The day I got my driver's license, my dad bought me an Aetherion Lux 8. The day I went to the dealership to pick it up, my boyfriend asked me to sign the title over to his sister. "Bella's getting married soon," Liam said, "and she needs a car for the wedding procession. Wouldn't it be a great gift? A perfect wedding present?" I just smiled. "$150,000 for a wedding present? Yeah, right. A present for his sister, my ass." 1 After I passed my driving test, my dad decided to gift me an Aetherion Lux 8. It was a limited-edition domestic model, a high-end electric vehicle worth over one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. "Hannah, the money's in your account," he'd texted. "Don't forget to pick up the car this weekend." Seeing the seven-figure deposit in my bank account, I was so ecstatic I literally spun around in a circle. Liam, my boyfriend, saw how happy I was and asked what was up. I couldn't help but share the news of my sudden windfall and the incredible car. His eyes widened, his jaw dropping. "$150,000?" he stammered. "Hannah, your dad is… that's incredibly extravagant!" I tilted my chin up playfully. "A father's love is just that simple and pure!" I pulled out my phone to start picking out a color online. The man beside me fell silent for a long moment before placing his hands on my shoulders. His voice was serious. "Hannah, listen. Bella is getting married at the end of the month. Why don't… why don't we put the car in her name?" He continued, his grip tightening slightly. "You know my family's situation. She doesn't have much of a dowry to speak of. This car… it could be her 'something borrowed, something new.' A show of strength from her future sister-in-law. It would give her so much standing with her new family. What do you say?" My brain short-circuited. A hundred and fifty grand. Not a hundred and fifty bucks. Was he even hearing himself? And how could he ask so casually? I was his girlfriend, not his personal charity fund. I immediately, if gently, shut him down. "My dad gave this to me. It's a very personal, very valuable gift. It's not appropriate for you to ask that, Liam." His face froze, but the mask of calm slipped back into place almost instantly. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, forcing a smile. "I'm sorry. I just assumed you felt the same way I do, that you already see Bella as your own sister." His voice took on a wheedling, manipulative tone. "I was just thinking ahead. We're going to get married someday, right? This is just a way for you to build some goodwill, to make it easier for you to blend into my family. I meant it as a good thing, nothing else." My expression had already soured. But Liam either didn't see it or chose to ignore it, plowing ahead with his monologue. "Your dad is so rich, and you're an only child. You can't spend all that money yourself. It'll be ours to share eventually, so what's the big deal about giving a little to Bella now? She's not like you, Hannah. She didn't grow up with a silver spoon. My mom literally found her in a box next to a dumpster. She's had a hard life." He leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "As her future sister-in-law, you wouldn't want her to be humiliated at her own wedding, would you? Right?" ...If I hadn't seen pictures of his sister on his phone, I might have actually bought it. Pictures of a girl with a flawless, surgically-perfected "influencer" face that screamed "expensive." I shot to my feet. "The audacity! Are you already counting my father's money? What does my dad's money have to do with you? Or your sister? Can you people have some boundaries?" Liam's face flushed a deep, angry red. His carefully maintained image of a humble, good-natured guy shattered. He pointed a trembling finger at my nose, sputtering, "Hannah, you're so selfish! And after Bella has been so excited, calling you her sister-in-law already." "You're just... ugh, forget it." He took a deep, steadying breath. "Think about it. This is a golden opportunity to make a good impression on my family, and you're just throwing it away. You're nothing but a spoiled rich girl, completely out of touch, reeking of money and selfishness!" With that, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him. I stood there, completely stunned. He asks me for a $150,000 gift and then has the nerve to get angry at me? Is he actually insane? The excitement of getting a new car vanished completely. I threw myself onto my bed and buried my face in my pillow, a sharp, angry pain blooming in my chest. When we first started dating, Liam wasn't like this. He was gentle, kind, and rarely said anything so outrageous. He was the one who pursued me. He never let his humble background become a source of insecurity; he was hardworking, optimistic, and won every scholarship the university offered. He worked part-time jobs to support himself and even paid for his sister to take makeup classes. I knew he came from nothing, that his family was poor, but I was drawn to his resilience, his refusal to bow to fate. When he was wooing me, he was always busy with work, yet he still found