Their Mistake, Her Rise - Chapter 359: Chapter 359

The man hesitated. "Ms. White, this is... uh..."
"What?" Sophia's tone turned sharp. "Didn't you just say you'd walk through fire for me? Now you're backing out?"
"No, I meant it—I'll get it done," he said quickly.
Satisfied, Sophia chuckled again. "That's more like it. The sooner the better. I'm counting on you."
"Yes, of course!" the man replied, eager to please.
As soon as she hung up, a sly smile spread across Sophia's face.
She thought, 'Zoe, you have no idea what's coming. But I promise—you're going down.'
Zoe and Shawn went to the shooting range together.
Zoe was still a bit reluctant about accepting Shawn's invitation, but Shawn knew exactly what was bothering her.
"I know I overstepped," he said. "That's why I brought you here—to apologize properly."
"Don't think I've forgiven you," Zoe replied. "You made a decision without my consent yesterday and turned me into everyone's target. Do you have any idea how many people in the army want me gone now?"
"As long as I'm around, no one's going to lay a finger on you," Shawn promised.
Zoe looked him over. "Is that all you've got?"
Shawn had no response.
"I can handle my own safety. I don't need you interfering," Zoe said flatly.
As she spoke, she finished assembling a gun and immediately fired five rounds at the target. Each shot hit dead center, her precision leaving other soldiers on the range stunned.
Zoe put the gun down and shot Shawn a defiant look.
Shawn just smiled. He walked over and wrapped his arms around her from behind, reaching through under her arms to blindly assemble a firearm right there on the shooting bench.
He never took his eyes off Zoe, but his hands moved swiftly, methodically.
Once the weapon was fully assembled, Shawn raised it and fired five rounds. Each shot struck the bullseye.
He hadn't even bothered to aim.
His speed and precision left everyone around speechless. His technique and marksmanship were on a level far beyond what most soldiers could hope to achieve in a lifetime.
Seeing that Shawn was clearly challenging her, Zoe's competitive streak ignited.
She threw a sharp elbow into his side to break free and walked to another shooting station. This time, she didn't even look at the gun parts—she began assembling the firearm one-handed.
Shawn realized Zoe was taking this as a head-to-head challenge, so he moved to a different station as well.
From assembly to firing, neither of them looked at the components or the target. They kept repeating the cycle—assemble, fire, reload—over and over.
Not only were they matched in speed, but every single shot they fired hit the bullseye.
Everyone else on the range was stunned. No one had expected to witness such a spectacular showdown. They stood around, wide-eyed, unable to decide who was more impressive—Zoe or Shawn.
With a final round of gunfire, the match came to an end.
Zoe and Shawn each had one bullet left in their guns. Suddenly, they pointed the barrels directly at each other.
The onlookers gasped in horror. This was beyond reckless—using real guns in an argument was flirting with death. One wrong move, one accidental discharge, and someone could die.
Both Zoe and Shawn pulled the trigger—but only one gunshot rang out. It meant they fired at the exact same time.
Two bullets, trailing sparks, flew toward each other. Everyone braced for tragedy.
But the bullets just grazed past one another, and as they reached Zoe and Shawn, each one skimmed by their ears. Neither was harmed.
Their flawless marksmanship and the sheer madness of such a stunt became the stuff of legend. For years to come, people would still talk about that moment with awe and disbelief.
Zoe tossed her gun onto the bench. "Boring," she said coolly.
Shawn stepped forward and blocked her path. "After all that, I've made my feelings clear. Don't you have something to say to me?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Zoe turned to leave.
Shawn reached for her, but Zoe slipped past him. The two broke into a sudden fight.
They were evenly matched, both using their full strength, and their movements were so sharp and fluid that everyone watching was completely mesmerized. Not a single person dared to blink.
After several exchanges where neither gained the upper hand, Zoe's gaze turned colder.
Shawn was unusually persistent today. She couldn't tell if he was doing this just to get her to agree to attend the international reception—or if he had discovered something more.
Shawn never took his eyes off Zoe. He was trying to force the truth out of her.
If Zoe's true identity came to light, no one would dare say she wasn't good enough for Shawn. No one would oppose their marriage.
As they fought, they kept locking eyes, their movements intense but intimate. To the bystanders, they looked like a couple in a lovers' quarrel—albeit a very aggressive one.
Shawn wasn't letting up. He was determined to make her admit she was Firefox.
"You really aren't going to tell me your secret?" he asked, swinging a punch that just grazed her ear.
Zoe responded with a kick that brushed his waist, then let out a cold snort. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Do you really not know, or are you just hiding it on purpose?" Shawn caught her leg and pulled her toward him.
Gasps erupted from the soldiers nearby. It was the first time they'd seen a man flirt so aggressively with a woman in the middle of a fight.
Zoe heard the shocked reactions, but she didn't care. In fact, she gave a wicked smile.
Her body moved like a serpent as she wrapped herself around Shawn, and in an instant, she slipped behind him and locked her arm around his neck.
"You're unusually fired up today," Zoe said softly.
"That's because you've driven me to the edge," he growled.
Zoe was momentarily stunned by his honesty. Seizing the opportunity, Shawn threw her off—only to catch her again mid-air, spinning on the spot.
Zoe was lifted off the ground, looking down into Shawn's face from above.
"I'm waiting for you to tell the truth," he said.
"I am being honest," Zoe replied, playing dumb.
Shawn knew he had to push her further.
He wrapped his arms tightly around her slender waist, holding her close. When his lips almost touched hers, Zoe leaned in for a kiss—but just then, Shawn tilted his head back, dodging her.
The playful push-and-pull between them sent the tension skyrocketing. The surrounding soldiers flushed bright red. The way Zoe and Shawn flirted was so intense, they even forgot to eat dinner.
Zoe realized she was being teased—but she loved this game of tension and resistance.
"Well?" Shawn whispered in her ear, his voice thick with temptation. His warm breath tickled her earlobe.
Finally, Zoe spoke. "I—"