"The traffic police have confirmed it was your father's fault for the accident. Our car was completely wrecked, yet we haven't even demanded compensation from you."
"But since our Monica has a kind heart, and considering you grew up together, we'll let this slide. Though let's be clear—a toad will always be a toad. Don't delude yourself into thinking you can turn into a swan."
Chandler turned deathly pale at my parents' words.
He stared at me in disbelief, but I had already opened the car door and slipped inside.
When my parents mentioned that Chandler might come with debts, his relatives became even more reluctant to take him in.
In the end, it was a distant aunt—who half-believed his grandiose claims of future wealth—who grudgingly agreed to take him.
The day after the funeral, Chandler showed up at school.
He had swapped his secondhand clothes for a brand-new uniform.
Spotting me, he strode over with his chin held high.
"Some people will resort to anything just to get my attention. Monica, did you really think I couldn’t survive without you?"
"See this uniform? My aunt bought it for me. You know what I realized after leaving your house? Your family treated us like slaves!"
"My parents worked for you for years—and even died because of you! Yet the wages your family paid were so measly I couldn’t even afford a new uniform. And when they died, you didn’t compensate us a single cent!"
The surrounding classmates erupted in shock.
It was no secret that Chandler’s parents had worked for my family. Just days ago, when the accident happened, our class had even held a fundraiser for him.
"Wait, isn’t Monica’s family super rich? She rides a luxury car to school every day, and her shoes are designer!"
"Chandler’s got it so rough. His parents slaved away for Monica’s family, and he couldn’t even afford proper clothes? And no compensation for their deaths? That’s disgusting!"
"How can Monica flaunt her wealth like this? She’s practically feasting on their suffering!"
Their harsh words stabbed at me like needles.
I looked up and saw Chandler smirking triumphantly.
But the truth was, his parents had worked for my family for nearly a decade—and my parents had always paid them the highest market wages. There was no exploitation whatsoever.
As for the accident? That was entirely their own fault.
And the reason Chandler couldn’t afford a new uniform? Because his own parents had never thought him worthy of one.
With a cold snort, I raised my phone and played a video—footage from the car’s dashcam on the day of the accident.
On the screen, Chandler’s mother ran her fingers greedily over the car’s interior.
"Wow, this luxury car really is something! Look at all these decorations—they must’ve cost a fortune!"
"Of course they did. That spoiled brat Monica wasted her family’s money on this useless junk. They should’ve given us a raise instead!"
"There’s so much here. Do you think she’d notice if we pocketed a couple of these? Is this figurine made of gold?"
"Definitely not. And this brand looks expensive—we could pawn it for some quick cash."
Completely absorbed in their theft, they neglected to watch the road—until a deafening crash.
The car smashed into the guardrail, triggering a chain collision involving over a dozen vehicles.
Chandler’s parents died on impact.
Watching his own parents lose their lives over petty theft, Chandler’s face twisted in horror.
