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Chapter 53 — Calibration
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2026-06-08 07:35:13Maya first noticed Eli watching her because he was good enough not to look like he was watching.
That was the problem.
Most people watched badly. They stared when worried, glanced away when guilty, and did that tiny little eyebrow flick when they were pretending not to listen. Aaron might as well have come with subtitles. Nora could hide concern but not irritation. Sam’s anxiety made him audit the room with his entire face.
Eli did none of that. He did not stare. He did n
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