Chapter 1

My girlfriend won $30 million in the lottery, then immediately broke up with me.

"We're from different worlds. You're too low-class for me."

Then she turned around and got with the sneaky guy from the office.

I just laughed.

She forgot that lottery ticket was from the previous drawing.

I rolled down the window of my Maserati and told them, "You two are too low-class."

01

"It's over, Ryan! I won $30 million in the lottery."

Charlotte stood in front of me, her expression a mix of arrogance and disdain.

"That's it?" I looked up and asked.

"Yeah, you've never seen that kind of money, have you? My mom says people are divided into different social classes. Our family just joined the upper crust, so you and I aren't in the same league anymore."

Seriously? $30 million and she thinks she's upper crust?

I didn't even get a chance to tell her my dad owns a ton of buildings. His annual rent alone is more than $30 million, not to mention all the companies under his name.

But it's fine. Sticking to my rule of ditching bad people fast, I agreed to her breakup request.

Never shed a tear for love, only lose sleep over money!

Charlotte slowly glanced at me. "Even though the $50 for the ticket came from you, I bought the ticket! So don't even think about getting a cut of the money!"

She always bought lottery tickets, constantly dreaming of getting rich overnight.

But every time it was time to pay, her phone was always dead, or she "forgot" her wallet.

"My mom doesn't really like you either," Charlotte continued. "She thinks you're cheap. Last time, you gave her some no-name trinkets. So tacky."

I shot back, "God was handing out brains, and your family was holding an umbrella!"

At the time, I'd thought I was making a good impression on her mom by gifting her a five-figure silk scarf designed by a top Italian designer, plus a bottle of French royal perfume. Now, in their eyes, it was just "no-name trinkets."

Seriously, they think a little money makes them royalty.

She kept going. "I'm not going to argue with you, I am, after all, a superior person. But since we're broken up, let's settle up. All the stuff I gave you? I need the cash equivalent back."

Cheapskates are always cheapskates, even when they win big!

"No need! I still have everything you gave me! I'll give it all back to you!

"The $9.99 shaving kit? I was scared it would irritate my skin!

"The $19.99 shirt combo? I was worried I'd break out in a rash!

"The $10 box of instant noodles? I was afraid I'd get sick and the medical bills would cost more than that!"

The crowd around us snickered, and Charlotte's face flushed. She quickly snapped, "Don't just talk about that! What about the money transfers? Didn't I send you money every holiday?"

"You certainly did," I nodded, pulling out my phone and scrolling through my records.

Valentine's Day, $5.20. Thanksgiving, $6.60. Christmas, $8.80…

"You really went all out! So generous!" I said, grinning.

My little cousin, still in elementary school, gives more than that.

Back then, I cared about her as a person, so I didn't pay attention to those superficial things. Now, I realize my brain must have been seriously scrambled, like the entire Pacific Ocean got in there!

Charlotte puffed herself up.

"I'm telling you, that was then! Things are different now. I won $30 million! I can buy whatever I want! You're not good enough for me anymore!"

I nodded. "Alright, if that's the case, you can give back everything I gave you too."

Charlotte laughed. "All those things you gave me were just high-end fakes, weren't they? What are they worth?"

Charlotte grew up poor. Her dad died early, and she and her mom relied on each other.

To spare her fragile ego, I often cut the tags off gifts and picked out items without obvious logos.

"That handbag you're carrying? A limited edition Gucci, $30,000.

"Those shoes on your feet? Limited edition Chanel, $20,000.

"And that watch on your wrist? Also Chanel, $50,000."

I listed them off, one by one.

Charlotte's face changed. "You think I'm stupid? You? You couldn't afford the real stuff! You just bought some knock-offs to fool me!"

She is stupid, can't even tell real from fake!

I opened my phone. "Here are the purchase records and receipts. If you don't believe me, you can go to the boutique to verify.

"Also, the scarf and perfume I gave your mom when we first met weren't any cheaper than what I bought for you. I'll let those slide, but with everything else I gave you, just give me $1 million."

Honestly, over the years, the gifts I'd given her probably added up to over $2 million. But if she actually gave me $2 million, her absolutely terrible mom would probably make my life hell.

Charlotte gritted her teeth. "Who knows if those things you gave me were real or fake? Besides what I gave you, let's say $500,000. I'll give you $100,000 now, and the rest after I cash the lottery ticket."

Fine by me. While that amount is nothing compared to my nine-figure bank balance, who doesn't want more money?

02

After receiving the $100,000 PayPal transfer, I stood up and said to a visibly pained Charlotte:

"Thanks, Charlotte. You're being so generous for the first time!"

Charlotte looked a bit hurt but still sneered at me,

"Alright, don't ever look for me again, you loser!

"Let's not keep in touch. I'm afraid your bad luck will rub off on my good fortune."

I nodded enthusiastically, making sure she saw it.

After Charlotte left, I had my driver bring around the Maybach from my garage.

That's right, I'm done pretending!

That very evening, Charlotte posted on Ins.

There were two photos: one of a lottery ticket and another selfie she took at a Maserati dealership. The caption read: "Always do two things: work hard and love yourself. Lucky people always smile (smiley face)."

Good thing I didn't eat much dinner, or the consequences would have been dire.

As I was about to delete her, I noticed the lottery ticket.

The numbers weren't fully visible, but the drawing date was clear: Drawing 38