“After I bombed the SAT, on some stupid impulse, I used my last seven bucks to buy a scratch-off.
I won. Five hundred thousand dollars.
I stared at the ticket until the numbers blurred. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking.
Now I could afford to retake the SAT.
I ran the whole way home and burst through the door.
“”Mom—Dad—you’re never gonna guess what just—””
The rest of the sentence died in my throat, drowned out by the noise from the living room.
“”Chloe, honey, that color is made for you.””
“”Mom, you have the best taste, seriously.””
“”The new phone is insane. And the laptop—God, you get what you pay for.””
“”Thank you thank you thank you—””
Nobody heard a word I said. Everything in that room revolved around my little sister Chloe. As always.
I watched them for a moment. Then I slid the ticket quietly into my back pocket.
Fine. Then I don’t need any of you.”
The Daughter They Didn’t Want Won The Lottery Chapter 08 Disney had been mine and Liam’s. Not hers. Junior year, on the bleachers after cross-country, I’d told him one day I wanted to see the fireworks over Cinderella Castle. He’d said, After graduation. My treat. We’ll do it right. He’d done it right. Just not
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The Daughter They Didn’t Want Won The Lottery Chapter 07 He crossed the room in three strides. “Em. I’m sorry. When you called this morning I should’ve picked up—” I looked at him. Shook my head slow. “I don’t blame you.” He froze, as if my calm unsettled him more than any crying ever had.
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The Daughter They Didn’t Want Won The Lottery Chapter 06 I stared at it. He’d believed her. Three years of us on the same porch, saying I’m always on your side, and my sister’s line about older men had been enough to erase all of it. I wiped my eyes and dialed 911. The screen
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The Daughter They Didn’t Want Won The Lottery Chapter 05 Her palm cracked across my face so hard the room tilted. “You little slut—running around with grown men for cash at nineteen—I’ll kill you right here!” The slaps came down like rain, each one landing with a curse. The restaurant erupted. “Kids these days—selling herself
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The Daughter They Didn’t Want Won The Lottery Chapter 04 Chloe and Liam, walking down the sidewalk together. He had her Louis Vuitton over his own shoulder. He was tilting her iced coffee so it wouldn’t sweat on her sundress. I almost laughed. Impressive. An hour ago, he’d been acting like he understood me. Now
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The Daughter They Didn’t Want Won The Lottery Chapter 03 Mom laughed. “Di, use your head. If both my girls fly the coop, who takes care of me and Rob when we’re old? Chloe’s the one built for the world—outgoing, ambitious. Emma? She’s the steady one. Perfect for keeping close.” “Hmm. But she was your
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The Daughter They Didn’t Want Won The Lottery Chapter 02 Next morning, before anyone was up, I walked to the lottery office downtown. When the transfer hit and I saw the number on the screen, my fingers went white around the debit card. My breath went shallow. Nineteen years, and I’d never held this much
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The Daughter They Didn’t Want Won The Lottery Chapter 01 After I bombed the SAT, on some stupid impulse, I used my last seven bucks to buy a scratch-off. I won. Five hundred thousand dollars. I stared at the ticket until the numbers blurred. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking. Now I could afford to retake
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