Russian roulette survival scenario
That loaded gun meant for Russian roulette is the only reason she didn't end up dead by the assassin's bullet. Without that weapon in her hand, the shooter would have succeeded immediately. Yet if the assassin never showed up to try and kill her, she was already set to commit suicide with that same gun. The two deadly forces effectively neutralized each other in a twist where the attempt on her life prevented death by the game while the game itself stopped the assassination from working. It really comes down to a choice between being shot by an outsider or shooting yourself, and the whole outcome relies entirely on the presence of that loaded gun plus the assassin's intervention.
