Hearing the faint complaint in Mom’s voice, I blinked and tossed out a casual lie.

"Mom, I meant I won an air fryer at the office party. I was asking if you wanted it."

She rolled her eyes. "Oh, an air fryer? The way you sounded, I thought you’d won the lottery."

My chest tightened. "As if. If I had that kind of luck, I’d be thrilled."

"Still, since you won something, maybe I’ll ride your good fortune and buy a ticket later. Who knows, maybe I’ll win too. If we really did win, your dad would have money and wouldn’t hit me anymore.

"Alright, alright. Where’s the fryer? Bring it out. I’ll take it home and make him fried chicken."

I almost laughed at the irony. Even after being beaten, she still rushed back to him like a lovesick fool. In my past life, I must have been out of my mind to tell her about the jackpot.

Back then, when I told her, she had grabbed my hands and smiled so brightly.

What I hadn’t realized was that she wasn’t happy for me—she was happy for him.

Dad would always come first in her heart. Despite being her daughter, I was nothing more than a cash machine. She probably decided to tell him the moment she learned I’d won. She just couldn’t show it in front of me.

As soon as Dad got home, she had told him everything. I was packing when someone knocked on my door. I thought it was Mom coming back. Instead, Dad had come to rob me.

The memory made me take a deep breath. I quickly handed her the air fryer.

I’d bought it a couple of days earlier, planning to bring it home eventually. I never expected it to come in handy like this.

The moment she left, I started packing to get out of here.

I had already claimed the $30 million. After taxes, $24 million remained.

All of it was still in my account. Remembering what happened in my previous life, I decided to open several new bank accounts and split the money up, just in case.

That afternoon, I finished setting everything up.

I was just thinking about where to travel in a few days when I suddenly got a call from my cousin, Kellan Nightfall.

"Zara, did you win the lottery? $30 million?"

My grip on the phone nearly slipped.

This time, I hadn’t told anyone. How did he know?

Wait.

He was back in our hometown, Graves Hollow, and not even here in Blackridge City. How could he possibly know? Had he seen me at the claims center?

My palms grew slick with sweat, but I forced myself to sound calm.

"How could that be? You know me. My luck’s always terrible. No way I’d win anything, let alone $30 million. Stop messing with me."

I laughed it off and tried to hang up, but his tone turned firm. "Zara, it was definitely you. I saw it."

He saw me?

I nearly cried out, quickly digging my nails into my palm to steady myself. "I’ve been home these past couple of days. I haven’t gone anywhere. Maybe you mistook someone else for me?"

Kellan chuckled. "If it wasn’t you, why are you so nervous? Look at the photo I just sent. Isn’t that you?"

My phone buzzed as the message came through.

I opened it, and instantly, all the warmth drained from my body.

Indeed, I was the person in the photo.

Still, I had been wrapped up so tightly, dressed in baggy clothes with everything concealed, that my figure was impossible to make out.

Nonetheless, anyone close to me would recognize me instantly.

My heart pounded as I scrambled for an excuse.

Kellan spoke again on the other end, "Zara, you’ve got all that money now. Transfer a million or two to this good cousin of yours. Share your fortune."

I barely stopped myself from swearing.

Shameless.

The nerve of him.

A million or two? Why didn’t he just rob a bank?

I forced myself to calm down.

"That isn’t me. You’re mistaken. I have something to do. I’m hanging up."

I was about to end the call when his voice turned threatening.

"Zara, if you don’t send it, I’ll tell everyone. Let’s see if you can still keep that money safe then. And don’t forget, your dad is drowning in debt."

He hung up immediately.

I paced the room, furious, until I finally forced myself to calm down.

No.

I had to leave now.

If Kellan could recognize me, others could too. And once that happened, there would be no way I could keep the money.

I hurriedly packed, planning to move out the next day.

What I didn’t expect was how fast he would act.

That very night, Dad showed up. He had a key to my apartment, and he let himself in without knocking.

I was watching TV when I heard the door open. I jumped in shock, and the moment I saw him, a bad feeling settled in my chest.

Sure enough, he started shouting immediately, "Zara! Hand over the money!

"You win the lottery and dare to hide it from your own father? You’ve got some nerve! If Kellan hadn’t called me, I wouldn’t even know about it."

A chill ran down my spine.

That fool. When I refused to give him money, he went straight to Dad.

What was I supposed to do now?

Was I going to lose everything again?

My heart raced as I tried to think of a solution, but Dad didn’t give me the chance. He grabbed the broom by the door and swung it at me. Caught off guard, I took the blow head-on.

Then he stepped forward and kicked me hard in the chest. His fists came down next—heavy, relentless. The difference in strength was overwhelming. I couldn’t escape, so I could only curl up and endure it.

At that moment, Mom walked in. She spoke with a tone of reproach, "So this is why you wanted me earlier. You really did win the lottery.

"This girl, honestly. You win money and don’t hand it over? Trying to keep it for yourself? You’ve got way too many ideas. You don't even consider the family at all.

"Where is the money? I’ll go get it. We can use it to pay off your dad’s debts."

I bit down hard on my teeth.

I’d been given a second chance. There was no way I was letting them take it again.

Right now, the priority was getting them out of here.

I gasped through the pain and looked at Dad.

"Dad, I didn’t win anything! I don’t even know how to buy lottery tickets. How could I have bought one? Maybe Kellan’s lost his mind. If I’d won, I would’ve handed the money over already."

Dad clearly didn’t believe me.

"Bullshit! Kellan sent me the photo. One look and anyone can tell it’s you. Still trying to lie? Hand it over now, or I’ll beat you to death!"

He raised his foot to kick me again. I shouted quickly, "Dad, I’m not lying. If you don’t believe me, I’ll get my debit card. You can check it yourself."

He paused.

I struggled to my feet and limped back to the bedroom.

Slowly, deliberately, I took out my wallet. Dad strode over and snatched it from my hands. After rummaging through it, he found my debit card.

"What’s the PIN?"

I clenched my jaw and gave him the six digits.

He immediately took the card and walked out.

Mom followed right behind him.