Fake Dating My Ex's Hockey Star Brother (Maya Scott) novel Chapter 130

KATY’S POV

END OF SPRING SEMESTER

“No matter what happens, you’re already my winner,” Braydon whispers.

I smile at him, tightening my grip on his hand like I might float away if I let go.

The auditorium settles into heavy silence as if the hundreds of people sitting here are holding their breath at once. The President of Blackrock, Daniel Royce, is standing at the podium, his voice echoing off the high ceiling, but I barely hear him. All I can focus on is the way my heart is pounding so hard it feels loud in my ears, and like everyone else can hear it too.

For the entire spring semester, I’ve lived and breathed my product. I spent late nights hunched over my laptop, and my free time in class working on it. I’ve rewritten notes and cried over them. I obsessed over every detail, tore things apart, put them back together, then doubted myself all over again. Somehow, I made it to the end.

Maria was a lifesaver. She was patient, and always two steps ahead when I started spiraling. I honestly don’t know what I would’ve done without her. The same goes for Braydon, Justin, and Allie, who survived my stress-induced tantrums, unreasonable demands, and moments where I swore I was quitting for good. They never let me.

I should probably thank my mental health too for hanging on when I nearly lost it. There were days I cried over things that didn’t matter, nights I stared at the ceiling convinced I’d ruined everything. I’m happy all that is over.

And now I’m here with the remaining fifty, waiting to find out who’s about to walk away with one million dollars.

Strangely, I’m calmer than I was at the ACE Gala. I’m still nervous but more at peace with whatever the outcome is. I’ve already won in ways I didn’t even let myself imagine back then. I’m proud of how far I’ve come. Proud that I turned an idea into something real. Proud that I earned a provisional patent for a product I built myself. That alone feels unreal, in the best way.

I’m proud of everyone who made it this far too. And yes, that includes Zhao Lan. No, he hasn’t changed, if you’re wondering, but I refuse to let his attitude or constant negativity take up space in my head. If he wins today, he deserves it. This isn’t easy, and I’ll congratulate him honestly.

My only real regret is that not everyone who helped me get here is in this room. We’re only allowed one plus-one, and I chose Braydon. Allie and Justin are probably glued to the livestream, same with Luke, Lucy, Maria and everyone watching, everyone rooting for me from wherever they are.

“He’s about to call the winner,” Braydon says, his voice cutting through my thoughts.

My attention snaps back to the stage and my fingers twist into the fabric of my dress.

“The winning product,” Daniel Royce announces, “is deceptively simple.”

Oh God. My heart starts racing all over again. Can he just say it?

“It’s a strip.”

I stop breathing.

Oh my God.

“A small, intelligent indicator that adheres to fruits and visually shows their stages of ripening.” Braydon is talking to me now, but I can’t hear a word. Everything feels distant, like I’ve floated a few inches out of my body. “It tells you what the skin of a fruit can’t always reveal-whether it’s ripe, overripe, or already spoiled beneath the surface.”

A murmur rolls through the auditorium and tears start to sting the back of my eyes.

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