Chapter 144: Chapter 144 Blindfold

Lana stepped forward, the soft click of her heels echoing across the suddenly quiet space. The crowd instinctively parted for her, their murmurs dying as they watched her graceful figure move toward the dartboard. her expression unreadable, but not a hint of fear flickered in her sharp green eyes.

She turned to face them all, then slowly placed the red apple atop her head with elegant ease, standing perfectly still before the board like she belonged there. The contrast between her poised frame and the heavy silence in the room made the air feel electric. Every camera in the room now pointed at her.

This wasn’t just a model standing for a stunt—this was Lana, the most promising up-and-coming name in the modeling world.

If Liam messed this up… even by an inch…

He could ruin her face—and end her entire career.

Everyone knew it. Every onlooker held their breath, not even daring to blink.

But Liam?

He didn’t even flinch.

With a relaxed, almost lazy motion, he walked toward the table and picked up a dart. He didn’t examine it. Didn’t test its balance. Didn’t aim or line up his shot. He simply flicked his wrist casually—like tossing a coin into a jar from across the room.

The dart flew.

Thock.

Right through the center of the apple.

Clean hit.

Lana didn’t blink. Not even a twitch. Not even the slightest flinch of her brow.

Liam stared at her, just a little surprised.

She didn’t even bat an eye…

He expected trust, yes—but this? This was something more. Real courage. Faith in him so solid, it was damn near unshakable.

The crowd gasped, then instantly exploded into wild cheers. Relief flooded the room like a wave. The tension shattered in seconds, replaced with booming claps and whistles. People who’d just been biting their nails now screamed his name like he was a rockstar.

He turned slightly, giving Lana a brief nod. She returned it calmly, stepping back into the crowd with that same confident stride.

Ray, standing with his arms folded, sneered.

The noise didn’t bother him. He wasn’t done.

He picked up two darts this time. His fingers spun them smoothly as Zoe stepped forward again. She placed the second apple on her head and turned to face the crowd, her smile wide, playing up her role like she was on a fashion runway. Her heels clicked against the floor as she stood before the dartboard again, twisting her body just slightly to show off her figure.

Ray didn’t show it, but he was focused. Deadly focused.

And then he threw.

Whip. Thock. Thock.

Two darts. Perfect shot. The apple dropped.

Another cheer roared out.

Ray turned to the crowd, arms stretched wide, soaking it in.

Liam, calm as ever, simply watched. But his eyes narrowed subtly. The precision was there, but he noticed again—the faint tremble in Zoe’s right hand. It wasn’t from excitement. It wasn’t from joy.

It was fear.

She was smiling, yes. Putting on a good face. But her hands were giving her away.

She didn’t trust Ray like Lana trusted him. That subtle difference told Liam all he needed to know.

Now it was their turn again.

Liam walked toward Lana as she stepped back into position. The room went silent once more, a hush falling over them like a spell. Liam picked up two darts, pausing only for a second as he glanced at Lana.

He knew he could throw three. Easily.

But anything more than two, and the margin of error increased. It didn’t matter how confident he was—this wasn’t just a game anymore. He wasn’t about to gamble with her face. Her career. Her pride.

So he threw only two.

And both darts hit the apple cleanly, knocking it backward with a satisfying thunk.

Once again, the crowd erupted.

Ray clapped slowly this time. A single smile curling at the edge of his lips.

“You’re good,” he said. “I’ll give you that.”

Liam didn’t answer. He was still watching Ray, reading him, waiting for the next move.

“But…” Ray continued, his voice now carrying a subtle edge, “if we keep doing this, we won’t get a winner. Just a long, boring back-and-forth.”

Liam raised an eyebrow slightly. “So what do you suggest?”

Ray’s smile widened.

“A blindfold.”

The words dropped into the room like thunder.

Even Liam was taken aback for a second.

Blindfolded?

He’d seen people try it in videos—trick shots and flashy moves—but this was real. A real apple. A real face. Real risk.

The crowd murmured nervously. A few gasped outright. Even Ray’s friends shifted uncomfortably. It was one thing to throw darts with showy confidence. But to do it blind?

That was something else entirely.

Liam gave Ray a hard look. “Are you serious?”

Ray shrugged, all smug confidence. “Scared?”

Liam didn’t reply.

Ray turned to Zoe. “Do you trust me?” he asked, loud enough for everyone to hear.

Zoe looked at him, still smiling, and nodded without hesitation.

Ray turned back, holding out a folded piece of black cloth. His eyes locked with Liam’s as he slipped it over his head and pulled it down, covering his eyes completely.

And as he stood there, blindfolded and ready, the room fell into a deeper silence than ever before.

Ray held his breath, the blindfold snug over his eyes, a dart poised between his fingers. The crowd leaned in closer, eyes wide and unblinking, eager to witness the grand climax of this insane showdown. But just as Ray’s muscles tensed to release the dart—

“Wait.”

Liam’s voice cut through the room like a blade.

Ray’s entire body froze. His head snapped slightly in Liam’s direction, jaw clenched tight in clear irritation.

“What now?” he asked, his tone barely polite.

Liam stepped forward calmly, a slight smirk on his lips as he casually plucked the blindfold from Ray’s face. “I go first,” he said coolly. “Wouldn’t want to make it too easy for you.”

Ray blinked, visibly annoyed, but said nothing. He stepped aside reluctantly, muttering under his breath. The crowd murmured again, intrigued by Liam’s sudden move.

Liam turned to Lana and gave her a subtle nod. Without a word, she stepped back into position in front of the dartboard, lifting another apple and placing it firmly on her head. Her posture was steady—her trust in him now completely unshaken.

Then Liam tied the blindfold over his eyes.

Darkness.

He expected to see nothing. He expected to rely on pure memory, instinct, and muscle control.

But then—

Ding!

System Alert: [Obstruction Detected]

[Adjusting Vision…]

[Adjustment Complete]

Liam almost staggered back.

What the hell…?

The world before him, though blindfolded, suddenly flickered to life in a monochrome display. It wasn’t normal vision—it was like he’d stepped into a digital black-and-white simulation. Every object, every person was outlined in glowing, smooth shades of white and gray.

He could see.

Not with his eyes, but through the system’s assistance. Lana stood directly ahead, calm and confident. The apple on her head was highlighted in a bright white glow, and a floating target locked around it.

This is insane, Liam thought. It’s like cheat mode.

He picked up the dart silently, the weight of it light in his hand. Everyone around him held their breath, waiting.

Then he threw.

The dart whistled through the air.

And in that moment—it felt like time itself slowed. People watched, stunned, as the dart traveled in a flawless arc, slicing through the air with precision no human could ever hope to match—

Thock!

Dead center.

The apple flew off Lana’s head and bounced once on the ground before rolling gently to the side.

The silence that followed lasted barely a second—before the entire room erupted into wild applause.

“HE DID IT!”

“NO WAY!”

“THAT WAS FREAKING PERFECT!”

The cheers came from all sides, louder than before. People rose to their feet, screaming, clapping, whistling. A few even banged on the tables, unable to hold back their awe.

Lana bent down, picked up the fallen apple, and tossed it casually into a nearby trashcan.

Liam approached her with a faint frown, lifting the blindfold from his face as he asked, “Why’d you throw it away?”

She blinked, surprised. “Huh?”

“That apple. You know how much that would go for online? A perfect bullseye blindfolded? Could’ve auctioned it.”

Lana almost choked on her breath. She stared at him, then suddenly burst out laughing.

“You just bet a hundred grand with someone you barely know,” she said, wiping a tear from her eye, “and you’re worried about a two-dollar apple?” Even she doesn’t have more than 50k in her bank which was actually alot.

Liam raised a brow, completely serious. “Two dollars now. Two million later.”

Lana shook her head, still laughing as she stepped aside.

And just then, Zoe walked past them with a sweet smile, holding another apple in her hand. She didn’t say anything—just smiled and moved gracefully into position.

Liam and Lana stepped out of the way as Ray returned to center stage.

This time, no delays.

Ray took the blindfold from the table and tied it around his eyes without fanfare. He reached out, grabbed the dart, spun it once between his fingers, and faced forward.

Zoe stood tall, her back straight and smile in place. But Liam’s eyes locked on her again.

That smile was a mask.

Her hands trembled slightly at her sides. The moment the blindfold covered Ray’s eyes, her lips thinned with tension.

Ray raised his arm.

Liam’s system instantly flickered.

Ding!

Trajectory Detected

Analyzing…

Dart Path Projection: Incomplete

Target: Apple (81% Accuracy)

Deviation Detected: 19% Drift Left

The system recalculated again as Ray’s fingers loosened.

New Path Analyzed.

WARNING!

Projected Impact: 3.2 cm LEFT of apple center

Predicted Strike: LEFT EYE — LETHAL RISK!

Liam’s heart jumped.

He stepped forward instinctively.

The dart had already left Ray’s hand, flying through the air. Everyone in the room leaned forward, breath held. The angle was wrong—Liam saw it before anyone else.

Too low. Too far left.

The difference was small—barely noticeable to the naked eye—but to Liam, it was glaringly obvious. It didn’t have the same sharp trajectory as Ray’s earlier throws.

It was dipping.

The dart curved slightly downward as it flew, heading not toward the apple—but dangerously close to Zoe’s face.

Ray, still blindfolded, remained completely unaware.

Liam’s system flashed warnings across his vision.

[CRITICAL ERROR IN THROW]

[TRAJECTORY WILL RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY]

Zoe’s expression faltered just a little—her smile dropped for the briefest second as she felt the shift in wind approaching her.

The crowd, so used to cheering after each throw, held back this time. Something was off. Everyone could feel it.

The silence was louder than the cheers had ever been.

And the dart was still flying.

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