"Auntie Mandy, of course," Ace replied smoothly, and waving the UTV keys with a casul tone he added, "I get to keep the Polaris Ranger. I discussed the terms with her before entering the challenge. I will be driving back in it."
Ace's confidence didn't waver as he spoke, unfazed by their restrained response. He had expected as much—family feud or not, the adults wouldn't stoop so low as to openly revel in a child's misfortune. Their composed reactions reflected a sense of dignity that came with age and experience.
Mandy, however, found herself momentarily lost in thought. She felt a subtle shift in how she was perceived by the group. At her age, she occupied a unique space—straddling the line between teenager and adult. If she had attended college, she would be in her final year by now. That realization lingered in her mind as she noticed how the adults' measured reactions contrasted with her own more exuberant response to Ace's win.
