At the company’s annual party, everyone got a prank scratch-off card that could win 0-04 million.
I didn’t bother scratching mine and just took it home. After my shower, the ticket was gone and my wife looked nervous.
I was about to tell her it was just a prank, but then my mother-in-law rushed in yelling, “Sweetheart, divorce him now! He’s useless! You’re a billionaire now. You can find a better man anywhere!”
Without thinking twice, my wife agreed. “Okay, Mom. I’ve already booked an appointment. I’ll get the divorce tomorrow!”
She then looked at me and said calmly, “You’re not going to claim the ticket is yours, right? I checked; scratch-offs are anonymous. Whoever holds it owns it. Ted, my mom’s right. You’re not good enough for me anymore.”
My heart dropped. I quietly put away the gift I’d bought her with my multi-million-dollar year-end bonus. If she thought I wasn’t good enough, then she didn’t deserve any of it.
——
“Did you hear her? Pack your stuff and leave! You’re an adult. Don’t tell me you still want the house after the divorce?”
My mother-in-law, Michelle, pointed at me smugly. “Even though my daughter is rich now, she’s not stupid. She’s put up with you for years. It’s only fair she asks for some emotional compensation!”
I stared at my wife, Camilla, shocked. It took me a moment to speak. “You really want a divorce?”
Camilla looked at me with open disdain. “Yes. We’ve been married five years and I’ve never even had a Hermes bag. What good are you? You never gave me a good life, so don’t blame me for divorcing you now that I have money.”
It suddenly felt ridiculous. For five years, I gave her my entire $7,000 monthly salary. Even the house and car we bought were in her name only.
The bags I bought her weren’t Hermes, but they were still very expensive. Yet she still claimed I never gave her a good life.
When I stayed quiet, Michelle thought I was disagreeing and started yelling. “Don’t tell me you want to steal my daughter’s lottery ticket! It’s hers and none of your business! You never supported her and now you’re after her money! Shameless! People say Camilla married a freeloader; looks like they were right!”
Camilla turned and said, “Mom, stop. It’s too embarrassing to talk about.”
They didn’t know the company planned to promote me to general manager and give me 5% of the shares. If she’d stayed, Camilla would have lived a rich life. But now, she’d lost that chance.
I glanced at them and said coldly, “That scratch-off was given to me at the company party. All my coworkers can confirm it.”
Camilla grabbed her pocket and kicked me. “Are you insane over money? Ted, don’t you have any shame? Scratch-off tickets are anonymous. Whoever holds it owns it!”
Right then, someone burst in from outside. He grabbed Camilla in excitement. “Camilla, is it true? You really won 0-04 million?”
The person who ran in was my friend, Derek.
When I was chasing Camilla, he was the one giving me advice. I never imagined he’d be lifting her up right in front of me now.
And Camilla told him the moment she thought she’d won. It was clear they weren’t just friends.
Camilla stopped pretending. She hugged Derek’s neck and said sweetly, “It’s true, Derek. From now on, I’ll take care of you. I think you brought me luck! You kissed me today, so this money should also belong to you!”
My mind went blank. She stole the ticket from me, yet I got nothing. But Derek kissed her and suddenly, he deserved part of the money?
Watching them made me sick. I remembered when I first met her; she was feeding a stray cat. Her kindness and innocence drew me in. I chased her for three years and after we got together, I treated her with all my heart.
I remembered feeling ashamed a few years ago when the company was struggling and I couldn’t use my bonus to buy her a gift.
Now that things had finally gotten better and I received a multi-million-dollar bonus, a fake lottery ticket made me see how foolish all my efforts had been.
I took a deep breath. “Fine, we can divorce. But what about the baby you’re carrying?”
Just then, Camilla covered her mouth and ran to the bathroom, where she started gagging. Michelle rushed after her. “Ugh, it’s that brat in your stomach again, isn’t it?”
I tried to follow, but she shoved me aside. “Don’t touch my daughter! The father is useless and disgusting and the child is trash!”
After throwing up, Camilla stared at her stomach in disgust. “I don’t want this baby.”
When she said that, I actually felt relieved. I felt a little sorry for the baby, but knowing that after the divorce I’d have nothing to do with her anymore made me feel better.
She grabbed her phone to schedule an abortion. “I don’t care if I’m already three months in. I’m getting rid of it. I’m a billionaire now. Why would I keep a child with a useless man?”
Michelle jumped in, “Exactly! Get rid of it! We’re rich now. You can have more kids later if you want!”
I acted angry and said, “You cheated on me with Derek. You shouldn’t get anything in the divorce.”
She yelled, “Ted! Are you even a man? You never made me feel secure, so I fell for Derek! This is your fault. You should be the one leaving with nothing!”
Derek wrapped his arm around her and said, “Camilla, the baby might be mine. Last month, when Ted was on a business trip, I stayed with you for days. Let’s do a DNA test. If the child is mine, we can get married.”
Last month? I suddenly remembered a night when I video-called Camilla. She was sweating and out of breath, saying she was “exercising.” Now I understood. She had been cheating on me with Derek.
Seeing I was quiet, Camilla panicked and snapped, “Ted! You don’t get to refuse! If you agree to a divorce, I might even let you keep the house!”
I nodded, pretending to be heartbroken. “Fine. I’ll keep the house. Let’s get the divorce done now.”
