Chapter 3

From a distance, Dad saw my brother and me surrounded by the crowd and his brow furrowed deeply. It was obvious something had happened.

Seeing Dad approach, my body tensed up sharply, my nails digging deep into my palms.

The neighbors all talked at once, complaining to Dad that my brother had laid hands on me.

Dad immediately flew into a rage, raising his hand to slap my brother's face. Just as the slap was about to land, my brother shouted: "Stella won a five-million-dollar jackpot!"

"That's not true! My brother made a mistake!" My eyes reddened with anxiety, my voice trembling.

"It's absolutely true! I even took a photo of the ticket." My brother's tone was agitated as he eagerly showed his phone to Dad.

The moment Dad's gaze fell on the screen, his eyes trembled slightly. Then he stared fixedly at the image, frozen in place.

I called out anxiously: "Dad..."

When he looked at me again, Dad's eyes were bloodshot. He raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face.

"He told you to tear up that ticket—why didn't you listen!"

My heart was utterly shattered, yet I still bit down hard and argued: "The family really needs money. Mom's illness needs treatment, you need money to pay your debts, my brother needs to get married, and I want to go back to school."

"You heartless bastard, how dare you talk back to me!"

Dad rushed over, pressing my head hard against the wall with one hand while the other went for my pocket.

Just then Mom rushed over, pushing Dad away forcefully and shielding me behind her.

"What are you doing? Stella's forehead is bleeding!"

Mom yelled at Dad.

But Dad wasn't angry. He just laughed coldly: "You feel sorry for her, but this heartless bastard doesn't deserve to be our child."

After Dad said this, all the neighbors were shocked.

Everyone knew that Dad usually loved me, his daughter, the most—treating me like a precious gem. No one could believe he would say such things about his own daughter.

Mom clutched her chest in anger and asked: "What on earth happened?"

My brother handed over his phone. I quickly blocked Mom, looking at her with pleading eyes. "Mom, don't look at it. Don't believe them."

I knew that once Mom looked at the phone and learned I'd won the jackpot, she would immediately disown me as her daughter.

Mom held me in her arms, softly comforting me: "Don't worry. Your dad and brother are probably just confused about something. Once I figure it out, everything will be fine."

I shook my head desperately: "No, Mom, don't believe them. If you believe what they're saying, you won't love me anymore."

"Stella, don't worry. No matter what happens, I'll be on your side. I love you more than anyone in the world."

She looked at me with gentle eyes, trying to reassure me.

Just then Dad lost his patience and shouted at Mom: "She won a five-million-dollar jackpot! The ticket's in her pocket."

After hearing Dad's words, Mom's face changed drastically. Her originally gentle features became twisted, a sinister gleam flashing in her eyes, frightening me so much I trembled all over.

Her face went pale as she forced out a stiff, bitter smile and looked at me.