Another shot echoed through the air.

Lise let out a scream.

Katelyn had just fired at her leg without hesitation.

Pain twisted Lise’s face, her eyes wide with shock and anger. How could Katelyn, this lunatic, actually shoot her?

Neil quickly caught Lise as she stumbled, glaring at Katelyn. “Katelyn, have you lost your mind?” he snarled.

Katelyn casually blew the smoke away from her gun’s barrel. “She put on quite the performance. How could I just let that go to waste?”

“I’ll make you regret this,” Neil said through gritted teeth, his fists clenched.

With the rifle now resting on her shoulder, Katelyn gave a nonchalant shrug. “Suit yourself. Hopefully, these two shots give you a lesson. If not, I can’t say where the next one might go.”

The gun was only loaded with blanks. Katelyn had no real intention of harming them; she merely wanted to make a point. She needed them to understand that she wasn’t to be messed with.

Lise, looking pale and distressed, managed a strained smile to comfort Neil. Her eyes were teary, but she tried to show forgiveness.

“It’s okay, Neil. I’m just glad Katelyn’s getting her anger out… Katelyn, can we now move past this? Can you drop your grudge against Neil and the Bailey family?”

Katelyn’s smirk was cold as she replied, “Not a chance.”

She moved a step closer to Lise, her tone chilling. Original content can be found at FindN0vel.net

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“Stay out of my way, and I’ll leave you alone. But if there’s a next time, the rounds won’t be blanks.”

At that, Lise instinctively looked down at her leg.

The bullets had been blanks all along. That explained why there was no actual wound.

Had she really been overacting?

At that moment, Lise realized she’d been completely fooled by Katelyn.

“Idiot.”

Katelyn’s cold stare captured every shift in Lise’s expression. Her words cut deeper than any physical blow could have.

Lise clenched her teeth in anger.

Why couldn’t this woman just disappear?

Before Lise could retort, Katelyn turned and walked away. Vincent stayed behind for a moment, offering Lise a meaningful glance. That look reignited a spark in her heart, washing away her frustration and igniting a flicker of thrill.

What did that look mean? Was Vincent impressed by her willingness to sacrifice for others, showing her admiration in his gaze?

Could this mean she had a chance at winning Vincent’s affection?

Vincent escorted Katelyn directly to the VIP area.

Once out of Neil’s and Lise’s sight, Katelyn set the rifle down and checked her shoulder.

The initial shot had already left red marks. Firing two more consecutive shots had caused additional bruises to form on her shoulder.

Now that she was relaxed, Katelyn noticed she could barely lift her arm.

Vincent also saw the bruises on Katelyn’s shoulder. The marks were quite noticeable.

“Rub some ointment on those bruises. With proper care, they should heal within a week.”

Katelyn grimaced as she shifted her shoulder, the pain knitting her brows together.

“It’s painful, but… shooting felt satisfying.”

Vincent, seated casually, gave a nonchalant nod. “You seem naturally skilled with a rifle. You look like a professional when you’re aiming.”

A spark of happiness appeared on Katelyn’s face. “Really? It’s actually my first time holding a gun. Although they were just blanks, it felt good to shoot.”

“Blanks or not, it hardly matters. You should improve your aim. Someday, those skills might come in handy for your self-defense.”

Katelyn’s resolve deepened with his words. That was precisely why she had taken up shooting.

She didn’t want to be left defenseless, waiting for rescue in a crisis again.

She needed to be able to defend herself, to retaliate when necessary.

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