Reborn at Eighteen The Billionaire's Second Chance novel Chapter 145

Chapter 145

Elara

I took the exam with hands that wanted to shake but didn’t. The final

problem was dense–a multi–variable calculus question involving

partial derivatives and Lagrange multipliers. It required setting up a

complex model and solving for optimal values under constraints. The

kind of problem that would stump most high school students.

Victoria was smirking. “There’s no way you can solve this. Last year’s

correct response rate was only twelve percent at Phillips Exeter.”

Tristan leaned against the desk, arms crossed, his expression cold and

expectant. “Begin, Miss Vance. Let’s see if you’re truly capable, or if

you’re simply an opportunistic fraud.”

I ignored him and focused on the paper. My mind shifted into the

analytical space I’d been inhabiting for the past week–the place

where formulas made sense, where logic flowed clean and pure.

I’d taken advanced mathematics in college during my previous life.

The rebirth had left me with clearer recall and deeper understanding

of the underlying principles. I could see the solution path

immediately:

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Chapter 145

1. Construct the Lagrangian function
2. Calculate partial derivatives and set them to zero
3. Solve the system of equations
4. Verify second–order conditions

My hand moved across the paper, formulas unfolding in neat rows. I

was dimly aware of the teachers clustering around me, their expressions shifting from skepticism to surprise. Tristan remained by the window, his face unreadable, but his eyes had gone sharp and

focused.

Two minutes later, I set down my pencil and looked up. “Done.”

The silence that followed was absolute.

Tristan and the teachers stared at me as if I’d performed a magic

trick. Most students needed five minutes just to parse the problem

statement.

Dr. Pemberton picked up my work, scanning it with increasing

intensity. His expression transformed from doubt to shock.

“This…” he murmured. “The solution is elegant. She used vector

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Chapter 145

methods to simplify the algebra–more efficient than the standard

approach in the answer key.”

Mrs. Caldwell leaned over his shoulder, her eyes widening. “I taught

at Columbia for fifteen years. I rarely saw high school students think

to use this technique.”

Tristan crossed to the desk and took the paper. He studied it in

silence, his jaw tightening almost imperceptibly.

Victoria made a strangled sound of protest. “Maybe she looked up the

answer beforehand!”

Tristan shook his head slowly, his voice flat. “No. Her method differs

entirely from the Phillips Exeter official solution. This is her own

work.”

He set the paper down and looked at me. His expression was

inscrutable, but something flickered in his eyes–recognition,

perhaps, or reassessment.

“It seems I underestimated you, Miss Vance.”

Dr. Pemberton straightened, his face coloring slightly. “Miss Vance, I

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