time to check in on me, to run errands, to buy me food. When I was down, he'd drop everything to cheer me up, a bottomless well of emotional support. And, of course, the main reason: he was drop-dead gorgeous, more handsome than any movie star. I’m a sucker for a pretty face. So, in a moment of weakness, I’d let my heart rule my head and became his girlfriend. But right now, I felt less like a girlfriend and more like a fool. In the middle of the night, just as I was drifting off, my phone buzzed incessantly. A string of messages from Liam. I opened them to find a groveling apology. "Hannah, I was out of line today. I didn't consider your feelings." "You can casually buy a $150,000 car, while my sister barely makes $500 a month. The disparity just hit me all at once, and I lost my balance. I'm sorry." "What time are you going to the dealership tomorrow? Let me come with you. I can help make sure they don't rip you off. It'll be my way of making it up to you." Reading his messages, I paused. The wealth gap between us was vast, and it wasn't his fault. If I hadn't been so angry, I probably would have been more sensitive to his pride. Since he was offering an olive branch, I decided to take it. By unspoken agreement, we dropped the subject. 2 The next day, at the dealership, I laid my eyes on the sleek, futuristic Aetherion Lux 8. I fell in love instantly and told the saleswoman I wanted it in a stunning, almost-blinding neon green. As the delighted salesperson led me to the VIP lounge to sign the papers, Liam, who had been quiet the whole time, suddenly grabbed my arm. "Neon green is hideous," he said flatly. "Get the cherry blossom pink. Pink is more feminine, more stylish." I frowned. Did he forget that I loathe pink? It's so girly, it doesn't suit my personality at all. The neon green was vibrant and alive. Seeing my hesitation, the saleswoman just smiled and continued to lead me toward the lounge. Liam’s face hardened. He kept pace with us, muttering under his breath, "Hannah, it's just... Bella likes pink, too. Even if the car isn't in her name, you can still let her drive it, right? She's already signed up for driving lessons. She could practice in your car. It's a win-win." I stopped in my tracks and turned to face him, my expression cold. "Why should I accommodate your sister? Your sister is getting married, your sister likes pink, your sister, your sister, your sister. Am I buying this car, or is she?" He finally seemed to realize he'd pushed too far. He glanced nervously at the salesperson and lowered his voice. "Hannah, I know you're buying the car. Why do you have to be so aggressive about it? If I had the money to buy Bella a car, I wouldn't be here begging you." His voice cracked with emotion. "I'm just a poor student right now. I want to give my sister a meaningful wedding gift, something to give her some clout with her in-laws. Is that so wrong? As my girlfriend, shouldn't you be considerate of my feelings? Is your love all about taking and never giving?" I was incandescent with rage. "What are you trying to say, Liam?" I asked through gritted teeth. He scoffed. "Nothing." "Look, if you still consider me your boyfriend, you'll bring the car to the wedding for Bella. Green, pink, whatever. I'm sure she'll be thrilled either way." ...Bella this, Bella that. Maybe he should just date his sister and leave me out of it. Fuming, I stormed into the VIP lounge. The saleswoman, sensing the tension, brought me a tray of sweets and urged me not to let a little disagreement spoil the mood. If we weren't in public, I would have torn into him right then and there. But lending the car out for the wedding wasn't a huge deal. I told myself to let it go and grudgingly agreed. The change in Liam was instantaneous. The dark cloud over his face vanished. He quickly stepped outside the glass door, which was slightly ajar, and I heard him on the phone, his voice bursting with excitement. "Bella, I've got your wedding car sorted! The new Aetherion Lux 8, the $150,000 one! Yeah! Don't you worry, your big brother will make sure you're the happiest bride in the world. Anything anyone else has, you'll have it too!" Picking up the car should have been a joyous occasion. But Liam had sucked all the fun out of it. Since we started dating, his never-before-seen sister had been a constant presence between us, stealing the majority of his attention. After the purchase, Liam left for his part-time job, and I drove back to my dorm alone. On the way, an unknown number called me. I ignored it, but they were persistent. Finally, I answered. It was Liam's sister, Bella. "Hannah? My brother said you bought a car for me, for my wedding. That's great. But I'm still short on some outfits and jewelry for the big day. I sent you a list. It's not much, just under fifteen grand. You can just pay for it, okay? You're so rich, you wouldn't want to be stingy and embarrass my brother, would you?" I slammed on the brakes, my blood pressure skyrocketing. I took a deep, steadying breath, then forced a sweet smile into my voice. "Is there a royal throne in your family's future that I'm not aware of?" She paused, then her voice rose in pitch. "What's that supposed to mean?" What did it mean? "It means that when God was raining down wisdom, he must have given you an umbrella!" 