Chapter 1

I hit a jackpot in the lottery, and jokingly told my parents about it.

They just looked at me with a straight face and asked, "If you really hit the jackpot and got three wishes, what would you want most?"

I thought about it for a second, then I said, "First wish? I want to buy a bigger house, so our whole family can live together."

But my mom said, "Your brother's about to get married and still needs a house. When you buy it, make sure it's under his name."

I said, "Second wish? I want to travel the world."

My dad said, "Your brother's girlfriend always wanted to go to Haven Isles. Let them have it as their honeymoon."

I smiled at their expectant faces. They were waiting for my third wish.

I said, "My third wish? From now on, I have no parents. No brother."

*****

I quietly slipped the lottery ticket back into my pocket.

The air in the living room was so tense that one could cut it with a knife.

My parents exchanged a glance, then just snorted.

My mom grabbed the remote and started flipping through the channels. She said, "Seriously, Ada, aren't you a bit old for this kind of daydreaming?

"If you've got time to waste, why not figure out how to scrape together the down payment for your brother's wedding house?"

My dad lit a cigarette and blew smoke right in my face. He said, "If you really hit the jackpot, you can have three hundred wishes for all I care, as long as the money stays in our family's account."

Just then, the door swung open.

My brother Brian strolled in with his girlfriend, Tracy.

Brian tossed his car keys onto the coffee table with a sharp smack.

"Ada, you're here too?" Brian said, without even glancing my way as he sprawled out on the couch. He asked, "Mom, is dinner ready? I'm starving."

Tracy gave me a dirty look, didn't say a word, and just plopped down, scrolling through her phone like nobody else was there.

My mom put down the remote, her face breaking into a huge grin. "We've just been waiting for you guys. Tracy, I cooked your favorite food tonight."

Everyone moved toward the table.

I just tagged along behind.

At the dinner table, Brian was gnawing on a rib when he said, "Mom, the wedding planner just sent over the quote. It's 60 thousand."

My mom paused with her fork in mid-air. She exclaimed, "It is so expensive."

Tracy didn't even look up from her phone as she said, "Expensive? Please. My bestie spent 100 thousand on her wedding. 60 thousand is already the bare minimum. If you can't even swing that, just forget about getting married."

My dad jumped in right away. He said, "Brian's getting married, and our family's not about to be a laughingstock."

All three pairs of eyes landed on me at once.

I just kept my head down, acting like I didn't see a thing.

My mom tapped my plate and said, "Ada, stop playing dumb. Did you hear what Brian said?"

I swallowed my food and replied, "Yeah, I heard it."

My dad slammed his glass down and snapped, "So you heard, but you're still not saying anything? 60 thousand. Transfer it to Brian tomorrow."

I put down my fork and said, "I don't have any money."

Brian spat a bone onto the table and sneered, "No money? Seriously, Ada? You've been working for five years, pulling in 5 thousand a month. How could you possibly be broke?"

I looked straight at Brian and said, "Rent is 1 thousand, I give 1600 to the family every month, and I still have to pay back the 1300 home renovation loan you guys made me take out.

"Where am I supposed to get 60 thousand from?"

Tracy let out a little laugh. She said, "Ada, come on, that's not how it works. We're family, right? Brian's your brother. As his sister, you should find a way to get the money together, even if you have to go out and borrow it."

I looked at Tracy and said, "If we're all family, then how much is your side putting in?"

Tracy's face darkened. She snapped, "Ada, what's that supposed to mean? I'm the one joining your family. Why should my folks pay a dime?"

My dad slammed his hand on the table and barked, "Ada, who taught you to talk to Tracy like that? Where are your manners?"

My mom's face darkened, too. She said, "Ada, are you trying to drive me crazy? Brian's wedding is a big deal, and you're not even willing to help out or chip in, just sitting there making snide remarks.

"Don't think I don't know about that little stash you've been hiding. You're handing it over tomorrow, no excuses!"

"I told you, I don't have any money. I'm done eating," I said, standing up.

"Stop right there!" my dad barked.

I stopped in my tracks.

My dad jabbed a finger at me and said, "Today, you're handing over that money, no matter what. If you don't cough it up, don't even think about coming back to this house!"

I turned around and looked at them.

Brian had that entitled look on his face, Tracy's expression was pure mockery, and my parents were just straight-up pissed.

My fingers brushed against the lottery ticket in my pocket.

"Fine," I said, "I won't come back."

With that, I turned and walked toward the door.

Behind me, I heard a plate smash, and my mom shrieked, "Ada, you backstabbing traitor! If you walk out that door, don't you ever come back."

I closed the door, leaving all their shouting and curses behind me.

Once I got downstairs, I pulled out my phone and checked my bank balance—just 1 thousand to my name.

That was all I had for next month's living expenses.

But that lottery ticket in my pocket? It was worth 22 million.

I grabbed a cab and went straight to a five-star hotel downtown.

That night, I crashed harder than I ever had before.