His new stepsister His biggest threat (Claire and Elijah) novel Chapter 191

Chapter 191

Chapter 191

Claire’s POV

Friday morning came too fast.

I woke up with dry, sore eyes and a heavy feeling in my chest that would not go away.

150 is BIG

The fight from last night kept playing in my mind-every word Elijah said, every hurt look on his face, the way the door closed so quietly behind him.

I was angry, confused, and deeply hurt all at once. But I could not let it take over today. I had the relay and the showcase ahead of me. I needed to focus.

I got ready in silence, pulling on comfortable jeans and the school hoodie our team wore for competitions.

Downstairs, Mom was already packing a small cooler with water and snacks,

“Ready for the big day?” she asked with a bright smile when I walked into the kitchen.

“As ready as I’ll be,” I said, forcing my voice to sound normal.

Elijah was there too, sitting at the table with a bowl of oatmeal he had barely touched. He looked like he had not slept much either-dark circles under his eyes, hair still a little messy.

He glanced up when I entered, but we did not speak. Our parents did not seem to notice the tension.

Ethan grabbed his keys. “I’ll drive us all together. Save parking spots.”

The ride to school was quiet. Mom chatted about how proud she was of both of us, but Elijah and I sat on opposite sides of the back seat, staring out our windows.

I could feel him there, just a few feet away, but the distance felt huge.

The auditorium was already filling up when we arrived. Teams set up at tables on the stage, buzzers and name cards ready.

The big screen behind us would show the questions for the audience. Parents/and students filled the seats, talking and laughing.

Our relay team gathered near the front-four of us looking serious and focused.

Jessica spotted me from the audience and waved, holding up a handmade sign that said “Go Claire!” in bright markers. I managed a small wave back.

I saw Elijah’s hockey teammates near the back, wearing their jerseys to show support. Elijah sat with them, arms crossed, eyes on the stage. On me.

Warm-ups started. Sample questions to test the buzzers. My hands were steady, but inside I felt a storm. Every time I looked toward the audience, I found his gaze. He did not smile. Neither did I.

The competition began.

First round against a younger team. We won easily. I answered almost every art and literature question, my voice clear and quick.

The anger inside me turned into something sharp and useful because I wanted to prove I was strong on my own.

Between rounds, Jessica came down to the edge of the stage.

17:57 Fri, Dec 26 JO.

Chapter 191

“You’re on fire,” she whispered, eyes wide. “I’ve never seen you buzz that fast.”

I shrugged. “Just focused.”

She studied my face for a second, like she could sense something was wrong, but she did not ask. “Keep it up. You’ve got

this.”

I nodded and turned back to the table.

Elijah’s eyes were still on me. When our gazes met this time, he looked away first.

Semifinals were tougher. The questions came faster, categories harder. We were tied going into the last few.

A literature question: “Who wrote the novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird”?”

I buzzed in. “Harper Lee.”

Correct.

The crowd cheered. I heard the hockey guys shout loudest.

But I did not look at him.

Then a science question I knew well. My teammate got it.

We advanced to the finals.

The break before the last match was short. Teams reset, moderator welcomed everyone again. The defending champions from last year sat across from us—confident, experienced.

I felt Elijah watching the whole time. It made my skin prickle.

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Finals started strong. We took an early lead. I carried the arts and literature sections again, answering before the moderator even finished reading sometimes.

Midway through, the score was close.

A question about famous paintings: “What artist created ‘The Persistence of Memory, known for its melting clocks?”

I slammed the buzzer. “Salvador Dalí.”

Correct.

We pulled ahead.

The audience applauded. Mom and Ethan cheered from their seats.

But then a history question I hesitated on. The other team stole it.

Tie game.

Tension built, and everyone leaned forward.

Another art question, this one harder. “Name the Renaissance sculptor who created the statue of David in Florence.”

My mind raced, I knew this question. It was Michelangelo.

But my finger hovered a second too long.

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Chapter 191

The other team buzzed. “Michelangelo.”

Correct.

They took the lead by twenty points.

My teammates glanced at me, surprised. I almost never missed art questions.

I felt the heat rise in my cheeks-frustration, disappointment, anger at myself.

And anger at him.

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El 55 youerers

Because every time I looked up, he was there, watching with that same unreadable expression. Like he was waiting for me to fall apart.

A literature question came next. Long and complicated, about symbolism in a classic novel.

I buzzed first and answered it perfectly.

We tied again.

The moderator smiled. “This is exciting, folks. One final question to decide the winner.”

The category: Miscellaneous.

My heart pounded.

The question: “What is the largest planet in our solar system?”

It was simple. Everyone knew the answer.

But my mind flashed back to last night-his words, the hurt, the silence this morning.

My hand froze.

The other team buzzed.

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