I used to be a shooting prodigy, just one shot away from a world championship. But my fiancé, Liam, personally snapped my fingers and handed the championship trophy to my stepsister, Chloe. “Chloe, you deserve this, no one shines brighter than you.” Everyone said they were a match made in heaven. No one knew that my pain was 100% connected to him. When he kissed Chloe, a strange tingle bloomed on my lips. When he hugged Chloe, a comfortable warmth spread through my body. And when he was with Chloe, an overwhelming pleasure threatened to rip me apart. I died in agony and extreme ecstasy. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of the championship finals. This time, before taking that final shot, I aimed the gun at my own temple. “Liam, do you still want this championship?” “Bang—!” With a single gunshot, “10.9” flashed across the electronic screen. The crowd erupted! My stepsister, Chloe, had won the Shooting World Championship by a slim 0.1 point margin. She was the youngest champion in history, a genius everyone adored. And I, Stella, once the genius, now a broken mess, was relegated to her shadow by that same 0.1 point difference. Chloe excitedly tossed her rifle aside and flung herself into the arms of our coach – my fiancé, Liam. Under the spotlights, Liam lifted her high, running around the arena in celebration, his handsome face alight with unconcealed joy and pride. “Chloe, you did it! You’re the best!” Chloe wrapped her arms around his neck, her smile radiant and triumphant. “Liam, I told you I’d personally bring you this championship trophy.” They looked like a true power couple, soaking in everyone’s blessings. And I, discarded like trash, forgotten by the world, stood alone in the empty 선수区 (player’s area). My fingers throbbed with a searing pain. They were the fingers that had once pulled the trigger, scoring countless perfect 10.9s. A year ago, on a similar stage, my fingers had been broken by Liam himself. His eyes burning crimson, he systematically twisted each one of my hands – my livelihood – into grotesque shapes. “Stella, why do you always have to compete with Chloe? Do you have any idea how much she’s sacrificed for this competition?!” “She’s the truly gifted one, you don’t deserve to be her opponent!” From that day on, I could no longer hold a rifle steady. The agonizing pain made it impossible to concentrate; every time I aimed, my vision blurred. Making it to second place today was a miracle, the only way I got this far was by burning myself out completely. But no one cared about my injury, no one remembered my past glory. In Liam’s eyes, there was only his Chloe. Then, a strange tingle started to bloom through my body. It began on my lips. Like a faint electric current, itchy, then numb. Next, a warm sensation spread across my chest, as if I were being tightly embraced. I knew it was Liam kissing Chloe. They were hiding in a corner, out of reach of the cameras, shamelessly devouring each other, celebrating their dirty victory. I was a monster. Liam and I shared a bizarre link. My pain was his, one hundred percent. And in turn, I could feel every single one of his touches. From the day we started dating, every kiss, every embrace, gave me a double rush. I used to think it was a unique romance, a gift from the heavens. Until Chloe appeared. She followed Liam around, calling him “Liam” over and over, but her eyes held a disturbing glint whenever she looked at me. Liam started avoiding me, yet he’d always find excuses to touch Chloe during training. Every time they touched, I’d feel it, like a creepy voyeur. At first, it disgusted me, but eventually, I went numb. The worst was the night before I died. They’d won the championship and booked a room at the hotel to celebrate. And I was locked in the next room, forced to listen to the sounds through the wall, my own body reacting in sync. My fingers were screaming in pain, yet my body was convulsing with waves of pleasure. I died in that agonizing, ecstatic mess. Now, I was back. Back to where it all began. On the screen was Chloe’s 10.9, and in the corner, she and Liam were passionately kissing. I looked at them and smiled. Liam, Chloe, we’re playing a different game this time.
