I let out a cold laugh. "That's my problem. Don't trouble yourselves."

I turned and walked away without looking back.

From there, I went straight to the State Lottery Office.

Verified my winnings. Paid the taxes. Signed the paperwork.

By the time I walked out with tens of millions of dollars deposited in my account, night had fallen. I booked a room at a five-star hotel.

That evening, I ate the kind of expensive French cuisine I'd never dared to order. I slept in the kind of luxury suite I'd never dared to imagine.

For the first time in my life, I understood what people meant when they said money changed everything.

It was incredible.

The next morning, I took a cab to Emerald Oasis.

The most exclusive development in the entire city.

The kind of place I used to feel guilty just glancing at when I walked past.

But today, I was here to buy a home of my own.

The moment I mentioned paying in full, the sales manager—a man named Jordan Dickerson—came out personally to greet me.

Manager Dickerson was professional and efficient. When I told him I wanted a move-in-ready villa, he showed me several options.