Chapter 39
Evelina's shot went awry!
The news of Jasper's engagement cut deeply, and though she shouldn't have cared, the pain was real and immediate.
Her hand shook as her emotions swirled, causing the bullet to stray far from its intended mark, hitting only the outer sixth ring.
On the other hand,Idris nailed a perfect ten, his shot steady and sure.
This left Evelina four rings behind after just the first matchup. Given Caleb's skills, he was no match for Idris's bodyguard.
"Evelina, it's not over yet. I'll make up for it-"
Caleb's voice was hopeful, but his confidence was a facade. He knew his shooting was merely passable.Had Evelina held a four-ring lead,they might have the slightest chance to win.
Now, the outlook seemed bleak. Idris, cheerful and boastful, couldn't resist. "My bodyguard always scores tens. You don't stand a chance."
Even perfect scores from Caleb in subsequent rounds wouldn't be enough to secure a win for them.
With a chuckle, Idris was already looking ahead."Evelina, I've reserved us a table at a top restaurant.Consider it a date."
Idris's eyes lingered a bit too long on Evelina's form,his intentions clear in his unpleasant gaze. "'Perhaps after our date, we might extend the evening to a hotel-"
Smack!
A crisp slap cut him off.
Idris, stunned and outraged, turned to find Jasper standing there, the source of the slap.
"Why the sudden violence, Mr. Russell?" Idris protested in a wounded tone, his words laced with aggrieved bewilderment.
"You're in debt to me. Isn't that reason enough?"Jasper's look was cold, his presence imposing
Intimidated by Jasper's intense gaze, Idris backed down immediately.
"Florrie sent me to see how you're doing," Jasper said,his voice softening as he looked at Evelina with genuine concern.
Evelina responded, her emotions a jumble, "I'm alright,thank you." She was conflicted, caught off-guard by how close Jasper still felt.
Now that Jasper was engaged, Evelina wondered if it was appropriate to maintain their closeness. Should she step back?
"Evelina, there's been an unexpected development-"Caleb approached after finishing a call, his expression troubled and cautious. "I need to head back to lreah right away. A complication arose in one of my cases,and I have to handle it personally."
"You're leaving just like that? What about our match?"the bodyguard beside Idris asked irritably.
Still fuming from earlier, when he'd witnessed his boss being humiliated but was forbidden from retaliating,the bodyguard saw Caleb's sudden departure as yet another source of frustration.
With Caleb now stepping away without even competing, the bodyguard's frustration had nowhere to go. "You should handle your business," Evelina replied calmly, showing no resentment, only understanding for Caleb's difficult position.
Given Caleb's recent promotion at his law firm,unresolved issues could severely impact his professional standing.
Jasper quickly intervened, signaling to one of his own security team members, "Take Caleb to the airport immediately. I won't have Evelina worrying about your safety."
"Jasper's right," Evelina replied, comforted by the presence of a reliable Russell family guard accompanying Caleb.
"I understand," Caleb responded reluctantly,burdened by guilt at leaving Evelina during such a crucial moment.
After Caleb's departure, Evelina stood firm in her resolve to continue the competition alone.
Idris immediately objected, irritation clear in his voice."We agreed each competitor could bring one partner.How could you possibly compete twice yourself?"
He dismissed her efforts with a careless wave. "Just give up now.Considering your current state, is there really any point in pushing forward?"
His harsh words struck Evelina deeply, stirring a painful ache in her chest.
Evelina had made a promise to herself afterdeparting from the Gibson family; she would no longer pity any man, choosing instead to live solely for herself.
Still, Jasper's engagement stirred her emotions unexpectedly.
"I can take her place in the competition," Jasper said with ease, shrugging out of his jacket and neatly rolling up his sleeves.
Spotting the not-quite-healed scar from a knife wound on his arm, Evelina intervened, "Jasper, you shouldn't. Your arm still hasn't fully recovered."
"It's alright,it's pretty much healed." Jasper reassured her, flexing his arm to demonstrate its mobility. He then gave her a reassuring smile. "You're not worried I might make a fool of myself, are you?"
Evelina responded with a slight shake of her head, "Of course not,Jasper."
Evelina was hesitant to become indebted to Jasper,concerned about the complexities of their ties and wondering how she might later disentangle herself.
Idris, on edge, questioned Jasper's sudden decision to participate, asking, "Mr. Russell, joining at this stage..doesn't seem proper,does it?"
Jasper, with his military background, wasn't just any shooter; he was skilled enough to demand more challenging targets, which would put ldris's bodyguard at a distinct disadvantage.
"Wasn't it you who said each contestant could pick their most trusted to shoot? Well, I am her choice now,"Jasper replied firmly.
Looking down at Idris, Jasper mimicked the tone Idris had earlier used to intimidate Evelina. "What's the matter? Are you scared now? If so, you might as well concede defeat."
Idris swallowed hard, thrown off by Jasper's challenge."Mr. Russell, with a fiancee already, and still showing such closeness to Evelina... aren't you concerned about upsetting Aurora Marsh from the Marsh family?"