I was reborn, back in the finals, just one last shot left. The crowd was roaring, and the commentators were shouting. “And now, the competition has reached a fever pitch! Our two brilliant athletes, Stella and Chloe, will vie for the ultimate championship title!” “Currently, Chloe holds a slight lead. Can Stella withstand the pressure and deliver the ultimate kill shot?!” I raised my rifle, aiming at the bullseye. My hand was steady, my heart surprisingly calm. The old wound in my finger still ached, but being reborn was far more shocking. I knew this shot would be a 10.9, tying Chloe’s score. Then, in the tie-breaker, my hand would falter from the pain, and I’d lose to her, cementing her as the so-called shooting prodigy. I remembered every detail of my past life. I didn’t look at the bullseye. Instead, I glanced at the coach’s box. Liam stood there, his eyes fixed on Chloe. That gaze, tense and expectant, as if he were looking at some priceless treasure. As for me, his fiancée? I wasn’t even an afterthought. I could feel his heart pounding faster for Chloe. Bang! Chloe fired her shot. 10.9. The moment the score appeared, Liam practically jumped up, clenching his fists and shouting silently. I felt his sheer elation. That rush of joy was a hundred times stronger than when we got engaged and he slipped a ring on my finger. It was utterly ridiculous. My fiancé was absolutely wild for another woman. Everyone was watching me, waiting for my shot. Chloe even turned to look at me, her smile practically declaring her victory. Liam finally looked my way, his eyes like daggers. The message was clear: Stella, you better be smart about this. I smiled. I lowered my rifle. Everyone froze. I turned the barrel, pressing it against my own temple. The entire arena fell silent. The commentator’s voice caught in his throat: “St-Stella… what… what are you doing? Put the gun down!” Liam’s face instantly went ashen. He stared at me, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word. I looked at him through the scope, that face I’d loved for ten years, now etched with pure terror. He was scared. Scared I’d pull the trigger. Because he knew that a gun to my temple was a gun to his. A bullet through my head would also take his life. “Liam,” I mouthed to him. “Do you still want this championship?”
“You’re insane! You’re a complete lunatic!” In the infirmary, Liam roared at me, veins pulsing visibly on his forehead. The bloodshot veins in his eyes were even more terrifying than his crimson gaze. My actions had caused the competition to be immediately halted. I was disqualified for “emotional instability.” The championship, naturally, fell to Chloe. But Liam wasn’t celebrating. He rushed over, gripping my wrist with a force that felt like he wanted to crush my bones. “Stella! Do you want to die that badly?! If you want to die, don’t drag me with you!” “Are you seriously throwing your life away just for a championship?” I calmly watched him rage. “You forced my hand, Liam.” He froze. I wrenched my hand free, looking at the angry red marks blooming on my wrist, and smiled. “A year ago, when you broke my fingers, did it ever occur to you that I was in agonizing pain?” A surge of sharp pain tore through our link. Liam’s face paled further, a fine sheen of cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. His hand twitched involuntarily. “I… I did it for Chloe, she couldn’t lose!” he still stubbornly insisted. “Besides… besides, I held back my strength considerably!” “Held back your strength?” I laughed even louder. “Do you know that because of your ‘restraint,’ my finger nerves suffered irreversible damage? The doctor said I’d never reach my peak performance again, not in this lifetime.” I raised my right hand; those fingers still ached on rainy days, keeping me awake at night. “Liam, you personally destroyed your own world champion. Are you satisfied now?” His lips trembled, unable to utter a single word. The infirmary door creaked open, and Chloe walked in, carrying a glass of water. “Liam, don’t be mad at Stella. She definitely didn’t mean it. Here, drink some water.” She offered the water to Liam, but her gaze, like a viper, coiled around me. It was full of venomous resentment and raw envy. Yes, she’d won the championship, but it was far from glorious. Everyone knew I had deliberately forfeited. Her genius aura was now tarnished with an unerasable stain. Liam didn’t take the water. Seeing Chloe now only reminded him of my madness on the arena floor. Chloe looked a little awkward, but she quickly recovered and turned to me. “Stella, I know you’re hurting. But that’s how competitions are, you win some, you lose some. You’re still young, you’ll have other chances.” Her voice was soft and gentle, playing the role of the sympathetic, caring little sister. If