Chapter 2: A Taste of Change

Jackim stood in front of the Bright Star Lottery Office, gripping his ticket tightly. The neon sign flickered, casting a faint glow on the street. His heart pounded.

Was this real? Had he really won?

Stepping inside, he was greeted by a middle-aged clerk with graying hair. She barely glanced up from her computer.

"Ticket?" she asked, her tone uninterested.

Jackim slid the paper across the counter, his hands slightly trembling. The clerk took it, typed something into the system, then suddenly paused. Her eyes widened slightly before she looked up at him.

"Wait here," she muttered before disappearing into the back room.

Jackim frowned. Was there a problem?

Moments later, a man in a suit emerged, adjusting his tie as he approached. His eyes held a mix of curiosity and surprise.

"Congratulations, Mr. Jackson," he said, extending a hand. "You've won $250,000."

Jackim felt his breath hitch. A quarter of a million dollars?

It wasn't an amount that could buy mansions or sports cars, but to him? It was life-changing.

After signing the necessary paperwork, Jackim left the lottery office with a check in hand. The cool evening air hit his face as he stood outside, staring at it.

$250,000.

His entire life, he had struggled for every meal, endured humiliation, and had nothing to his name. And now, with a single piece of paper, everything had changed.

Or so he thought.

Jackim walked into Grand Emerald Bank, his heartbeat quickening. He had never stepped foot in such a luxurious place before. The marble floors gleamed, chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and the scent of expensive perfume lingered in the air.

The moment he approached the counter, the receptionist, a woman in a neatly pressed uniform, gave him a once-over. Her polite smile wavered.

"Sir, are you lost?" she asked, her tone dripping with condescension.

Jackim exhaled slowly. It had already begun.

"I need to deposit this," he said, sliding the check forward.

The woman's eyes flickered to it, and her expression instantly changed. Her back straightened, her voice suddenly professional.

"Of course, sir! Right this way!"

Jackim followed her to a private booth where a bank manager, a well-dressed man in his forties, welcomed him with a broad smile.

"Mr. Jackson, congratulations on your win! We'd be happy to assist you in managing your funds."

The hypocrisy was so obvious it was almost laughable. Just seconds ago, they had looked down on him.

Now, he was "Mr. Jackson."

After completing the deposit, Jackim left the bank with his new debit card and a sense of unease.

Money changed everything.

The first thing Jackim did was buy himself a new outfit—nothing extravagant, just decent jeans, a fresh white T-shirt, and a black jacket. He wanted to see something.

Walking into The Golden Spoon, one of the most expensive restaurants in town, he immediately felt the stares. The hostess, a blonde woman in a red dress, looked him up and down, barely hiding her disdain.

"I'm sorry, sir," she said with a fake smile. "We have a reservation-only policy."

Jackim smirked. He had watched three customers walk in before him without a reservation.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his debit card. "Check my account."

The woman hesitated but typed something into her system. Then, her entire demeanor changed.

"Apologies, Mr. Jackson! Right this way!"

Jackim followed her to a private table, his expression unreadable. So this was the power of money.

But he wasn't here to celebrate. This was just a test.

Even with his winnings, he was still looked down upon.

And he knew… this was just the beginning.

That night, as Jackim lay in his small, rented apartment, his phone buzzed.

An unknown number.

He hesitated before answering.

"Jackim Jackson?" a deep voice asked.

His body tensed. "Who's asking?"

There was a pause before the man spoke again.

"You don't know me… but I know you."

Jackim frowned. "What do you want?"

The voice chuckled. "It's not about what I want. It's about what's rightfully yours."

Jackim sat up, gripping the phone.

"Check your mailbox tomorrow. Your life is about to change."

Before he could respond, the line went dead.

Jackim stared at his phone, heart pounding.

What the hell was happening?

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