sharp angles and effortless charm—was the kind that made people do a double take. Zoe couldn't deny he was gorgeous. But no matter how good he looked, she couldn't forget her mission to take him down.
And that absurd message he'd sent months ago still made her cringe. "Let the battlefield arrange our marriage, with bullets as our wedding gifts. Lose to me again, and you're mine," he'd said.
If he hadn't been such an arrogant jerk about it, she might have actually given him a chance.
Zoe sighed in fake relief, acting oblivious to Shawn's probing. She gave him a sweet, grateful smile. "Thanks. That could've ended badly. You really saved me."
She was carefully leading Shawn into her trap, part of her plan to take him down. As a mercenary, she was great at disguise—no one had ever seen through her, and she didn't think Shawn would either.
But just as she thought she was about to slip away unnoticed, Shawn's hand grabbed her wrist.
Her heart skipped a beat as she looked up at him. His eyes were intense, like he could see right through her. It was like she'd been caught in her own trap.
It was like she'd been caught in her own trap, the hunter becoming the hunted.
Shawn smiled charmingly. "My beautiful prey," he said slowly, "you've taken the bait."