Their Mistake, Her Rise - Chapter 428: Chapter 428

Sophia had just seen Shawn slip into Zoe's room again. They'd been locked up in there for a while, and Sophia was practically vibrating with jealousy, her mind racing with what they could be doing.
"Calm down," Rick said coolly. "Do you really think just trying to keep those two apart will work now?"
"So what's the plan?" Sophia shot back. "Am I just supposed to watch from the sidelines while they fall in love?"
"You got here just in time, actually," Rick said, getting serious. "I was gonna run something by you anyway."
Sophia had been stressing about keeping Shawn and Zoe trapped here long enough for Eunice to take her shot at Zoe. 'Maybe luck's finally on my side,' she thought.
"I'm bringing you in on this," Rick began, leaning in, "because it's an opportunity. A chance to force Shawn to see you differently.
"I know the guy inside and out. If you take a bullet for him, he'll owe you a debt he can never repay. Guilt. That's your leverage. It's the only way you'll get back in."
The idea sparked something in Sophia. It was a huge gamble. 'Do I really want to risk getting shot? What if something goes wrong?' she wondered, anxiety twisting in her gut. 'What if I actually end up dead?'
"Relax. I'll get a real sharpshooter for the job. There's no way anything could go wrong," Rick assured her.
"Maybe we should think of something else? This seems kinda—" Sophia was still freaking out.
Rick cut her off, "So what? Shawn can't even stand to see you. So how are you supposed to win him over? High risk, high reward. So, do you still want to be with him or not? Just say it."
"I do," Sophia blurted out without hesitation.
"Then do as I say," Rick said, immediately launching into his plan.
"Are you sure this will work?" Sophia asked nervously. "Shawn's a legendary warrior. Your shooter won't even get a shot off before Shawn clocks him."
Rick replied calmly, "Relax. The sniper will be way out of range when he goes after Shawn. It doesn't matter if Shawn spots him. All you need to do is make sure you take the bullet. Just get yourself hit, that's all."
Sophia's stomach churned. It was insane, a life-or-death risk. But she was desperate. For a chance to have Shawn, she felt like she had no other choice. After Rick kept pushing, she finally caved and agreed.
Shawn and Zoe hung out in his room for a bit, just talking. Zoe checked the time. "It's time," she said. "Let's move. If we're getting into that underground auction, we need the right cover to score invites."
"You got connections?" Shawn asked.
Zoe gave him a knowing look. "I'm sure you have your ways. But mine's bulletproof."
The moment Zoe and Shawn hit the street, they picked up a tail. Both Zoe and Shawn were masters at spotting surveillance. They made the tail within seconds. Few quick turns around the block, and their shadows were history.
Watching her expertly weave the car through traffic, Shawn couldn't help but smile. He thought, 'Little fox is dropping her guard around me. She's just throwing her skills in my face now. It's like she wants me to figure out who she really is.'
As soon as her driving show ended, Zoe mentally slapped herself. She wondered, 'Why do I keep dropping my guard around him? I've been showing off way too much lately. If I keep this up, he's going to piece together my other identities.'
"Why the sudden slowdown?" Shawn asked.
"Speeding's dangerous," Zoe lied through her teeth.
"Nice try. Who taught you to drive like a professional getaway driver?" Shawn wasn't dropping it.