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Adam was clearly struggling to keep his anger in check. “So you won’t even do something as simple as washing the dishes?”
I shrugged. “If it’s so simple, you and your sister can do it.”
He finally snapped. “Everyone else is doing their part. You’re just sitting there playing games. Don’t you feel the least bit guilty?”
“Weren’t you the one assigning tasks this whole time?” I finally looked up at him, my face a mask of wide–eyed innocence. “You’re just banking on the fact that everyone else is too polite to say no. Stop with the moral grandstanding. I’m not burdened by a consc-
ience.”
Seeing her brother flustered, Zoe marched over to confront me. “Aria, even if you’re some international superstar, you can’t just throw your weight around like this. You’re not doing a single thing. Are you just going to wait for everyone to cook and serve you a meal?”
Liam, who had been trying to get me to stop, bristled at her accusation. “My sister’s not like that,” he mumbled defensively.
Chapter 1
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throw your weight around like this. You’re not doing a single thing. Are you just going to wait for everyone to cook and serve you a meal?”
Liam, who had been trying to get me to stop, bristled at her accusation. “My sister’s not like that,” he mumbled defensively.
The live–stream audience was in an uproar:
“Aria’s attitude is disgusting.”
“Is she really just going to wait for others to feed her?”
“The Serrano siblings are such drama queens. Ugh!”
Adam took a deep, steadying breath, his patience worn thin. “I’m not obligated to cook for you, either. If you refuse to help, then you can figure out your own lunch.”
“Figure it out ourselves?” Liam panicked, looking at me with wide, desperate eyes. “Aria, I’ve never seen you cook in my life!”
stared back at him. “And can you wash dishes?” Before he could answer, I rolled my eyes. “You can’t even wash your own socks.”
Liam fell silent.
Having delivered his ultimatum, Adam herded the other contestants off to the kitchen. I, meanwhile, stayed comfortably nested on the sofa, resuming my game.
About twenty minutes later, Kiki returned with a basket, looking dejected. “There are fish and chickens out back, but my mom and I
have no idea how to catch them.”
Adam glanced at the sad–looking pile of vegetables in her basket and offered a weak reassurance. “It’s fine. Vegetables are healt-
hy.”
He could say that, but when the table was set with nothing but a few bland, meatless dishes, no one knew where to start. Even so, Zoe couldn’t resist gloating.
“Time to eat! My brother’s cooking is amazing, everyone dig in.” She then shot a pointed look at me and Liam. “Looks like some people will be going hungry today. So much for cutting off your nose to spite your face. They don’t deserve any pity.”
Just as the words left her mouth, a voice called from outside. “Excuse me, delivery for an Aria Serrano?”
I nudged my brother with my foot. “Go get it.”
He looked completely bewildered. “Who is it, sis?”
I was still lost in my game, not even bothering to look up. “Oh. DoorDash.”
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