I couldn't be bothered with him. I moved to leave, but Aunt Diane Hale grabbed my arm.
"Corinne. I heard your mother already transferred the house into your sister's name?"
"So it looks like you won't be getting a single penny from that demolition payout, will you?"
Aunt Diane's eyes swept over me with undisguised contempt. "You know, you're not getting any younger. Why not find someone to marry while you still can? My nephew is about your age—he sells pork at the town market. Makes a decent living, tens of thousands a year. What do you say?"
Her nephew. Five foot two, pushing two hundred fifty pounds, didn't even finish elementary school.
I shook off her grip, my voice flat. "Not interested."
Uncle Robert's brow furrowed instantly. "Corinne, what kind of attitude is that?"
"Your aunt is doing you a favor by offering her nephew. Show some gratitude!"
He stepped closer, jabbing a finger toward me. "Let's be honest—your father's dead, your mother can't stand you. Once they tear down that house, you won't even have a roof over your head. If you don't lock down a husband now, how exactly do you plan to survive?"
I let out a cold laugh. "That's my problem. Don't trouble yourselves."
I turned and walked away without looking back.
From there, I went straight to the State Lottery Office.
Verified my winnings. Paid the taxes. Signed the paperwork.
By the time I walked out with tens of millions of dollars deposited in my account, night had fallen. I booked a room at a five-star hotel.
That evening, I ate the kind of expensive French cuisine I'd never dared to order. I slept in the kind of luxury suite I'd never dared to imagine.
For the first time in my life, I understood what people meant when they said money changed everything.
It was incredible.
The next morning, I took a cab to Emerald Oasis.
The most exclusive development in the entire city.
The kind of place I used to feel guilty just glancing at when I walked past.
But today, I was here to buy a home of my own.
The moment I mentioned paying in full, the sales manager—a man named Jordan Dickerson—came out personally to greet me.
Manager Dickerson was professional and efficient. When I told him I wanted a move-in-ready villa, he showed me several options.
In the end, I chose the one with the best location, the best views, and the interior that suited my taste perfectly.
Total price: two and a half million dollars.