The air felt dread as she prepared to face the head of the department, Dr. Benson. She took a deep breath, reminding herself this was her life now. She should expect to face their ruthless scrutiny.

As she stepped inside, the familiar smell of antiseptic hung in the air, and a sense of unease settled in her stomach and her heart pounding with each step.

“Blair. Do you have any idea how serious your absence was yesterday during the awarding ceremony?” Dr. Benson’s voice sliced through the air, heavy with disappointment. “You were supposed to represent our university with honor, not bring shame like someone with no manners. You had a responsibility to uphold our reputation.”

Blair felt the weight of each word pressing down on her, but it was the underlying tone that caught her off guard. Dr. Benson’s voice revealed a long-standing grudge that was finally coming to light.

“Now that you’re no longer tied to that family, it seems the gloves are off,” Dr. Benson continued, his eyes narrowing with a mixture of disappointment and frustration. “You’re not just a Wilson anymore; you’re a regular scholar at this university. We’ve invested significant resources into your education, and I expected better from you.”

Blair’s heart raced. The realization hit her hard: she had been a source of pride for Dr. Benson when she was associated with the Wilsons, but now she was merely a target.

“I’m sorry, Dr. Benson. There were... personal matters I had to attend to.” Her voice was steady despite the turmoil within.

“Personal matters? Is that really all you have to say?” He leaned forward, his brow furrowed. “Then you need to learn how to prioritize. And if you can’t manage your commitments, perhaps you should reconsider your place here.”

“I will do better,” her voice trembling slightly. “I’m determined to succeed on my own terms.”

Dr. Benson’s harsh words hung in the air, and for a moment, Blair felt completely taken aback. She had never faced this kind of direct confrontation, especially not from someone in a position of authority.

As she stood there, the weight of Dr. Benson’s disappointment pressed down on her like a powerful force. The usually confident Blair Wilson felt smaller, stripped of the protective armor that her family name had provided.

Blair’s breath quickened, her chest tightening as she struggled to swallow the bitter taste of doubt. She wondered if anyone truly appreciated her efforts or if they just celebrated her connections to wealth and power. Dr. Benson was just the beginning. A wave of reality crashed over. No matter how hard she worked or how much she proved herself, she couldn’t shake the feeling that it would never be enough. The unforgiving nature of the world she now inhabited was one where assumptions and judgments overshadowed accomplishments.

“You’re dismissed,” Dr. Benson said abruptly, turning back to his papers.

Blair stepped outside, her nerves still rattled from the confrontation with Dr. Benson. The cool autumn breeze brushed against her flushed cheeks. She closed her eyes for a moment, inhaling deeply and trying to let go of the frustration and anger. But the relief was fleeting.

As she opened her eyes, Blair spotted the familiar people not far off. Samantha, her cousin, stood in the center of a small circle, laughing easily with her friends Janica, Anne, and Raina. Samantha’s presence always seemed to draw attention with her bright smile. Blair watched her from a distance, her stomach tightening. She had hoped to avoid Samantha for as long as possible.

Just as Blair thought about slipping away unnoticed, Samantha turned her head and spotted her.

“Blair!” Samantha’s voice rang, catching the attention of her friends. She waved her hand enthusiastically, as though they hadn’t seen each other in years. “I didn’t know you were around!”

Blair hesitated, but there was no escaping it now.

When she got close enough, Samantha’s eyes sparkled with feigned innocence. “Didn’t you know Blair is my cousin?” She turned to her friends, her arm lightly brushing against Blair’s shoulder as if they were closer than they really were.

Janica, Anne, and Raina all exchanged quick glances, eyes widening in shock.

“Wait, your cousin?” Janica asked, disbelief in her voice. “Blair, you never mentioned that!”

“Well…” She let out a soft sigh, as if the weight of a hidden truth had finally surfaced. “Maybe Blair didn’t introduce me because, well… I’m not from the Wilson side of the family.” Her eyes, glistening with an exaggerated vulnerability, met theirs. “I’m the daughter of her grandmother’s first son from her previous marriage.”

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The way she said it suggested that Blair was embarrassed to acknowledge her, as if she had hidden their relationship.

Janica’s eyes flicked toward Blair, then back to Samantha, her voice laced with sympathy. “Oh… I didn’t realize. That must have been hard.”

Samantha shrugged lightly, giving a small, self-effacing smile. “It’s okay. I mean, it’s not something we talk about much, but family is family, right? I’ve always admired Blair’s achievements, even if, you know… we’ve kept some distance.”

Raina looked at Blair with a slight frown. “That’s kind of surprising, honestly.”

Raina’s hatred for Blair ran deep, buried under layers of polite smiles and forced conversations, but it had been there for years, simmering quietly.

