Reborn at Eighteen The Billionaire's Second Chance novel Chapter 176

Reborn at Eighteen: The Billionaire’s Second …

Chapter 176

Elara

Several nearby competitors glanced at her with sympathy, but no one

moved to help. After all, we were all competitors. Most people had

brought supplies they were comfortable with and wouldn’t want to

lend out, especially not right before a major competition.

I hesitated, my rational mind telling me to stay focused on my own

preparation. But watching her kneel there in despair, I couldn’t help remembering what it felt like to be helpless and alone with no one

willing to help.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I stood up and walked over to her.

I crouched down beside her and said quietly, “Let me see.”

She looked up, her eyes red–rimmed. “You’re-”

“Elara. Elara Vance.” I picked up one of the soaked brushes and

examined it carefully. “Turpentine is damaging to natural bristles, but

if we act quickly, we might be able to save some of them. Do you have

tissues?”

She fumbled in her bag and pulled out a packet. I took it, then

Chapter 176

retrieved a small bottle of brush cleaner and a brush comb from my

own supply kit. I’d worked at an art supply store before and learned

proper brush maintenance. I began carefully cleaning the first brush

-blotting excess turpentine with tissue, working in the cleaner with

gentle pressure, then using the comb to reshape the bristles.

“You’re really good at this,” the girl said, watching intently.

“I have helped my teacher deal with these before,” I said, moving on

to the second brush. “Your brushes are Windsor & Newton

professional series–good quality. We should be able to save several of

them.”

“Thank you so much. I’m Nora,” she said gratefully.

I was working on the third brush when Ethan’s voice cut through the

quiet focus. “Miss Vance, what exactly are you doing?”

I didn’t look up. “Helping her clean her brushes. She spilled

turpentine.”

Ethan walked around to stand in front of us, looking down with an

expression of calculated skepticism. “How thoughtful. Though I’m

curious–why would you help a competitor? You’re not trying to sabotage her brushes so she’ll perform poorly, are you?”

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His words carried across the room, and I felt other competitors‘

attention snap toward us. The whispers started immediately.

“What’s he saying?”

“Is Vance trying to sabotage someone?”

“I mean, she is touching those brushes…”

Nora jumped to my defense immediately. “No! I spilled the turpentine

myself. Elara’s helping me!”

But Ethan just raised an eyebrow, keeping his gaze fixed on me. “I’m

simply doing my job as an observer, ensuring the competition

remains fair. After all…” He paused meaningfully. “Some people might

use less than honorable methods to eliminate their competition.”

I felt anger and humiliation rise in my throat like bile. This was too

familiar–Victoria constantly twisting my actions into something

malicious, turning every kindness into evidence of manipulation. But

I wasn’t going to panic and over–explain like I used to.

I set down the brush carefully and stood up, meeting Ethan’s gaze

with as much calm as I could muster. “Mr. Holt, I’m just helping. If

you don’t believe me, you can examine these brushes right now and

see if there’s any evidence of deliberate damage.”

Chapter 176

My voice came out steady, but my hands were shaking. I clasped them

behind my back where no one could see.

Ethan held my gaze for a long moment, then picked up the brushes I’d finished cleaning and examined them closely. The bristles were properly shaped, the damage repaired as much as possible. There was clearly no sabotage.

The atmosphere in the room’shifted uncomfortably. Ethan’s

expression flickered with something that might have been

embarrassment before he smoothed it away. He set the brushes down.

“This time, everything appears fine. But Miss Vance, I suggest you

focus your energy on your own preparation. After all…” His gaze

drifted toward where Sloane stood talking with the judges. “The

competition level this year is quite high. You’ll need to bring real skill

to succeed.”

He walked away, leaving me standing there with my heart pounding

and my face hot with suppressed emotion. I realized with a sinking feeling that Ethan’s scrutiny might not be primarily about me at all. His eyes had lingered on Sloane with an intensity that suggested something more personal than professional interest.

I looked across the room at her–perfect Sloane in her designer dress, her hand resting protectively on her pregnant belly, Julian at her side like a devoted sentinel.

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Chapter 176

Why did he pay so much attention to Sloane?

After I finished helping Nora restore her brushes, we exchanged a few

words–brief, careful, the kind of conversation that happens between

people who recognize something familiar in each other’s struggle.

She was from New Jersey, she told me. Middle–class family. Her father

worked as an accountant, her mother as a nurse. She’d been painting

since childhood, pouring every spare moment into her craft, and this

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