The moment Ethan stepped out of the bank, his phone rang again. He pulled it from his pocket and answered without hesitation.
"Hello?"
A cheerful, familiar voice echoed from the other end.
"Ethan!"
He blinked in surprise.
"Clara?"
She laughed lightly, the sound filled with warmth and nostalgia. For a moment, Ethan was no longer standing in front of Unity Bank. Instead, he was back in school, sitting on a basketball court with her, eating lunch, teasing each other about teachers.
Clara wasn't from a wealthy family, but she was never lacking either. Her father owned a medium-sized company that handled goods supply steady income, steady life. They were comfortable, not rich, not poor. Just… normal. But Clara was the kind of girl whose heart made her priceless.
They spoke for a while updates, jokes, memories, school chatter about final semester resumption.
At some point, Clara said warmly, "We should meet on campus. It's been way too long."
"I agree," Ethan replied. "I'll be there."
He ended the call with a faint smile tugging at his lips.
She really was a good friend.
He crossed the street and entered the sprawling car showroom.
The air inside was crisp and filled with a distinct smell fresh leather, polished metal, brand-new engines. Cars gleamed under display lights like mechanical jewels.
Top-tier German luxury models lined the floor.
Mercedes-Benz.
Ferrari.
Porsche.
Audi.
Rolls-Royce.
Some brands he didn't even recognize.
Ethan's jaw slackened slightly.
So this is what wealth looks like in physical form…
He walked inside deeper, eyes wide with amazement.
But then, his excitement collided with reality.
Every sales rep inside looked at him.
And immediately turned their heads away.
Faces twisted.
Eyes filled with disgust.
One of them actually sneered.
Ethan paused, blinking.
Then he looked down at himself.
Right.
He remembered.
His clothes.
He hadn't bought anything new since the villa explosion. The suit he owned had been destroyed along with the car. Now he stood wearing worn-out jeans and a faded shirt that had seen better days years ago.
He looked like someone who wouldn't even be allowed to wash the floor of this showroom.
He exhaled slowly.
He knew people judged on appearances.
He knew society always assumed wealth came with a certain posture, grooming, and fashion.
He understood it.
Hell, if he had been in their position, with a stranger walking in who looked homeless, would he believe that guy wanted to buy a luxury car?
Probably not.
And the world didn't care about what you had internally. They cared about what they saw.
Clothes make a man.
If you want respect, you must look like you deserve it.
But Ethan had one thought that settled everything inside him:
He didn't care.
It wasn't his job to dress for their approval.
He didn't need to prove anything before even speaking.
Let them think whatever they wanted reality would slap them awake soon enough.
Still… he couldn't help thinking deeper. Why was he having a philosophical debate with himself just because he wanted to buy a car? Why was this turning into a reflection on social norms?
He laughed quietly.
Probably because I've been through hell recently.
He shook his head and focused.
Time to find someone who could simply do their job and sell him a car.
Ethan walked to the counter.
A young man in his mid-20s stood there, scrolling through his phone with the boredom of someone who believed his career peaked before it even started.
He glanced at Ethan.
Then looked away.
Then called out, "Hey, rookie!"
A young woman walked over. She looked around Lena's height slender, delicate features, but surprisingly well-shaped body that her business suit barely contained.
She seemed to be new here, judging by the nervous energy in her eyes.
The man pointed carelessly at Ethan.
"This guy wants a car. Help him."
She blinked once, taken aback. For a second, she looked Ethan over as everyone else had.
Confusion.
Uncertainty.
Professional instinct struggling against human prejudice.
But she didn't mock him.
She didn't turn away.
She simply nodded politely.
"…Of course. Sir, how can I help you today?"
She forced a smile, trying to do her job even though her instincts screamed that Ethan wasn't here to buy anything.
And Ethan respected that.
Even if she doubted him, she still approached him with the minimum courtesy others refused to show.
That counted.