Clement had always been obsessed with saving face. At my words, his eyes flickered, but he kept his expression haughty. "Of course I haven't forgotten. This dump? I've been wanting to upgrade for ages!"
He cast a disdainful look around the room. His mouth said one thing, but his feet stayed planted—clearly reluctant to leave.
I grabbed the suitcase I'd already packed for him from beside the sofa and dropped it at his feet. "Your things. Get out."
I don't know where Clement ended up going. My mother and I traveled to the provincial capital together.
The next morning, we collected the prize without any issues.
Mom declined any media coverage, but she did donate ten million dollars to impoverished mountain regions.
Once all the paperwork was done, I finally had a chance to check my phone.
Messages flooded the screen.
Mutual friends of mine and Clement's were all asking what was going on. Everyone knew Clement's mother had won the lottery—they just didn't know how much.
I replied to each of them the same way: "No idea. Clement and I are divorced now."
After responding, I opened Clement's social media feed out of habit.
He'd been showing off nonstop. Luxury hotels. Five-star meals.