Chapter 5 — Lottery Ticket

After packing my luggage, I took out the lottery ticket from the secret compartment in my backpack. I didn't touch it for more than a month, thinking that during this time I would find the best solution. But in the end, everything is still deadlocked. I turned the back of the lottery ticket, the small text caught my eye:

“Reward within 60 natural days.”

I thought to myself:

"That's great, the redemption period is quite long."

But immediately, my heart felt like it fell to the bottom of the abyss.

“Natural day??!!”

Not a working day, but a natural day! The first time I read it, I automatically understood it as a working day and just believed it to be true. With shaking hands, I opened the calendar on my phone and carefully counted the days.

“1, 2… 57, 58, 59… 60!”

Day 60—it's today! I looked at the clock. It's 5:30 p.m. I just got off work, am packing my things, planning to leave tomorrow morning. But this lottery ticket... has expired! I was suffocated, not knowing whether to cry or laugh. My legs felt weak, I sat down on the floor. I don't know how much time passed when the phone ringing brought me back to reality. It's Tran Minh. I was about to turn off the phone, but my eyes accidentally glanced at the lottery ticket. I gritted my teeth and pressed the button to receive the call.

“Han Tinh, my mother and I searched everywhere but still couldn't find the lottery ticket.”

"I'll come pick you up and take you home to find me, okay?"

I squeezed the lottery ticket in my hand, crushing it into a lump. I took a lighter and lit a corner of the lottery ticket. Looking at the small flame flickering on the edge of the paper, I calmly said:

“No need, I'll come myself.”

If I suffered from losing money like that, Tran Minh must also suffer the same feeling! I stuffed the scorched lottery ticket into my pocket, then went to Tran Minh's house. This time, he and his mother welcomed me very kindly, no longer with the contemptuous attitude like before. Obviously, they considered me a "god of wealth", so they didn't dare express their attitude. His mother warmly pulled out a chair and invited me to sit:

"Han Tinh, daughter, slowly search, don't rush. Home is still your home!"

Tran Minh also smiled happily and even poured me water. Looking at his happy face, I suddenly felt funny. He drew a perfect future based on this lottery ticket. But he didn't know, it was all nothing! Game over—Goodbye to the past I walked into the house, looked around and asked:

“Where is my little lover?”

Tran Minh smiled carelessly:

"When you come, of course I'll chase her away. Don't worry, I haven't talked about winning the lottery with her yet."

I rolled my eyes, whether I said it or not, it had nothing to do with her. I walked around, then looked serious and assigned them each a direction to search. While no one was paying attention, I crumpled up the lottery ticket and stuffed it into the greenest potted plant in the room. Tran Minh has a habit of flicking cigarette butts into that potted plant, just let him find it himself. A few minutes later, everyone returned to the living room, everyone shaking their heads to show they didn't see anything. Just as I was looking for a reason to leave, the main door opened and Thanh Thanh walked in carrying a large bag. It turned out that Tran Minh just sent her out to go shopping. As soon as she saw me, this time she no longer pretended to be gentle and immediately hid behind Tran Minh, shouting:

“Why are you here?!”

She was so angry that she raised the bag in her hand, hit Tran Minh, and repeatedly questioned:

"You still have feelings for her, right?! Are you planning to betray me?!"

Tran Minh no She wanted to explain the truth, just a few sentences, but she still didn't believe it and continued to act harder. When my ex-mother-in-law saw her son being beaten, she went crazy and rushed to push Thanh Thanh away, cursing and swearing. Thanh Thanh was inherently weak, how could she withstand that strong push? She staggered back, unable to stand, and fell down next to the dining table. I was right there, reaching out my hand to block her but I couldn't make it in time, she hit the edge of the table hard and slid to the ground.

“Ah! Ah! My stomach! It hurts!!”

Hearing her complaining of a stomach ache, Tran Minh and her mother rushed over in panic. They have been waiting for this baby for many years, of course they cannot ignore it. I stood close and saw very clearly—a pool of bright red blood appeared at Thanh Thanh's feet.

11

Losing both money and child—Retribution came faster than expected. Tran Minh and his mother only worried about asking what was wrong with Thanh Thanh, while she held her stomach and screamed. I calmly took the phone and called 120. With nothing to do, I followed them to the hospital to watch a play. Tran Minh sat blankly on a chair in the hospital hallway, looking as if his life had been drained from him. His mother stood next to him, mumbling to herself:

"I didn't mean it! Who told that girl to hit my son?!"

Tran Minh didn't say anything, I just stood silently observing. A moment later, the doctor came out and coldly announced:

“The baby cannot be kept.”

My ex-mother-in-law rolled her eyes and shouted:

“What?!”

The doctor frowned:

"She already had signs of fetal weakness, and was also pregnant with twins. With this condition, she should have been lying down and resting quietly, so why did she fall like that?!"

“Twins?!”

Tran Minh's mother screamed loudly:

“Oh my god! My two nephews! I'm so stupid!”

Tran Minh's face turned pale. He looked at his mother who was crying bitterly but did not comfort her. With his condition, it was not easy to have a child, but he lost both in just one evening. I don't want to hear anymore. Quietly turned around and left the hospital. The next morning, I packed my bags and left this city. Two days later, in the evening, Tran Minh called me. His voice was filled with excitement:

“I found the lottery ticket!”

I pretend to be happy:

"Really? So will I get a few hundred million?"

Tran Minh was silent for a few seconds, then boredly said:

“I found it yesterday, immediately went to lottery headquarters to claim the prize.”

“But they said... it's past the deadline.”

He's really heartless. His lover was still in the hospital and he quickly ran to exchange lottery tickets.

“It turns out the redemption time is based on natural days, not working days.”

Then, his voice became full of malice:

"Han Tinh, I knew right away! You are not destined to be rich!"

I smiled faintly, who would have thought that he was the one "not destined to be rich"? Listening to him scream and scold me for being irresponsible, I felt lighter than ever. The angrier he got, the more healed I felt. The more he talked, the more unreasonable he became, even blaming me for not taking good care of the lottery ticket. I have no doubt, if I were standing in front of him, he would definitely push me to the ground again. Without bothering to respond, I decisively turned off the phone. After that, I immediately went out and changed my phone number, ending all contact with him. New life—No more past to follow When it comes corporation, I put all my effort into the training program. No one bothers me anymore, I spend all my time studying and practicing. Half a year later, I was officially accepted as an international sales officer, able to take charge of foreign customers myself. On the first day of my new assignment, I stood in front of the office glass door, looking into the distance. Ahead is a whole new world. No more days of being bound by a bad marriage. No longer being imposed, belittled or bound by someone. This time, I will take control of my life.