Chapter 5

In the end, Dad gave Gavin the brand-new phone I’d bought him earlier this year.

To placate him even further, Dad promised to get him the latest model before school started, so he wouldn’t “lose face” at Sunshine University.

As for Dad himself? He dug out an ancient Nokia brick phone and resigned himself to using it.

Honestly, I couldn’t be happier with how things turned out.

Thinking back to my past life, I remembered how I’d been using a five-year-old, barely functional phone while spending half a year’s salary to buy Gavin the latest Apple products. And what did I get in return? Snide comments.

“You’ve been working for years, and you still can’t afford a decent phone?” he’d said. “You’re just cheap, Stella. Admit it. This phone is your way of making up for not letting me go to Sunshine University. And even then, it’s last year’s model—couldn’t you at least get me something new?”

Well, if last year’s model wasn’t good enough for him, then this time he’s getting nothing. Let’s see how he manages without me footing the bill.

I didn’t bother keeping up with their drama after that.

I did hear that Gavin started strutting around town, bragging about how his dad had “pulled strings” at Sunshine University. He even claimed he was already set to attend a top-tier school like Harvard or Stanford.

His lies stirred up quite a bit of chaos in the community. Parents stormed the local education office, demanding answers.

“Don’t worry,” I told them during a public meeting. “We can assure you that the college admissions process is fair and transparent. It’s one of the few opportunities for students to change their lives based on merit alone.”

I continued, “Please don’t believe rumors about buying admission spots. If anyone claiming to be from an Ivy League or top-tier school approaches you asking for money, report them immediately.

“Think about it—if college admissions could really be bought, why would wealthy families bother sending their kids abroad? Wouldn’t they just pay for them to attend school nearby?”

Most of the parents calmed down after hearing this. They were scared, not malicious—just worried about their kids falling behind. Once they realized they weren’t being left out of some secret system, they backed off.

Of course, there were still a few who clung to the rumors.

But honestly? Some people are determined to believe what they want, no matter what you say.

If I couldn’t stop my own father and brother from making fools of themselves, how could I possibly stop strangers?