When I said that, Camilla hurried off, afraid I might change my mind. A City Hall staff member handed us some papers. “Have you finished dividing your property?”
Camilla grabbed a pen and wrote quickly, “The house goes to Ted and the savings don’t matter. He’s penniless anyway.”
Michelle nodded, sneering, “Just a divorce and you get a house for free. Ted, you’re unbelievable.”
I stayed silent and signed the divorce papers. Once both signatures were done, Camilla sighed in relief and left with Derek to go to the hospital.
Michelle glared at me. “We haven’t gotten the divorce certificate yet! You’re coming too! If they ask you to sign anything, you’ll sign it! Otherwise, my daughter can take that house back anytime!”
I reluctantly agreed, hiding my disgust. I needed more proof of Camilla’s affair. The doctor checked the ultrasound and said, “We need a non-invasive prenatal paternity test. It normally takes 5–7 business days, but with rush service, it can be done in under two days.”
“Rush it!” Camilla shouted. “I’ve got plenty of money! Do it now! If the child is Ted’s, set up an abortion immediately!”
“Abortion?” someone called from the hallway.
My mother ran over, out of breath, holding the medical report. “Camilla, are you really going to abort my grandson?!”
I suddenly remembered she had come for a checkup today; I didn’t expect to see her. Camilla sneered, “We’re divorced. If I want to hurt the child, it’s none of your business!”
My mother grabbed Camilla’s hand. “Did Ted bully you? Tell me…”
Camilla shoved her away. “You’re not my mother! You’re disgusting! Now that I have money, you’re pretending to care? Forget it! Your whole family stays out of this!”
My mother stepped back, clutching her head, pale. “Mom!” I quickly steadied her. “It’s okay, let her hit me if she wants. I can handle it.”
My mother shook in my arms, her lips purple. “No… no…”
“You old witch!” Michelle shouted at my mother. “Even if you’re alive, my daughter will never be with your useless son! And that child in her belly might not even be his!”
Hearing this, my mother’s face twisted in pain. I knew it was serious; she was having signs of a stroke.
I panicked and shouted for help, “Someone, hurry! My mom’s having a stroke!”
Derek sneered, “Camilla, don’t listen to them. They just want your money now that you’re rich, before the divorce.”
Camilla sneered, “What a clumsy trick! Your mom is just trying to scam me. I barely used any force. If she dies, it’s not my problem.”
I was shocked. My mother usually treated her better than her own son, feeding her every day and even using her pension to send her on trips.
After learning she was pregnant, she quickly bought 100 grams of gold for her. But now she was speaking badly?! Before I could respond, she rushed off with Derek and Michelle.
I ignored her and took my mother to the emergency room. Thirty minutes later, I saw Derek’s newest update.
In the video, Camilla and Derek were kissing passionately at the city’s priciest bar, shouting, “I’ll pay for everything!”
“Pay for everything?” This bar cost at least $2,000 per person. I scoffed and blocked Camilla’s family payment service and credit card.
A few hours later, Camilla angrily called me, “Ted! Why did you cancel my card?! Come pay the bill now!”
I laughed in frustration and said, “We’re getting a divorce and you still want me to pay for your things? Camilla, do you think I’m crazy?”
She paused, then said, “I’ll pay you back tomorrow when I get my $700,000 prize! You’re really arguing over that?”
I said nothing, hung up and blocked her number. Did she really think I’d still spoil her? Did she really think all that money was hers?
After hanging up, I called another number. “Hello, Detective Herbert? I need your help with a case.”
***
The next morning, I sat by my mother’s bedside. She was pale, unconscious and in very bad shape.
The doctor said she had suffered mental shock and physical trauma and needed rest to have any chance of waking up.
I nodded and went out to buy breakfast, but then I saw Camilla and her group. I suddenly remembered the hospital was close to the lottery prize center. They stopped when they saw me.
Camilla glared at me angrily. “You blocked me after $700,000! You’re unbelievable! I had to promise the bar in front of everyone that I’d pay it today! I’ll get back at you after I claim the prize!”
She was with several heavily made-up girlfriends. I had warned Camilla to stay away from them, but she secretly stayed in touch. They shot me a few nasty sideways glances.
“I heard your mom had a stroke and is in the hospital. It costs thousands a day. If you can’t afford it, just take her home and let her die.”
“Look at his grim face. He’s probably begging Camilla for money to save her.”
Derek put his arm around her. “Camilla, don’t be soft. That worthless family should be wiped out. Let’s go claim the prize. Once we have the money, we’ll deal with him slowly.”
Camilla’s eyes lit up. She sneered, “Ted, you’re nothing without me. I’ll show you what 0-04 million can do today!”
“You’ll be furious,” Michelle said smugly as she followed.
Just then, a van stopped in front of us and three to five burly men got out. The leader, a muscular man with tattooed arms, growled, “Last night’s bar bill was $700,000 and you promised to pay today.”
Camilla startled and snapped, “What are you afraid of? I’m not running away!”
Derek quickly shielded Camilla. “Relax! It’s just $700,000! We’ll pay once we leave. Listen, we’re the bar’s VIPs now! If you disrespect us again, I’ll fire you!”
They rolled their eyes and walked into the prize center.
Camilla confidently gave the lottery ticket to the staff. “Hi, I want to redeem a 0-04 million prize.”
The staff took the ticket, checked it carefully and scanned it. After a beep, the machine said, “Invalid lottery ticket.”
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