Chapter 11
My sister was careful with every penny–spent less than two million dollars on the house.]]
After buying two basic cars for getting around, she donated the remaining two million to charity.[]
We personally delivered supplies to orphanages, poor rural areas, and run–down schools all across the state.[]
Aunt Karen called one evening, just as I was picking my niece up from school and my sister was making dinner.[]
“Amy! You won the lottery, right? You gotta help me!“[]
I stayed quiet.[]
“Liam blew through all the money in my account on his damn video games!” she wailed.[]
“God help me… he’s barely a teenager and already gambling online!“]
“Three hundred thousand, Amy! Where the hell’s a widow supposed to get that kind of money?“]]
На.[]
Liam was cussing like a sailor when he was five.[]
By ten, he was leading the charge in bullying other kids.]
By thirteen, he was yanking up girls‘ skirts.[]
And back then, you all said, He’s just a kid. You gotta cut him some slack.[]
“Aunt Karen knows you’ve got money,” she pleaded.[]
“Three hundred grand’s nothing for you. Help your little brother out, will you?”
I hit play on a video.]]
“Get lost. From now on, I’m done with you and your whole damn family!“]
“I never wanna see you again!“]]
Her voice echoed out of the phone:]
“Get lost. From now on, I’m done with you and your whole damn family!“[]
“I never wanna see you again!“]
“You ungrateful brat! Letting your own family die–hope you get run over by a truck!”
Chapter 11
“Hope a dog tears you apart! Hope you drown, you worthless piece of–!“[]
I hung up, deleted her contact, and blocked her. All in one smooth motion.[]
How he went from gaming to stealing to online gambling? I don’t know.[]
All I know is, I’d accidentally downloaded a bunch of shady apps opu
A month later, I saw Aunt Karen on the news.]
Liam had been arrested for theft. []
Aunt Karen had completely snapped–wandering the streets, mumbling to herself,[]
“I’ve got money! Once I hit the jackpot, all you bastards will be begging me for help!“[]
She started dropping to her knees in front of strangers, begging for cash–but instead of buying food, she used every cent to buy lottery tickets.
Over and over. Non–stop.
Three months later, on a freezing December day, she died in the middle of the street.[]
Right before she went, she was still muttering,
“If I could start over, I’d win for sure this time…“]
When I heard the news, I had just closed a huge business deal.]
I looked out at the warm winter sunlight and let out a long breath.[]
“Come on, sis–let’s go get some hot pot.“[]
The wind was bitter cold outside, but we sat in the steaming warmth of the restaurant, smiling at each other over the table.]
From here on out, life was only going to get better.[]
♡ 101