It all started back when they were in secondary school. They were 12 years old, sharing secrets and stories, and Raina excitedly announced she had a boyfriend, and Blair, with innocent curiosity, asked, “Do you know the algebraic equations?” To Blair, it was a genuine question because Raina had struggled academically. But to Raina, it felt like a public humiliation, exposing her weakness in front of everyone.

From that moment, Raina vowed to prove herself. She studied relentlessly, eventually becoming one of the top students. Despite her achievements, Blair’s innocent remark left a lasting sting, creating a quiet resentment that Blair never seemed to notice.

As Raina looked at her now, feeling satisfied, thinking Blair was finally being put in her place. She rooted for whatever Samantha was trying to achieve.

Raina leaned closer to the group, spoke casually, but loud enough for everyone to hear.

“You know, I’ve been thinking about all those rumors about Ezra and Samantha,” Raina began, casting a sideways glance at Samantha. “I mean, if Blair’s engagement to Ezra was just some family arrangement, it makes total sense they’d move it to Samantha now, right? Especially since Blair isn’t really part of the Wilson family anymore.”

There was a brief silence. Janica and Anne exchanged looks, but Blair’s expression didn’t change. At least, not visible.

Realizing what she had just implied, Raina’s eyes widened slightly, her hand quickly flying to her mouth. She stammered, trying to backtrack with poorly disguised panic, saying, “I didn’t mean… I didn’t mean that to sound harsh or anything, Blair. I was just... you know, thinking out loud.”

Her face flushed as she stumbled over her words, but deep down, she knew the damage was done.

As Raina’s words hung in the air, Blair felt an instant wave of fury surge through her. Oh, really? She thought, her inner demon gleefully sharpening its claws. So Raina, the girl who once struggled to read in fourth grade, is now a certified gossip consultant?

Her fingers twitched at her sides, and she bit her lip to keep from blurting out the first thought that came to mind: “You wouldn’t have passed the entrance exam to this prestigious university if I hadn’t spent half my life tutoring you, you turtle!” Her inner demon cackled with delight, egging her on. Really, Raina, has the audacity to act all superior now? You couldn’t even memorize the multiplication table until middle school!

Blair’s eyes flicked to Samantha, who was smiling too sweetly. Her blood boiled as her gaze narrowed on her cousin. And you, she thought venomously. You’ve always wanted everything I have, haven’t you? From my toys to my dresses and now, Ezra? Predictable. Honestly, if you’re going to act so innocent, at least try not to hiss every time you speak, snake.

Blair mused bitterly to herself. Why would I introduce her as my cousin? We’ve been enemies since she figured out slithering into my room to steal my clothes was easier than buying her own. And at every family gathering, there she was, whispering lies about me at Grandma’s mansion, trying to slander me whenever she had the chance.

Blair barely stopped herself from rolling her eyes at the absurdity of it all. She gave a small, exaggerated laugh and evil-sounding chuckle, which confused them just enough to give her the upper hand. With that, Blair turned on her heel and strolled away, head high, feeling like she had just conquered a tiny battle.

Blair’s confidence was soaring. I’ve handled this before. I can handle whatever life throws at me today, she thought, stepping into the cafeteria with the certainty that she could conquer anything…until she reached the cashier.

“I’m sorry,” the cashier said, “but the university has discontinued the free lunch program for scholars. That card isn’t valid anymore.”

Blair blinked, staring at the woman as if the words had been in some alien language. “Excuse me?”

“You have to pay for your food,” the cashier repeated. “The university has removed the free lunch program for scholars.”

For a moment, Blair felt the world crumble beneath her feet. No more free lunch? The cafeteria, her only reliable source of decent food, was suddenly closed off to her. This was the one part of her day she looked forward to.

So this is it, she thought, the weight of everything crashing down. Not even a decent meal anymore. This is rock bottom.

She was teetering on the edge of an emotional breakdown over something as trivial as a lunch card when a familiar voice broke through the chaos.

“I’ll pay for her meal. Would you like a steak, Blair?”

She gasped and looked at Marco, who was casually leaning against the counter with his usual confident grin. Marco Ramsay. He had been pursuing Blair for years, trying to win her over with his smooth talk and flashy gestures, but Blair never showed interest in him.

Her stomach growled silently at the mention of steak. Who would reject a steak? Certainly not her, especially when it had been months since she’d last had one. The free meal program for scholars had never included as luxurious as steak. It was always the same dull, bland cafeteria food.

Her mind raced. Steak. Tender, juicy steak.

“Steak sounds... nice,” she said, trying to keep her tone indifferent, though her inner voice was practically singing. I deserve this. I totally deserve this.