Previously, when tempers flared with The Black Rose in the garden restaurant, Astrid was terrified for quite some time after returning to her room. Especially after hearing that The Black Rose had killed someone at the auction, this feeling intensified, making it difficult for her to fall asleep. But who would have thought that the Black Rose in front of her was not the real one at all, just an imposter! The real Black Rose could not possibly show up here! Astrid was so convinced of this that she dared to speak disrespectfully to the rumored "Black Rose," forcing her to open fire. Ever since Kane Warren personally invited her, Ann Vaughn had already guessed he had other motives, and this trip was likely fraught with danger. But a plot laid out in the open is always easier to deal with than a stab in the back, so she came. "Scared?" Ann Vaughn glanced nonchalantly at Astrid, slowly putting on the black lace gloves she had been holding, then picked up the CZ75 pistol on the table, "Does Princess Astrid’s bet stand with everyone?" Kane Warren laughed and said, "It is rare that the lady is willing to grace us with her presence, how could we back out?" "Very well, remember what you said." Ann Vaughn’s red lips curved into a smile as she tried hard to ignore the sweat seeping from her palm, holding the gun toward the shooting range, her bright eyes cold. If she didn’t fire this shot today to prove her identity, these people clearly wouldn’t let her leave easily. Even if they let her leave, on this cruise ship, how could they not find an opportunity to deal with her? The ones watching her in secret hadn’t been caught yet, and now there were a bunch in the open too, making the days before the ship docked unbearable... Ann Vaughn’s slender fingers gradually tightened around the gun, her lips pressed tightly, revealing an almost imperceptible tension. Astrid stood with arms crossed beside her, watching Ann Vaughn maintain her motionless stance, her eyes almost overflowing with ridicule. Even the Black Rose’s own best skill hasn’t been mastered, yet she dares to come out here and impersonate? "Madam, you wouldn’t dare..." Astrid’s taunting words were cut off by a commotion at the entrance. Even Kane Warren and the other two men, who were closely watching Ann Vaughn, all turned to look toward the entrance. Who would have thought that with one look, their eyes almost popped out of their heads. The man walking in from the entrance wore a pure black handcrafted suit, his figure like a bamboo, his face as if carved by gods, exuding noble elegance with every move, like a nobleman from the last century. Close at hand, yet seemingly out of reach. "Mr. Hawthorne actually came too!!" Astrid even forgot what she was about to say to Ann Vaughn, her eyes staring intently at the man’s location, her face turning slightly red, unabashedly revealing her admiration and infatuation. The shooting range was not short of elegant women from various countries, and even just now, they managed to keep their composure in front of Kane Warren and the other two men. But now, they were just shy of letting out less-than-elegant screams. "Mr. Hawthorne," Kane Warren changed his previously aggressive probing face, beaming as he approached Cyrus Hawthorne, speaking fluently in S Country’s language: "It’s great that you could come." Heaven knows he almost wore his tongue out trying to invite this man, yet he wouldn’t even deign to give a reply. But not only did Kane Warren not feel angry, he felt immensely honored that Cyrus Hawthorne deigned to grace them with his presence. Of course, Kane Warren wasn’t the only one with such thoughts, but not everyone dared to talk to him like Kane did. Cyrus Hawthorne gave a slight nod, his narrow eyes calm, "Nothing better to do, so I came to have a look." "There’s a saying in S Country, that timing is everything," Kane Warren gestured toward Ann Vaughn, smiling: "Lady Locke of the Black Rose is practicing her shooting with us, would Mr. Hawthorne be interested in taking a look?" The name of The Black Rose came with blood, and her nature with doom; whenever her name was mentioned, most people would pale in fear. Did these pampered scions really have the guts to practice with her? Cyrus Hawthorne was slightly intrigued, his narrow eyes lifting, gazing toward the silhouette not far away. Who could have guessed that the woman in the black dress, wearing a tilted black hat, would turn around just in time to meet Cyrus Hawthorne’s deep eyes, making her hand holding the gun freeze. For origınal chapters go to 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝✶𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖✶𝕟𝕖𝕥 —Why is Cyrus Hawthorne on this cruise?! Meanwhile, Cyrus’s ink-dark eyes, slightly interested, slowly narrowed, locking unwaveringly onto that faded little woman, with hidden undercurrents beginning to surge in his gaze. Ann Vaughn still held on to a glimmer of hope, thinking that with her made-up look so different from her original appearance, Cyrus Hawthorne might not recognize her. But when she saw the man’s eyes suddenly turn cold, she knew she was busted. Astrid, with her attention always on Cyrus Hawthorne, couldn’t help but notice that he had been watching Ann Vaughn all along. A disfigured woman, what’s so special about her?! "Has the lady forgotten how to shoot?!" Astrid’s voice suddenly raised, her eyes glaring at Ann Vaughn, "Or does the lady not know how to shoot at all!" Astrid’s words brought everyone’s attention back, and they recalled that so far, Ann Vaughn hadn’t fired a single shot. It was so unlike what one would expect from the rumored Black Rose... Ann Vaughn, feeling guilty, was startled by the sudden shrill squawking sound, composed herself, then turned to look at Astrid. Seeing her face mixed with jealousy and unwillingness. Ann Vaughn couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, sensing something as she looked at Cyrus Hawthorne walking towards her, suddenly understanding where Astrid’s jealousy came from. "What’s Princess Astrid in such a hurry for?" Ann Vaughn put down the gun in her hand, and as Cyrus Hawthorne stepped beside her, her slender hand suddenly grabbed his tie, tiptoeing up. The abruptly shortened distance allowed Ann Vaughn to see the thin anger in Cyrus Hawthorne’s narrow eyes all the clearer. Her little heart trembled, disregarding everything else, the graceful arc of her swan neck lifting, and her red lips pressed against his slightly cool lips. The sounds of gasping filled the room immediately, accompanied by cries of "no" in refusal. Astrid, monitoring Ann Vaughn to prevent her from cheating, chose the closest position to watch her shoot. However, before making this decision, Astrid never expected it would turn into a VIP seat to witnessing this dramatic scene!! She wished she could rush up and tear Ann Vaughn from Cyrus Hawthorne’s embrace, give her a few slaps to vent her anger! That bitch dared to touch the man she had her eyes on— Onlookers’ thoughts shifted rapidly; if Astrid wished for Ann Vaughn’s immediate demise, Kane Warren wished for nothing but to jump into the sea himself. The moment Ann Vaughn kissed him and Cyrus Hawthorne didn’t push her away, Kane Warren knew they clearly had a deep connection!