Life After the Million-Dollar Lottery

After work the next day, I got home to find Logan's girlfriend, Flora Butler, hanging around. Given the bad blood between Logan and me, ignoring her was my default mode. We made eye contact when nobody else was watching.

Flora started to lose it. "Logan told me you were rude and disrespectful, but I thought he was exaggerating. Turns out he was right.

I'm going to be Logan's wife. You're just a woman waiting to be married off. You can't even say hello when you see me. You really have no class."

I smirked to myself. She really could act. With a poker face, I shot back, "Aren't you also a woman?"

Flora was livid. "How can you compare yourself to me? You're just ugly and bitter. No wonder you're almost thirty and still unmarried."

Grace was sucking up to Flora. "Flora, just ignore her. She's nothing but a dead weight. You're way out of her league."

Clinging to Logan's arm, Flora complained, "Logan, look at Rebecca. What's her problem? Does she not want me here?"

Logan started banging on my door. "Bitch, get out here and apologize to Flora now."

I cracked the door open and warned, "Don't mess with me, or you can forget about your new house and the dowry."

Logan immediately clammed up.

I had to admit, that tactic worked pretty well.

Grace told Logan, "Your Uncle Jayden and his wife Maria are coming to dinner. Your dad's made reservations."

She glanced at me. "Oh, and dead weight, you're coming too."

This was the first time Grace ever invited me to a family event. Jayden was always on about how useless education was for girls. He'd often said to Grace, "Rebecca should just get married instead of wasting time at college."

I'd almost never been included in meals with Jayden's family. Something felt off about today.

At the restaurant, Grace made a big deal about introducing Logan's girlfriend, Flora, who was all sweetness and light. She was quite the opposite of her earlier self. And She charmed Jayden and Maria into fits of laughter.

As we ate, the talk shifted to Logan's wedding. Grace boasted about my lottery win, openly declaring that I'd be funding Logan's new house and dowry.

Jayden looked pleased. "Grace, you've raised a good daughter. Rebecca, with her college education, clearly knows the importance of supporting her brother."

Then, Jayden turned to me and said, "Rebecca, when Flora joins the Watson family, make sure you treat her well. She'll be carrying on the family line."

I just smiled and said, "Well, I'll be married off soon myself. I'm practically an outsider."

Grace shot me a glare and snapped, "Brat, how can you say that? Jayden is just trying to help you. If you can't be grateful, at least stop with the backhanded comments.

I can't believe I wasted my efforts on you, you ingrate."

Logan was busy tearing into his crab, grease dripping from his chin, clearly enjoying my discomfort.

I slammed down my fork. "Is everything I do just expected?"

"Logan's getting married but has no money. I didn't even blink before agreeing to hand over 5 million dollars. Can't you show me a little kindness?" I played up the sympathy card.

Pushing further, I said, "All my efforts are just to win a bit of love from you. Is wanting to feel part of a family too much to ask?"

The table went silent. They weren't expecting my raw plea for affection. Even Brian seemed touched. "Well... You've never spoken up like this before."

I thought to myself, "Of course not, I just made it all up."

As Grace and Brian began to respond, I couldn't keep pretending. So, I secretly pinched my thigh to squeeze out some tears and, with trembling lips, I rushed out.