He Didn’t Kidnap Me. Not Exactly novel Chapter 105

Chapter 105

{Daisy’s POV)

For a moment, I forgot where I was.

My gaze stayed locked on DeLuca, seated among the crowd like he had always belonged there, like this had always been his plan, like none of it was a coincidence. The noise around me blurred into something distant, something secondary, because all I could think was-

He came.

Not just came.

He brought them.

Because this? This was not coincidence. This was not “oh, people randomly decided to attend a math competition today.”

This was him.

Before I could fully sit with that realization, my name was called.

“Contestants, please take your positions.”

I blinked, like my brain had been buffering, inhaled, and forced myself to move. This wasn’t the time to stand there staring like I had just discovered oxygen.

This was the time to not embarrass myself publicly.

We stepped up to our podiums. Six teams stood across the stage, each behind a desk with a buzzer that suddenly looked like it held the power to ruin my life. The judges sat in front with expressions so serious I briefly considered faking a headache and walking out.

The hall felt different now.

Loud.

Too loud.

Like everyone had suddenly remembered math existed and decided to care all at once.

It felt real.

“Each correct answer earns your team a point,” the host announced. “Incorrect answers pass to the next team. Two teams will be eliminated at the end of each round.”

My stomach tightened like it had been waiting for this exact moment to betray me.

Behind us, our lecturer leaned in slightly. “Do not overthink,” he said, his voice unusually serious, which honestly felt suspicious.

“Be quick. Be confident. Trust your brain for once.”

I almost turned to look at him.

For once?

Before I could question that attack on my intelligence, movement at the entrance caught my attention.

Aria.

She slipped in quickly, scanning the room until her eyes found me. She waved and mouthed sorry like she hadn’t just entered at the exact moment my life was about to be decided.

I smiled anyway.

And somehow, that helped. Just a little.

“Let the competition begin.”

The first question appeared.

“Solve: 3x+7=25.”

The buzzer slammed.

Josh.

“x equals six.”

“Correct.”

Of course.

Of course it was him. Why wouldn’t it be him? This was his natural habitat. Or at least, it had been.

The next questions came faster.

“What is 15% of 240?”

Another team buzzed. “Thirty-six.”

“Correct”

“Evaluate: 8-62.”

My hand moved before my self-doubt could stage a protest.

“Twenty-eight.”

“Correct.”

Okay.

Okay, maybe I wouldn’t die here today.

A small spark lit in my chest.

We kept going.

“Find the roots of x2- 5x + 6 = 0.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify