“Looking forward to facing you at the competition, Selene!” someone called out with a teasing grin.
“If you end up dead last, now that would be interesting,” Wyatt–the guy with the thick black–rimmed glasses–added with a scoff.
“The ALI Math Competition doesn’t ban working adults, so plenty of people just hand in blank answer sheets. Every year, there’s a whole block of zeros on the rankings, and the organizers publish everyone’s name and affiliation. Better brace yourself for that, Selene!”
Selene just kept smiling, unfazed. “Tell you what–if I rank higher than you, you’ll have to wear a T–shirt all week that says, ‘I ranked XX places below Selene in the ALI Math Competition.‘ How’s that for a deal?”
For students living in the ivory tower of Capital University, this was about as humiliating as it got. He’d have to walk around campus all week, advertising his defeat.
Wyatt bristled, straightening his glasses. “Fine! But listen, I’m not even asking you to beat me. If you don’t make the top 200, you’re banned from joining our study group at Professor Shaw’s house!”
“Wyatt, she can solve three of the hardest problems in under an hour…” another student tried to reason with him.
“So what? Anyone can fill out a test! At the competition, you have to write your solutions in LaTeX. Has she ever even used it in college?” Wyatt shot back.
The other students tried to calm him down, but Wyatt just slumped into his seat, muttering, “A housewife entering a math competition–what a waste of everyone’s
time.”
Selene blocked out the contempt around her, eyes fixed on her paper. Their scorn couldn’t hurt her; she knew the path she was walking was never easy
But once, she’d climbed to the very summit of this path.
Now, she was simply determined to reclaim her place at the top.
Time slipped by unnoticed as Selene worked. After conquering a particularly tough problem, her heart was full and steady. She let out a long breath and finally looked up, just in time to see Adrian carefully scoop up Daph, who’d fallen asleep.
Selene started to rise, but Adrian silently mouthed, “I’ll take her inside.
She watched as Adrian carried Daph into Theodore’s room.
Theodore was already up–no way he’d stay in bed when he wasn’t actually sick.
Adrian gently laid Daph on the edge of the bed, pulled a blanket over her, and tucked her in with practiced care.
Theodore glanced at Daph, sleeping so soundly, and the sharp words he’d meant for Adrian turned into a sardonic drawl: “You sure fuss over that kid. What’s got you auditioning for father of the year?”
Adrian crouched next to Daph and, leaning close to her ear, whispered a little mantra: “Daddy’s the meanie, Mr. Shaw’s the best! Daddy’s the meanie, Mr. Shaw’s the best!”
A vein pulsed visibly on Theodore’s temple. Grabbing his cane, he looked two seconds away from taking a swing at Adrian.
By nine that evening, the Capital University students were saying their goodbyes to Theodore.
Selene lingered a moment to tell.Theodore about signing up for the ALI Math Competition.
With his hands clasped behind his back, Theodore shot his son a sideways glance, then gave a gruff snort through his nose. His voice was as stiff as ever.
“Fine. Come here every day and practice with me until the competition. I taught you myself–don’t embarrass me out there!”
Selene’s eyes lit up, a smile sparkling like starlight. “Thank you, Professor.” She gave Theodore a deep, grateful bow.
After she left, Theodore turned to Selene’s exam papers, poring over them again and again. He let out a long, weary sigh, tears slipping down his weat‘ red cheeks. Adrian carried Daph as he walked Selene out of the house.
“I’ll drive you two home,” he offered, seeing Selene juggling a sleeping child.
“That’s all right,” Selene replied. “My big brother’s picking us up.”
Adrian blinked in surprise just as a military–green SUV pulled up outside.
Chapter 40
The window rolled down, revealing a face as chiseled and striking as a sculpture–Luke Holloway, Selene’s foster brother.
Adrian’s gaze turned cold at the sight.
