Chapter 29: "Won! Is she using some kind of cheat?"
Inside the shooting range, a group of kids gathered, their faces a mixture of awe and disbelief as they watched Noelle. Their eyes sparkled with admiration, as if they were witnessing a superhero in action.
It had all started when Noelle grew bored of the standard shooting game. "The targets are too big, and the distance is too short," she had said with a hint of disdain. After all, back when she was a sniper, her job required her to hit moving targets from miles away. A mere 50 feet? That was child's play. So she'd asked the shop owner to raise the stakes: blindfolded shooting.
But she didn't stop there. To make it even harder, Noelle insisted on spinning herself around a few times before taking aim. The challenge level skyrocketed. Most people could barely hit the targets while blindfolded, let alone after spinning themselves into disorientation.
At first, the crowd had been skeptical, thinking Noelle was just trying to show off. But when she blindfolded herself with a sleek black ribbon, spun around gracefully, and then hit every single stuffed toy on the shelves with unerring precision, skepticism turned into stunned applause.
"She's incredible!" a kid shouted.
Children, naturally drawn to talent, began crowding around her. Their voices chimed in unison, "Miss, can you teach us how to shoot like that?"
"You want to learn?" Noelle looked down at the cluster of eager faces.
"Yeah!"
She sighed dramatically, tapping her chin as if weighing a difficult decision. "Hmm, this is a problem…"
"Why?" The kids looked nervous, fearing she'd refuse.
"Well, it's simple for me because I'm a genius," Noelle said, flashing a confident smile. "But you guys? You don't seem to have the talent. Even if I taught you, you wouldn't get it."
The kids exchanged glances. "Wow. She's so full of herself."
Unbothered, Noelle skipped over to Nicolas, holding up a stuffed bear with gleaming eyes. "Nick, look! Isn't this bear adorable?"
"Yeah, it's cute," Nicolas replied, sparing the bear a glance before his eyes returned to Noelle. While he'd already witnessed her exceptional skills during hunts, seeing her display her talents so casually still left him in awe. Is she even human! he wondered.
"This is for you," Noelle said, thrusting the bear into his arms.
"Wow, a gift for me?" Nicolas raised an eyebrow, smirking as he caught the bear.
"Of course! I had so much fun today, all thanks to you. It's only fair to return the favor. That's called reciprocation." Noelle's smile was as bright as the sun.
"You really know your manners, huh?" Nicolas teased, unable to hide his amusement.
"Of course!" Noelle puffed out her chest, looking adorably proud. "I'm not dumb, you know."
That made Nicolas laugh even harder, his shoulders shaking as he tried to hold it in. How does she always manage to make me laugh so effortlessly?
Nearby, Bryan sighed. Sure, Miss Anderson is thoughtful, but wasn't it Nicolas who paid for the bullets she used to win that bear! Isn't this just giving his money back to him! Still, he said nothing. As long as he's happy, I suppose it doesn't matter.
Just then, a calm yet uncertain male voice rang out from the entrance: "Noelle?"
"Huh?" Noelle turned toward the sound.
Standing in the doorway was a tall, handsome man dressed in casual black attire. His eyes locked onto Noelle, and when she faced him, his cold, distant expression melted into joy.
"It really is you," the man said, stepping closer.
Nicolas immediately recognized him: Harley Parker, heir to the Parker family. Known for his aloof demeanor, Harley wasn't someone easy to approach, and he'd been abroad for years. How does he know Noelle? Nicolas wondered.
Harley approached with measured steps, his refined smile in place. "Elly, is this your friend?" he asked, glancing at Nicolas.
Noelle tilted her head, scrutinizing Harley before asking bluntly, "Who are you?"
Harley froze, his entire body stiffening. "You don't remember me?" he asked, his voice dropping.
"Nope," Noelle replied casually. "Have we met before?"
Nicolas couldn't help but chuckle. Noelle's complete lack of concern was always refreshing. A man everyone else would try to ingratiate themselves with, and she couldn't care less.
"If you don't know him, let's go," Nicolas said, smiling at her.
"Okay." Noelle linked her arm with his and prepared to leave.
Harley's gaze darkened when he noticed her casual intimacy with Nicolas. He immediately recognized Nicolas as the infamous playboy of the Sawyer family. How could Noelle be with someone like him? Quickly stepping in front of them, Harley's voice turned cold. "Why are you with Nicolas? He's a notorious womanizer. Did he trick you?"
Hearing the tone Harley used for Nicolas, Noelle's brows furrowed. "What's your problem? Nick's my fiancé. He wouldn't trick me."
Harley looked as though he'd been struck by lightning. He stood frozen, his face drained of all color. "Your… fiancé?"
Just then, Connor arrived, panting slightly. "Harley! Man, you ran like crazy! I knew you wanted to play—What's going on?" Connor's casual tone faltered as he noticed the tense atmosphere. He spotted Nicolas and frowned. "What's a notorious playboy doing in a place like this?"
Nicolas, unfazed by the growing crowd, leaned closer to Noelle. "Elly, let's go."
"Okay," Noelle said.
The two walked past Harley, who remained frozen in place. But as they neared the exit, Harley suddenly called out, his voice sharp: "Two years ago. Dalneau Bay. Thunder Unit."
Connor flinched. "Harley, what are you talking about?"
Noelle paused mid-step, her eyes widening slightly as realization dawned. "Oh," she said brightly, "I remember now."
"What is it?" Nicolas asked, curious.
Noelle turned to him with a casual shrug. "Two years ago, I saved that..."