“Adrian’s company is the primary sponsor. This creates an obvious conflict.”
I stared at her.
“You want their scores challenged because they’re my sons?”
“I want proper procedure.”
Leo laughed.
Ethan said, “This is unbelievable.”
Then Noah spoke.
“Mom, don’t.”
Vanessa turned.
“I said stay out of it.”
“No.”
It was the first time I had ever heard Noah say that word to her with force.
Vanessa froze.
Noah walked closer.
His hands were shaking.
“I already told the tournament director.”
Her face changed.
“Told them what?”
Noah looked at me.
Then Claire.
Then the twins.
“I saw part of the final problem before today.”
Silence.
Vanessa whispered, “Noah.”
He continued.
“My tutor had it.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
“He said it was a practice problem.”
Vanessa grabbed his arm.
“Noah, enough.”
He pulled free.
“I recognized it during the final.”
His eyes filled.
“I left the answer blank.”
I remembered the rankings.
Noah had finished far below Vanessa’s expectations.
Not because he had failed.
Because he had refused to use something he believed was stolen.
Vanessa said through clenched teeth, “You misunderstood.”
“No.”
“I paid for advanced preparation.”
“You paid someone connected to the tournament.”
“I paid professionals.”
“The problem was identical.”
Claire looked at Noah differently now.
So did Leo and Ethan.
I asked, “When did you report it?”
“This morning.”
“You knew before the awards?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Noah’s voice became very quiet.
“Because you always believe her.”
I had no answer.
Footsteps approached.
A tournament administrator came around the corner with two members of the academic integrity committee.
She looked at Vanessa.
“Mrs. Cole, we need to speak with you.”
Vanessa’s face went white.
“This is absurd.”
The administrator remained calm.
“We have documentation showing a contractor employed by one of your private coaching firms accessed restricted preparation material.”
“I don’t know anything about that.”
“We will investigate.”
Vanessa looked at me.
“Adrian, call legal.”
“No.”
She stared.
“What?”
“No.”
“You sponsor this tournament.”
“Which is exactly why I am not interfering.”
“You are going to let them humiliate Noah?”
Noah said, “They’re not humiliating me.”
She turned toward him.
