I Do Mind

Bennett reached across the table, his movements smooth and practiced. He slid a glazed ceramic dish right in front of Blair. It was honey-garlic chicken wings, Serena’s favorite.

"These are great," Bennett said, flashing a bright, encouraging smile. "Give them a try, Blair."

Blair stared down at the glistening meat.

The System chimed in her mind. *[Bennett placed Serena's favorite dish in front of you. In your past life, you hated this food but forced it down anyway to please them. You spent the rest of the night doubled over with stomach cramps in the freezing guest room. Your obvious misery at the dinner table only made the Vance family resent you more.]*

Hearing the robotic voice echo in her skull made Blair feel foolish for her past desperation. Serena pulled this specific trick at almost every meal, using food to mark her territory and test boundaries. Back then, Blair had been too naive, too hungry for their approval. She fell into the trap time and time again.

She studied the chicken wings. She did not despise the taste, but the mere sight of them dragged up memories of cold nights and agonizing pain. She refused to repeat the agonizing mistakes of her past life. Pushing her own comfort aside for these people was a habit she intended to break tonight.

"I think I will pass," Blair said. Her voice rang out clear, carrying a sharp edge that sliced right through the dining room chatter.

The entire table froze. The light clinking of silverware ceased.

Bennett blinked, his hand still hovering over the table. He was the first to realize Blair was not just refusing the food; she was firing back at Miriam’s earlier backhanded comment about Serena’s shyness.

The mood around the mahogany table soured instantly. Cody and Rhonda exchanged a panicked, furious look. Their golden ticket was slipping away.

Cody leaned forward, his face twisting into a nasty sneer. "Have you lost your mind?" he snapped. He needed the Vances to stay happy so he could get his luxury car. He needed that car to pick up girls. He would not let this ungrateful brat ruin his payout.

Rhonda forced her facial features into a tight, strained mask. She leaned closer to Blair, her voice a low hiss. "Watch your mouth, Blair. She is your sister. Stop acting so jealous." Rhonda’s hands trembled under the table. If they were not sitting in a mansion surrounded by rich people, she would have slapped the insolence right out of the girl.

The five Vances stared at Blair, their expressions mirroring each other's grim disapproval. Discovering their biological daughter had grown up in the slums was humiliating enough. Watching her stir up drama before she even spent a single night under their roof was infuriating.

Blair did not need the System to decode their glares. A faint, chilling smile touched the corners of her lips as she scanned the room. She owed none of them her humility. Begging and groveling had earned her a miserable death. Putting herself first was her only rule now.

She reached out and shoved the plate of chicken wings away. The porcelain scraped loudly against the wood.

"Mom adores Serena, and Serena adores this home," Blair said. Her tone remained soft, flat, and chillingly devoid of emotion. "So why did you even bother bringing me back?"

She leaned back in her chair, letting the silence stretch before delivering the final blow. "You should have just paid the Haskinses to keep me. Or better yet, tell your friends your real daughter died. You searched around, found an orphan, and decided to adopt me out of the goodness of your hearts. Would that not make things so much easier for all of you?"

"Enough! How dare you speak to us like that?" Conrad roared.

The patriarch’s temper ignited like dry brush. A seasoned, ruthless businessman, Conrad was accustomed to strict control. He commanded respect in the boardroom and demanded blind obedience at the dinner table. Blair’s sheer audacity disgusted him.

Blair looked at the familiar rage contorting his features. She felt nothing. The instinct to cower was gone, replaced by a cold detachment. She tilted her head slightly. "Just stating facts."

Her casual dismissal of his authority pushed Conrad over the edge. He slammed his heavy palm flat against the table.

The booming sound echoed off the high ceiling. The crystal water glasses shook. Conrad had raised three children and had never lost his temper like this.

Serena felt a sudden, wicked thrill bloom in her chest. *They despise her. They will throw her out tonight.* But Serena knew exactly how to play her role. She jumped up, her eyes wide and innocent, and grabbed Conrad’s arm. "Dad, please! Blair is just overwhelmed. Do not yell at her. She will end up hating us!"

Conrad glared at the rebellious teenager sitting across from him. He had never felt so disrespected in his own home. "If you hate it here so much, then leave!"

He expected tears. He expected her to shatter, to beg for forgiveness. Instead, he met Blair’s gaze.

Her light, narrow eyes were stripped of any makeup. They held a raw, chilling magnetism. There was no anger in them. No jealousy. Just a dead, empty expectation. She had seen his rejection coming from a mile away.

That knowing look hit Conrad like a bucket of ice water. The fury drained from his chest, leaving behind a sudden, jarring whiplash of profound guilt. He choked on his next breath.

"Kid..." Conrad’s voice cracked, softening drastically. "What is really bothering you? Speak your mind. We are your family."

Blair blinked, genuinely caught off guard. This sudden pivot took her by surprise.

Her visible confusion twisted the knife of guilt deeper into Conrad’s gut. The realization hit him hard. She grew up in a rough home. She was sensitive. She had just watched them fawn over Serena while ignoring her very existence. Of course she lashed out.

Blair took a slow breath, grounding herself. She remembered her past life. It took her months of groveling to get Conrad to speak to her this gently. When she finally accepted her place as the shadow daughter, he had patted her shoulder and called her a good sister. She had swallowed her pride for a crumb of validation.

Now, on her very first night, the meal was not even over, and Conrad was already backing down. It took everything in her not to laugh at the absurdity of it all.

Her intense, silent stare made Conrad and the Vance brothers shift uncomfortably in their seats. Under the weight of her gaze, they suddenly felt like terrible people.

Blair snapped out of her thoughts. *Focus on changing your fate. Do not get distracted.*

She sat up straighter and locked eyes with Conrad. Her demands were painfully straightforward.

"Miles had to borrow these clothes from a neighbor because I had nothing to wear," Blair said, her voice steady. "I want new ones tomorrow so we can return them. I also refuse to sleep in that freezing guest room."

She pointed a slender finger at the plate still resting near the center of the table. "And Bennett, those wings are great. You eat them."

With that, she casually picked up her fork and resumed eating.

Conrad sat frozen. He braced himself for a screaming match, a demand for money, or a vicious attack on Serena. Instead, she asked for basic clothing and a warm bed. He sensed something very wrong. He looked around the table. Miriam refused to meet his eye. Serena stared down at her lap. Even Miles looked away, chewing his lip.

Conrad’s gaze dropped to the oversized, simple fabric draping Blair’s shoulders. It was miles away from Serena’s designer wardrobe. The horrifying truth crashed down on him.