Chapter 146 She's My Ex-Wife
As dawn broke over Gedser, Daphne was already awake. She had risen early, laundering the clothes she had worn the previous day. Now, she sat in the living room, dressed and ready, awaiting Charles's arrival. Thirty minutes later, after sharing a quiet breakfast, they embarked on their journey. Their destination was a shooting range in Gedser, a place where an introductory letter was a prerequisite and membership was a formality. Charles, ever the meticulous planner, had already arranged these details. An hour into their journey, they arrived at the shooting range. The familiar face of the range officer greeted Charles with a warm smile. "Long time no see, Charles.""Indeed, it's been quite a while," Charles responded, engaging in the casual banter. "And who is this?" the officer asked, his curiosity piqued as his gaze shifted to Daphne. Charles's eyes darkened slightly, and he was about to respond when Daphne interjected, "Friends, Daphne," she introduced herself swiftly. She had a gut feeling that if she hadn't intervened, Charles's response would have been something she wasn't ready to hear. Charles shot her a glance. He had indeed intended to say 'my wife'. "This way, please," the manager interjected, giving them a knowing look before warmly gesturing them to follow. "A professional will be with you shortly to guide you through the shooting process."They followed the manager in silence. Upon reaching the shooting range, Daphne and Charles were each assigned a professional instructor. The manager, a second cousin to Edwin from the Smith family, noted Daphne's earnest approach to learning. He leaned over to Charles and murmured, "You and Miss Murphy aren't just friends, are you?""Definitely more than just friends," Charles responded, his familiarity with shooting ranges evident in his ease. Jordan, the manager, perked up with interest. "Oh?""She's my ex-wife," Charles revealed, contemplating Daphne's potential reaction, and choosing not to mention his current wife. Jordan was taken aback. "Ex-wife? When did you get married? How did I not know? Did I know?""You knew," Charles replied, his tone flat. "That's cold, man. You didn't even tell me," Jordan's mood shifted, "Am I not your friend anymore? I didn't even get to celebrate with you."What puzzled him further was that such a significant event as Charles's marriage had managed to evade media attention. It was unusual!"We didn't have a wedding," Charles admitted, his expression complex as he paused, gun in hand. Charles chose not to elaborate further. After receiving instructions from the professional, he turned to look at Daphne, who had also completed her briefing. Sensing the tension, Jordan refrained from probing further into their marital history. Instead, he asked, "So, are you two just here to have fun today?""Not exactly. We're competing in shooting," Charles replied, his gaze fixed on the targets fifty meters away. Jordan couldn't help but smile wryly. He suspected Charles had an ulterior motive. Leaving Charles to his devices, Jordan approached Daphne, offering his assistance: "Hey, little sis, let me help you out. Charles has been shooting since he was a kid; he still holds the club's record.""No need," Daphne responded calmly. "Are you sure you don't want my help?" Jordan, known for his consideration, persisted. He didn't relish the thought of watching an elegant and composed young woman lose. Especially not to someone like Charles!
Daphne's fingers traced the cold steel of the firearm, a sensation all too familiar. She cradled the weapon in her hand, her expression unchanging as she declined with a simple, "No, thank you." Jordan, observing her nonchalant refusal, chose not to press the matter further.Two professionals stood watch nearby, their eyes trained on the pair. Jordan too, found himself intrigued, wondering what sort of reaction the seemingly detached girl would have upon facing defeat."Five bullets will decide the winner, let's see who hits more rings," Daphne proposed, her gaze fixed on Charles."Alright," Charles agreed, assuming a proper shooting stance and aiming at the target fifty meters away.The air was punctuated by the deafening sound of five consecutive shots. Charles had hit the bullseye with each one - fifty rings. This did not come as a surprise to the club members or Jordan; they had witnessed such precision before. The ritual of explanation and instruction was more a formality, a means to consolidate learning and ensure safety.Charles passed the firearm to a professional, his eyes drifting towards Daphne. Jordan too, was observing. He had expected Daphne to exhibit some nerves after Charles' perfect score, but she remained composed, as if the feat of fifty rings held no significance to her.With a steady hand, Daphne pulled the trigger. A single shot echoed through the range, the bullet slicing through the air to hit the bullseye. The professional at Daphne's side momentarily lost their composure, exclaiming, "Holy smokes!" Ten rings. Was this girl truly a beginner?Both Jordan and Charles were taken aback. Jordan, like the professional, was astounded by Daphne's natural talent. Charles, however, found himself questioning her true identity. The ease with which she handled the cards, her proficiency in shooting - what else was Daphne concealing?Before they could recover from their surprise, Daphne fired four more shots, each one hitting the bullseye with the same precision as the first."Are you...really playing this for the first time?" the professional couldn't help but ask. For him, and indeed for all the professionals at the club, hitting ten rings at a fifty-meter distance was child's play. But Daphne was supposed to be a novice, wasn't she?"I've played before," Daphne replied, "but it's been a long time since I last touched a gun.""Charles, it looks like your ex-wife is quite impressive," Jordan teased, admiration for Daphne evident in his eyes, "Winning against her won't be easy for you."Charles' brow furrowed slightly at the mention of 'ex-wife', a term he found distasteful. Daphne's gaze swept over the outdoor shooting range before settling on Charles. "Let's go straight to three hundred meters, one shot will decide the winner."Jordan was taken aback, as were the professional and even Charles. When Charles remained silent, Jordan found himself engaging Daphne in conversation, genuinely concerned that she was putting herself at a disadvantage. The leap from fifty to three hundred meters was significant."Why don't we start with one hundred meters? The gap between three hundred and fifty is just too wide," Jordan suggested to Daphne. "If you're not acclimated, there's a good chance you'll miss the target."In his mind, it was a logical proposition. At one hundred meters, Daphne might have a fighting chance. If Charles faltered, even slightly, Daphne could seize the opportunity."No, let's stick to three hundred meters," Daphne responded calmly, her piercing gaze fixed on Charles, awaiting his response.
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