I hadn’t been reborn, I might have fallen for her act again. “Chances?” I let out a cold, sharp laugh. “Weren’t my chances already ruined by the two of you conspiring together?” Chloe’s face fell. “Stella, what do you mean? Liam and I are purely platonic, how can you falsely accuse me of something so awful?” “Purely platonic?” I stood up and walked over to Liam. He was a head taller than me; I had to tilt my head back to meet his gaze. To Chloe’s stunned expression, I reached out, hooked my arms around Liam’s neck, and then, I kissed him. Liam’s body instantly stiffened. He tried to push me away, but my lips and tongue were already invading his mouth. At the same time, I felt it – that complete, double shot of adrenaline, exclusively mine. It was strange. Liam’s eyes widened, filled with shock and confusion. But his body’s primal instinct, however, wouldn’t let him resist. As our lips tangled, I felt a strange, hot current erupt from my core, rapidly spreading through every limb and bone. It wasn’t just me. Liam’s breathing turned ragged. His body was burning hot. Chloe stood frozen, utterly stunned. She watched us kissing with such abandon, her eyes practically spat fire. She wanted to pull us apart, but she didn’t dare. After what felt like an eternity, I finally released Liam. Liam gasped for breath, an unnatural flush on his cheeks, his gaze hazy, as if he saw me, and yet someone else entirely. I turned to face Chloe, whose face was now a furious shade of green, and provocatively licked my lips. “See? That’s ‘purely platonic.’” “As for you two? What the hell do you two think you are?” With that, I didn’t look at them again and walked straight out of the infirmary. I knew my actions today had completely shattered Liam’s plans. The show had only just begun.
Back home, I locked myself in my room and began to calmly strategize my next move. Since fate had given me a second chance, I would not repeat my past mistakes. The championship, Liam – I wanted both. Oh wait, no, Liam could go to hell. That kind of scum wasn’t even worth my spit. What I wanted was to ruin his reputation, to leave him with nothing. My phone rang. It was Liam. I hung up immediately and blocked his number. He probably wanted to interrogate me, or warn me. Pointless. The current me had no desire to waste another word on him. Soon after, there was a knock on my door. It was Chloe. “Stella, are you there? Can I come in and talk to you?” Her voice sounded wronged, on the verge of tears. I opened the door. She stood there, red-eyed, like a bullied little rabbit. “Stella, I know you’ve misunderstood Liam and me. There’s really nothing going on between us.” “Please don’t be mad. If you hate me, I… I just won’t see him anymore.” As she spoke, tears streamed down her face, one by one, hitting my heart and splashing a cold surge of disgust. In my previous life, she used this same pitiful act to deceive everyone, including me. I stepped aside, letting her in. She sat on the edge of my bed, watching me cautiously. “Stella, are you… did you find something out?” I didn’t speak, just stared at her. My gaze made her uneasy; she clutched the hem of her clothes. “Stella, don’t look at me like that, you’re scaring me.” “Scared?” I finally spoke. “Were you scared when you were seducing my fiancé behind my back?” “Were you scared when you instigated him to break my fingers and destroy my career?” “Were you scared when you watched me die, took everything from me, and basked in glory that wasn’t yours?” With each sentence I uttered, Chloe’s face grew paler. By the end, all color drained from her face, and she trembled like a leaf in an autumn wind. “You… how do you know…” “I know much more than you can imagine.” I leaned closer, my voice low and menacing. “Chloe, I’m warning you, stay away from Liam.” “Otherwise, I won’t hesitate to let you experience the torment I suffered in my past life.” Fear bloomed in her eyes. She finally dropped the act, the fragility in her gaze replaced by venomous hatred. “Stella, who do you think you are? You’re just a nobody! A waste who can’t even hold a rifle steady!” “Liam loves me! He got sick of you ages ago! If it weren’t for…” She stopped abruptly mid-sentence. For what? Because of that damn link between Liam and me? The reason he never completely cut ties with me was that my pain would affect him. So, he needed Chloe to do all his dirty work on the outside while he hid behind her, playing the innocent victim. What a brilliant plan. “Get out.” I pointed to the door, my voice cold as ice. Chloe wanted to say more, but my terrifying gaze made her back down. She stumbled out of the room. I knew she would run straight to Liam to complain. That was fine. The bait was set, and the fish were starting to bite.
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