Chapter 8: Million-Dollar Bet

Grant Cooper had his own tragic backstory—mom was a CEO, feelings were inefficiency, dad left for Switzerland with a mistress.

Grant rebelled by tanking his grades, just to get under his mom’s skin. After I started tutoring him, he only got worse—sleeping through lessons, blasting music, doodling Pikachu on his tests.

I teased him: "Nice Pikachu, but unless it can solve for x, you’re screwed."

Three weeks later, monthly exams. Mrs. Cooper called me—her voice like an ice bath. "One million has been deposited. Don’t disappoint me."

My phone buzzed. I checked the app and nearly dropped it. That was more zeroes than I’d ever seen.

Grant was puzzled. "Didn’t you see my score? Three points total. Didn’t my mom threaten you?"

I smirked. "I made a bet. I told her you’re not fooling anyone. I know you could ace these tests in your sleep. You tanked the exam just to annoy her. The bet was a million. I won."

He stared, the mask slipping. "How did you know—"

"Come on, Grant. Your rebellion is just a kid’s tantrum. If you really want to win, beat her at her own game."

Then I raised the stakes. "I bet her you can’t beat my score in three months. If I win, I get three million—enough to save my mom."

He smiled for real, the first time I’d seen it. "You’re definitely going to lose. Want to bet on it?"

I smiled, but my stomach twisted. Winning meant everything. Losing wasn’t an option.