That made me laugh out loud, saying, "You know you took my money and left me fifty bucks for living expenses every month. I don't have enough money to eat at the company, so where does my money come from to buy a phone worth thousands?"

I paused afterward and nodded as I realized how they manipulated me and decided to lead the trouble.

I gave Mom a lot of money; she should have a lot now. It was more than enough to buy Chase the phone he desired. That was for sure.

In a blink, I persuaded Chase, "If you still want me to buy it for you, then it won't be enough anymore as the bonus and salary are paid next month. You should have to wait another month."

When my brother heard it, he became anxious and turned to face Mom.

He said, "Mom! You should have bought me the phone instead!"

My mother's face changed when she saw my younger brother switch targets. She glared at me and tried calming him down, saying, "Chase, Apple phones are too expensive. Can Mom get you a different phone?"

Chase then burst into tears, aiming to have the phone he desired. He shook his head and yelled, "I don't want anything else. I want only that phone to buy. Only that!"

As soon as Grandma saw that, she held it with tears in her eyes and darted her furious gaze to my mother.

"What the hell! What is wrong with being expensive? Every phone is. If my grandson Chase wants it, I will find a way to buy it. You are a mother, yet you can't buy the phone and won't even find a way to do it. Do you have a heart?" Grandma scolded her.

This time, even my dad stood aside, saying, "Bella, this is your fault. Didn't you take money from me? How come you don't even have money to buy a phone?"

When Mom heard that, her gaze darkened to him.

"You know where the money went. We all need to eat. What's the point of the money you give me? Do you think that is enough?" Mom was too furious, almost yelling it at Dad.

She continued, "Besides, you haven't given Astrid any money since she handed it over and you even ask me for it sometimes. Apart from food, the rest goes to household bills and Chase's tuition. How can we afford this phone when the money can't cover our expenses?"

Mom then looked at my grandmother's angry eyes and awkwardly smiled, saying, "Mom, why don't we wait until Astrid gets her salary and bonus before buying Chase the phone? It's a month from now. She should have had money from that time."

Although Grandma wasn't joyous when she said it, she didn't react. She remained in silence.

Watching them decide where my next month's salary and bonus would go with just a few words, I felt bitter inside.

Once I moved out, none of them would receive a penny from me next month. Even before I got my salary, my younger brother, Chase, had begged my parents to buy the phone for him first.

When he returned, my dad even borrowed money from someone and said, "Consider this money borrowed by Astrid. She can pay it back when she gets paid."

I clenched my fists and was too furious when Dad mentioned it.

Keep on dreaming. I wouldn't dare to pay or buy the phone with my own money. It was all enough.

That was only the beginning.

Not long after my brother got the phone, something happened.

He showed off the phone to everyone. Soon, everyone nearby knew our family had bought an iPhone for my very own brother.

That day, my younger brother and some affluent classmates planned a picnic in the mountains and invited a girl from next door.

Indeed, those who could get along with my brother weren't good people. Most of them had the same mindset that Chase had. Worse, all of them were bad. It would be worse if no one could stop them.

In my past life, I warned the girl next door not to go with them.

However, she didn't listen and went anyway. Perhaps she thought my warning was nonsense.

Her clothes were a mess when she came back and my brother had even recorded a video.

She dared not tell her parents about it, so she came to find me. Seeing her in that situation, I felt very sorry for her. After hearing her confess everything they had done to her, I decided to help her call the police.

It was the worst. I knew a day would come with this situation and I wasn't wrong.

Unexpectedly, when the police came, she denied everything and said I made a false report.

When I got punished, she looked at me and whispered, "It's all your fault! You knew what your brother was planning but didn't stop him! You deserve to see me get hurt!"

I never knew a teenage girl could have such intense anger in her eyes. As much as I wanted to lend a hand, I didn't want to interfere anymore.

In this life, I would act like I did not know anything and would not get involved.

If she wanted to go with Chase, knowing his spoiled and rotten attitude, then that was her choice. It had nothing to do with me anymore.

When worse came her way, then she had no one to blame. It was only her.

As expected, as usual, something transpired.

I had heard that someone who knew that girl took her to her parents so they would know her current situation.

Since my younger brother was the main troublemaker, his friends were bystanders who didn't get involved.

That girl's parents had no other choice but to seek justice and want my brother to die together with those rich kids with her.

My family and I knew it when we rushed to the scene, seeing the situation.

It was just that Chase touched that girl, even took off her clothes, recorded a video and hurt her. It was all in the video that could be used against him.

Chase was forced to kneel on the ground, facing the Aurora Lynch's parents. Meanwhile, Aurora's father, Leo, had a wooden stick in his hand and was about to hit Chase.

However, he paused when Grandma screamed and rushed over, protecting her favorite grandson, even if he had done the worst and ruined the image of our family.

"What the hell are you doing?! You have no evidence for you to hit my grandson!" She yelled, too furious with him.

Leo darkened his stare at Grandma and explained, "I don't have any evidence. I have someone to testify for your information. Your little brat bullied my daughter and don't you dare ask me that way!"

He continued, "Get away from him. Otherwise, I'll also beat you up! I know you won't want the worst part to happen."

Grandma suddenly cried out, "Is there no justice anymore? You pick on a child and now you're picking on an old woman like me and punish!"

Her voice was so loud. All the curious neighbors around came out to check the scene.

On the other hand, Dad came forward.

"Oh, come on, Leo. Don't be too impulsive. What possibly transpired?" Dad asked him. "He is still too young. Why bother to argue with a child like him?"

Aurora's family, furious, pointed out the red marks on her face and body.

Leo, the girl's father, said, "Is this what you call playing around? If you don't explain today, we won't let this go!"

The girl stood before everyone, her head down, looking scared.

"Of course, it's just a joke!" Grandma said, smirking. "It's an honor that my grandson wants to play with her! Besides, he's usually sensible and wouldn't start something like this. Maybe your girl tempted him. I am sure she does."

Grandma's shameless comments made Aurora's family furious and their faces turned red.

It was the first time they had seen someone more shameless than themselves.

With a stern face, Leo ignored Grandma's shouting. He turned to my father and said, "Lucas, we've been neighbors for years. I never thought your son would behave like this. If you don't explain, I'll call the police."

Upon hearing that, my parents' faces went pale and I didn't expect it would lead that way.

Since my parents were confused, Dad still asked, "You want an explanation? And what do you want to hear from us? We already have a response to you."

Leo's face softened as if he had something on his mind.

"I heard your family bought an iPhone for your son, so money shouldn't be a problem. It won't benefit either child and our family's reputation if this gets too big. It's better to settle this privately with money," Leo explained, staring us around.

Even Aurora's mother went closer to us and interjected, "We don't want to make things hard for you, but look at what happened to my daughter. At least give us $13,000 for medical and emotional damages, okay?"

"What?! $13,000?!" In unison, my parents and grandma were stunned. Not gonna lie; it was a huge amount of money and my family could not afford to pay them that amount.

Both Mom and Dad went pale.

Before they could speak, Grandma yelled, "You're trying to steal money! Is this worth $13,000? How dare you ask for so much!"