I couldn't stomach another second of their nauseating conversation. I hung up.
Then I turned to my mom, who'd been waiting eagerly for her son-in-law to arrive so they could all go claim the prize together, and told her everything.
Tears spilled from her clouded eyes.
She trembled with rage, gripping my hand so tightly her knuckles went white. This woman, well past fifty, was too hurt to even speak.
My heart sank. I looked her straight in the eyes and said firmly, "Mom, you're the one who won the lottery. Don't tell Clement."
She looked confused, so I explained slowly: "Since he wants to be heartless, let him stay in the dark. After the divorce is finalized, we'll tell him the truth—and watch just how far he's willing to go."
A few minutes later, there was rustling outside the door. The electronic lock beeped, and the door swung open with force.
Clement James walked in. The moment he saw me and my mother, undisguised disgust flickered across his face.
He sneered. "What's this? Heard my mom won the lottery and came running to beg for scraps?"
Before I could respond, he glared at me, his eyes sharp with hostility and suspicion. "Don't even think about getting your hands on my money, Zelda."
"Sign this agreement and get the hell out of my house—take your mother with you."
What I hadn't expected was that he'd be so eager he'd actually brought divorce papers with him.
I studied his smug, self-satisfied face with detached amusement, then smiled meaningfully.
"Are you sure you want a divorce?"
Clement lifted his chin, staring down at me with naked contempt, as if the money were already in his pocket.
"Absolutely certain. I'm about to be a millionaire. And you?" He looked me up and down, wagging his finger dismissively. After a long moment, he shook his head with a mocking click of his tongue. "Tsk, tsk. The daughter of a butcher—tell me, what exactly made you think you were ever worthy of me?"
"I always said I'd make it big someday. When we got married, I asked your parents to buy me a Porsche, and they refused. Well, look at me now—I've hit the jackpot! Someone must be drowning in regret."
He shot a pointed glance at my mother, then quickly looked away.
Whistling cheerfully, he sauntered from room to room, clearly in high spirits.
"Mom! Come out! Your son's here to take you to claim the prize!"