Chapter 39

By the time Sloane Veyre’s team took the stage, the atmosphere in the hall was charged with anticipation. Questions flew fast and sharp, and Ethan handled them like a seasoned pro, his steady answers pushing their team higher and higher up the board. What no one expected was Sloane. She didn’t just keep pace, she dominated. Her responses were crisp, her logic airtight. When the debate portion hit, she dismantled the opposing arguments with calm precision, the kind that made the judges lean in closer and the crowd break into applause. When the scores flashed, their group was number one. That victory put them in the champion’s bracket, facing off against other top groups for a place in the finals. Sloane and Ethan stood shoulder to shoulder, buzzing in almost at the same breath, volleying answers like they’d rehearsed it a hundred times. Whenever they nailed a tough one, Ethan reached out for a quick high-five, and Sloane, grinning with a spark in her eyes, met it without hesitation. Ava