At the company’s annual party, everyone got a prank scratch-off card that could win $14 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 $14 million?”
The person who ran in was my friend, Derek.