3 I returned to my dorm, fuming. My roommate, Sophie, noticed my mood and handed me a can of soda. "What's up? Fight with the boyfriend?" At the word "boyfriend," my eyes welled up. "Sophie, I think I made a huge mistake. Being with Liam is making me miserable." Sophie patted my back comfortingly. Then her eyes fell on the car key on my desk. "The Aetherion Lux 8! You got the new car?!" she shrieked. "You can afford a $150,000 car and you're moping? Let's go! You're buying me dinner!" She dragged me out for a fiery hot pot that seared my taste buds. With good food and good company, my mood finally started to lift. I told her everything that had happened with Liam and the car. Sophie was my best friend—sharp-tongued and with a fierce sense of justice. She plopped a perfectly cooked duck foot into my bowl and started her pep talk. "Choosing not to be a gold digger doesn't mean you have to be a charity case for the poor. Love and money are two separate things, Hannah. You don't have to mix them. You did nothing wrong." She scoffed. "You're just dating, and he already expects you to financially support his family? What happens later? You become their personal ATM just because you're an only child and they're poor?" Sophie laughed, a mix of anger and disbelief. "It's absurd! He lost a little bit of pride, but you almost lost $150,000! Do you know how much overtime we'd have to work after graduation to earn that back?" "You're right!" The cloud of emo hanging over me finally dissipated. After Liam's tirades, I had started to feel guilty, wondering if I, as the financially secure one, should have been more tolerant. But Sophie's words gave me back my confidence. Being poor didn't give him the right to be an entitled jerk. Sophie and I toasted, and a plan began to form in my mind. Our different backgrounds and ways of thinking were a fundamental conflict. It hadn't been obvious before because he'd never asked about my family's finances. Now that his scales were unbalanced, and I was feeling suffocated, it was time for damage control. As for the snarky remark I'd made to Bella about the dowry, Liam called me, furious, demanding an explanation. When I confirmed what I'd said, he spat out a venomous, "You've got some nerve, Hannah," and then ghosted me for a month. Fine by me. I figured it was a mutual, unspoken breakup, saving us the awkward conversation. But a few days before Bella's wedding, Liam suddenly appeared at my dorm with his mother, Mrs. Evans. She grasped my hands warmly. "Liam told me you prepared so many gifts for Bella, and even arranged for a car for her wedding. You really shouldn't have spent so much," she said, her face beaming. "Just having you there is enough. Bella is so lucky to have such a thoughtful sister-in-law. What do you like to eat? I'll cook for you personally." Mrs. Evans worked menial jobs in the city. She was a simple, hardworking woman, and I'd always had a good impression of her. But her words left me completely baffled. Liam pulled me aside. "You haven't forgotten about lending the car for the wedding, have you?" he whispered. "If you make Bella happy tomorrow, we can forget all about our fights. I won't be mad at you anymore, and we can go back to being a couple. I've been busy helping with the wedding this past month... I wasn't deliberately ignoring you." A muscle in my cheek twitched. So he wasn't ghosting me to break up, he was giving me the silent treatment as a punishment? The absolute confidence of this man. Fine. If he wanted me at the wedding so badly, I'd go. I was morbidly curious to see what kind of performance he and his precious sister were planning to put on. 4 8:00 AM. The moment I stepped into Liam's family home, the bride, decked out in a vibrant red dress, rushed to "greet" me. "Hannah, you came empty-handed? On my wedding day? You've got some nerve," Bella announced loudly, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. "Bella, who's this?" one of the bridesmaids asked. "She looks so fashionable. A friend of yours?" My Aetherion Lux 8 was parked right outside the door. From the moment I'd arrived, I'd been the subject of stares and whispers. Meeting Bella's hostile gaze, I offered a faint smile and pulled out an envelope. A bridesmaid snatched it, and the one who opened it let out a shriek. "Wow! A voucher for a masterclass with that celebrity makeup artist! It costs thousands! I've always wanted to go!" "Bella, your friend is so good to you! I'm so jealous!" These were clearly Bella's classmates from makeup school. They passed the voucher around, gushing over it, but Bella didn't give it a single glance. She tilted her nose in the air and scoffed. "I thought you'd at least give me ten or twenty thousand in cash. For someone with your money, that's a pretty cheap gift. I really don't know what my brother sees in you." I just smiled, refusing to let her get to me.
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