An Arrogant Young Champion Mocked a Silver-Haired Woman until Her Real Name Was Revealed
Previously: When 28-year-old Leo mocked 66-year-old Martha at the shooting range, he thought she was just a lost grandmother. But when she signed her name, the head official fell to his knees in shock.
The Ghost of the Past
Arthur stared at the signature as if it were written in blood. The name on the paper was Martha Vance. To the younger generation, it meant nothing, but to Arthur and the history of the sport, it was the name of a titan. Thirty years ago, Martha had been an Olympic-bound prodigy, a woman who broke every shooting record in the country. Then, on the eve of her greatest triumph, she had vanished without a trace, leaving behind whispered rumors of scandal and betrayal.
Leo, recovering from his initial shock, stepped forward with a scowl. He couldn't let an old woman upstage him in front of his sponsors.
"So what if she can shoot a straight line, Arthur?" Leo sneered. "She’s a relic. She doesn't have the stamina for a real tournament. It was a fluke."
Arthur turned on Leo, his eyes flashing with a rare, fierce anger.
"Shut your mouth, Leo," Arthur commanded. "You are standing in the presence of the greatest marksman this state has ever produced. If she is who I think she is, none of us are safe."
The crowd murmured in astonishment. Martha stood quietly, her expression unreadable. Just then, an older man stepped out from the VIP viewing booth at the back of the range. It was Victor, Leo’s personal coach and a co-founder of the regional league. When Victor saw Martha, his face turned ash-grey. The smug confidence he usually carried vanished instantly.
Martha looked directly at Victor, her voice cold and cutting through the tense air of the room.
"Hello, Victor," Martha said, her voice echoing in the quiet range. "It's been thirty years. I believe you still have something that belongs to me."
The truth began to unravel. Decades ago, Victor had been Martha's teammate. Jealous of her undeniable talent, he had sabotaged her equipment and framed her for a doping violation, forcing her into a shameful, quiet retirement to save his own career. He had built his entire coaching empire on a lie, and now, Martha had returned to reclaim her stolen legacy.
”He had built his entire coaching empire on a lie, and now, Martha had returned to reclaim her stolen legacy.