Chapter 3

The rain had stopped when I left home.

I pulled out the crumpled lottery ticket from my pocket. The prize amount was two hundred million dollars.

At the time, I had been laid off. After informing my family, I was still feeling upset, so I bought a lottery ticket on a whim. I never expected to hit the jackpot.

I was overjoyed and wanted to share the news with Melody.

I planned to buy a big mansion for the family, expand her studio, get luxury handbags for my mother-in-law, and buy limited edition Barbie dolls for our daughter...

But those hopes were completely shattered after everything that just happened.

I arrived at a hotel, intending to get a room to stay temporarily, but when I tried to pay, I was told:

"I'm sorry sir, but your card has been deactivated."

My heart sank.

All these years, I had handed over all the money I earned. This card was given to me by Melody for living expenses.

Before leaving home, I thought that at worst, I'd lose all our savings from over the years.

I never imagined Melody would be so ruthless.

How laughable that I used to scrimp and save for this family, not even daring to order takeout over ten bucks when I was out!

I called Ivy, my only friend in this city and college classmate, for help.

As soon as she heard I had no money, she immediately transferred six thousand dollars to me.

She even ordered food to be delivered to me.

This was the first hot meal I'd eaten all night, until now.

I love deeply and have given everything for my family, yet it amounts to less than an ordinary classmate.

How laughable.

The next day at 9 AM sharp, I arrived punctually at the courthouse.

I immediately spotted Melody and William wearing matching outfits, holding hands and laughing at the entrance.

My mother-in-law had even gotten her hair permed, her face beaming with joy.

Even my daughter Vivienne was dressed in a festive red dress, wearing two red hair clips.

"Well, at least you're smart enough not to drag my daughter and granddaughter down with you into a life of hardship!"

"Melody, hurry up and get the paperwork done," my mother-in-law urged Melody.

Without wasting words, I entered the hall first.

Melody gazed at me with a complex expression for a moment before following me in.

In less than half an hour, the divorce papers were finalized.

As I was about to leave, Melody suddenly called out to me, handing me a card with a look of pity:

"Thank you for leaving the custody of our daughter and the house and assets to me."

"There's two thousand dollars on this card. Take care of yourself from now on."

Looking at her hypocritical face, I didn't even want to speak.

But I still took the card. After all, it was my hard-earned money. Only a fool would refuse it.

Next, I went to claim my prize.

Two hundred million dollars, minus taxes, quickly landed in my account.

I immediately arranged to meet Ivy for dinner.

When I was at my most helpless, she was the one who helped me.

Not just last night, but for so many years, every time my mother-in-law fell ill or we had major family expenses, Melody was never willing to swallow her pride and borrow money. It was always me begging Ivy for help, time and time again, that got us through those tough times.

So now that I've turned things around, I must repay her.

I asked her to meet me at a mall, then headed straight for the luxury stores to pick out gifts for her.

Ivy, worried that I might be acting on impulse, kept trying to pull me out, advising me:

"Nolan, this place is too expensive. Let's go somewhere else."

I stubbornly helped her choose suitable clothes and bags.

Just then, Melody walked into the store with my mother-in-law, our daughter, and William.

The moment she saw me, Melody's smiling face instantly fell.

"Nolan, are you actually following me?"