Chapter 4
“Ten dollars? No way! Are you sure? Check it again!
“How could it only be ten dollars? I should’ve won 100 million!”
The boss could only helplessly check it again.
This time, his voice was a little firmer. “It’s definitely ten dollars. This string of numbers is just one digit off from the actual winning number.”
My brother took out the lottery ticket I bought later, still unwilling to accept it. This ticket didn’t win anything, either.
“Does this family ever pay attention? They must be out of their minds wanting to get rich.”
“Dream on. How could they win 100 million?”
That was the chatter from the crowd around us. My mom finally came to her senses and screamed as she lunged at the boss, her ten–painted nails leaving red marks on his face.
“No way! You must have manipulated it!”
The boss, cornered, had no choice but to display the lottery numbers on the big screen. “Take a look, everyone. These numbers are just one digit off from the real winning numbers.”
Chapter 4
Now, there was undeniable proof.
The family stood there, pale–faced and frozen in shock.
“Wait!”
2/4
My brother suddenly realized something, pulled out his phone, and shouted at me, “It’s you! You must have done something! Wait till we get home, we’ll beat you to death!”
Seeing that the crowd was mocking them, the three of them had no choice but to slink back home.
When they returned, the house was empty. I had already left.
They hurriedly searched for my whereabouts and then returned to the lottery shop, lurking around, afraid I would claim the prize while they weren’t looking.
Dylan’s video call was still on, and I could hear their whispered scheming through the microphone.
My dad guessed randomly, “Did she really only buy this one ticket? I knew it! Zoey, that brat, how could she possibly get so lucky, buying a ticket and winning 100 million dollars just like that?”
“No, no!” My brother’s voice turned terrifying, almost crazy. “There’s definitely something wrong! She must have hidden it!
“I’ve got a good idea! Zoey’s waiting to claim the prize after the SAT, right?”
Chapter 4
3/4
He laughed coldly, “On the day she goes to claim it, we’ll just take the ticket from her. Simple, right?” ~
“That’s my boy, so smart!”
Thankfully, the SAT was coming up soon, and I had no expectations from them anymore.
After I got into college, I planned to cut ties with them completely.
Two weeks flew by in the blink of an eye.
The day of the SAT came quickly, and I grabbed my bag, ready to head to the test center.
But then, I heard pounding on the door and my parents shouting.
“We finally found you, Zoey! It’s all your doing, isn’t it? If you don’t hand over the real lottery ticket, don’t even think about leaving for your SAT!”
In my past life, with my grades, I should’ve been able to get into a top university, but I missed the chance because of a sudden bout of
diarrhea.
I had never had stomach problems before, so I knew something was off.
