Then, Carmen slid back into the driver's seat, grumbling to herself, saying, "Lucky for me that nosy old hag didn't screw things up. My sweet ride should be showing up any minute now."

Patrick was practically buzzing with excitement, rubbing his hands together, saying, "Awesome, we're going to be filthy rich soon!"

The folks in the back seat paid them no mind, convinced they had lost their marbles.

As predicted, ten minutes later, Carmen pulled up to the spot where my car had been rear-ended in our previous life. Sure enough, a sleek, limited-edition luxury car pulled in right behind us.

Carmen shook with glee at the sight. "That's my ticket!"

She hit the brakes hard.

In a flash, the luxury car smashed into my car.

This time, everyone lost it, pointing at Carmen through their tears, asking, "Why does tonight have to be such a disaster?"

"Seriously! If you can't drive, stop showing off with other people's wheels, will you?"

"Let us out! I'm done with this deathtrap!"

"Carmen, you did that on purpose, didn't you?!"

However, Carmen just let out an icy laugh. "Oh, really? Just remember not to come crawling to me when I'm a millionaire."

She stepped out of the car, feigning confusion as she peered at the trunk. "What in the world..."

The guy from the luxury car scrambled out too, his brow furrowed as he asked, "Why'd you slam on the brakes all of a sudden?"

He looked to be in his thirties, decked out in shiny gold jewelry.

Carmen played the innocent. "Oh, did I? I just didn't notice the crosswalk up ahead and wanted to slow down a bit."

She batted her eyelashes, giving her best puppy-dog eyes.

Patrick could not peel his gaze away from the man's car. "Carmen, you're a miracle worker, seriously..."

While he was talking, he glanced at the car owner, and his voice got all tough. "Look, no matter what, if you rear-end someone, it's totally on you!

"How can you get all up in Carmen's face? So, how do you plan to make this right?"

I chimed in, pretending to panic, "Hey, that's my car, and look at the state it's in now..."

Carmen shot me a fierce look. "Yours? If I'm driving it, it's mine, got it?

"I've been letting you borrow it because we're best friends. I never thought you'd go around acting like it was yours."

With a grin, Patrick said, "Yeah, I can back her up on that.

"I'm Yvonne's boyfriend, and nobody knows better than me that Carmen's just been sparing her feelings by not calling her out."

Everyone started pointing and laughing at me, calling me out for being fake. "Wow, Yvonne really likes to play pretend."

"Seriously? Cruising around in someone else's ride and saying it's yours?"

"That's just mortifying."

Right at that moment, the owner of the luxury car glanced at his phone and paled.

He stumbled over his words to interrupt them, turning to Carmen and saying, "So, you're the car owner?

"Here's the deal: I just got back from abroad, and I'm clueless about the local police and insurance stuff. Plus, we've got more of these cars than we know what to do with at home."

His voice shook a bit. "Since I bumped into you, I might as well just hand over the keys."

As soon as he said that, everyone snapped to attention. "No way! Talk about hitting the jackpot!"

"He'll just hand over a million-dollar luxury car?!"

"Holy smokes, talk about striking it rich!"

Carmen was on the verge of tears, her excitement barely contained, yet she tried to play it cool with a dismissive wave. "No way, this can't be happening..."

The car owner shot me a look. "Then, it's yours."

In a flash, Carmen lunged, clutching the car owner's arm. "Well, if that's the case, I'll take it!

"Let's do the title transfer tomorrow. When's good for you?"

Sweat was beading on the man's forehead as he rattled off a number, "Tomorrow afternoon, three o'clock. I'll be waiting at the motor vehicle office."

With that, he flagged down a cab and bolted.

Once he was gone, Carmen went wild, running her hands over the car again and again. "I've got it! This time it's really mine!"

She spun around, showing off to us all. "You see? That's destiny!"

Patrick was beside himself with excitement. "Carmen, you're a legend! A luxury car worth 1.5 million bucks!

"We're about to hit the jackpot!"

I inhaled deeply, giving my car's trunk a thorough once-over.

Sure, it looked a bit worn, but it was a car my parents had splurged on back in the day.

Any damaged part would need the original piece for repairs, costing more than a new ride.

I faced the thrilled crowd and, with an icy edge, said, "If you're not going through insurance, then you better cover my car's repair bill."

Patrick sneered at me, saying, "Money, money, money. Is that all you ever talk about? I can't believe how materialistic you are, Yvonne. You're such a letdown."

He shook his head in disdain. "We're done."

The rest shot me scornful looks. "We thought the car wasn't yours? What's with the act?"

"Seems like you're just green with envy because Carmen got a swanky new ride, and it's eating you up inside."

I could not help but burst into laughter, flinging the car's registration in the air. "Take a good look. My name's all over it!"

Carmen just scoffed, utterly unfazed. "Sure, the car's in her name, but guess who shelled out the cash for it? Me.

"Yvonne used to push me around all the time and made me promise her a car once I graduated. That's probably why she's acting all high and mighty now.

"Whatever. It's just an old model. They don't even make that anymore. Can't be worth much."

Everyone gave me looks of contempt. "So you actually strong-armed Carmen into buying you a car? Have you no shame?"

"Money-mad, much? Patrick is smart to dump you. You should've been kicked to the curb ages ago!"

I ignored their trash talk and just grinned. "The trunk's a total wreck. It will probably be a 75-grand bill."

Carmen turned a shade of red I did not know existed, shouting, "75 grand?! For that clunker?!

"Yvonne! You think you can con me just because I've hit it big, huh?"

I just shrugged. "Don't believe me? Fine, I'll just call the insurance company now."

Patrick was quick to stop me. "No! If we report it to the insurance company, he might change his mind and never give us the car!"

Carmen, teeth clenched, tapped away on hers and Patrick's phones.

Minutes later, she wired me 75,000 dollars.

I caught a glimpse of their screens; they had taken out loans from a bunch of places.

When she realized I had seen that, she put on a proud smirk. "Once I get the car tomorrow, I'll sell it. Think I'll sweat over a few bucks then?"

Patrick just chuckled. "A few grand? It's like pocket change spent on a shopping spree."

I kept my smile to myself, watching Carmen zoom off in the luxury car, her excitement palpable.

That night, she snapped hundreds of selfies with the luxury car and flooded her social feed with them.

In a boastful move, she invited the whole class to the motor vehicle office to witness her big moment, promising anyone who showed up a cool 1500-dollar reward for their trouble.

I showed up the next afternoon, too.

By the time I got there, Patrick was already cozied up with Carmen.

He sneered when he saw me. "I thought you were too good for this? Well, it looks like you'd scamper over for a few bucks."

The others joined in, saying, "Yeah, she played the ice queen just yesterday."

"It's true what they say: money can make anything happen."

I kept quiet.

I was not there for the cash. I wanted to be there when their little scheme unraveled.

The motor vehicle office was crowded with our classmates, all eager to see Carmen claim her million-dollar ride.

She was decked out in designer gear, her makeup was on point, and she was glowing with pride.

Keys in hand, she beamed at us. "Glad you all could make it. After the paperwork, we'll hit up the fanciest place in town to celebrate!

"My treat!"

Everyone lapped it up, showering her with praise.

However, when 3:00 P.M. rolled around and the car was off getting checked, Carmen confidently dialed the owner's number, only to find it was out of service.

She tried again, with the same result.

Her face went ashen. "What's happening..."

Just then, a flustered employee from the motor vehicle office burst out. "Who's Carmen? There's a problem with your car. It can't be registered!"