Chapter 4

I lowered my head to sip my soup, giving a slight nod.

My calmness seemed to infuriate him most.

He slammed his bowl to the floor, sending shards flying.

"I saw that ticket! The one I wanted! If you'd just given it to me, that five million would be mine! That money should be mine!"

Watching his outburst, I felt nothing but absurdity.

"I bought it first. Why would I give it to you?"

"We...we're married, Ava."

Now he remembers we're married? Where was that thought when he killed my father? When he destroyed my life?

"I don't care! The winner was supposed to be me. Go get that ticket back."

He screamed hysterically, as if he'd lost his mind.

I ignored him and went back to my room.

Derek made a call from the living room. No doubt, it was Scarlett on the other end.

He'd taken a hit here and needed to go back to his comfort zone.

I wanted to push him to his limits.

After all, even a cornered dog will bite.

It wasn't surprising he was desperate, because right about now...

Scarlett had just found out she was pregnant.

It was the same timing as in my previous life, only I had found out later.

Derek desperately wanted to divorce me now.

If he didn't, his and Scarlett's child would be born a bastard,

and they'd constantly face the risk of me finding out and kicking them out.

But he had no job and no money. His only income was the money I gave him.

That's why he was so furious when he saw the follower win $5 million.

Because in his eyes, that lottery ticket rightfully belonged to him.

He was the one who asked me for it first. I just didn't give it to him.

It wasn't just $5 million; it was his leverage to divorce me.

While Derek was out, I installed hidden cameras in discreet corners of the house.

Then, I picked up my phone and made a call.

"Yes, I've decided to participate in your reality show."

I slept for a whole afternoon in my room.

When I woke up, Derek was back, and Scarlett was there too.

The shattered bowl from lunch had been cleaned up, and Scarlett was cooking dinner in the kitchen.

Seeing me come out, Scarlett rushed over and grabbed my hand.

"Ava, Derek didn't mean it this afternoon. He told me he was just really upset."

"Ava, don't hold it against him."

I pulled my hand away and sat down at the dining table, resting my chin on my hand.

I smiled. "I'm not holding it against him. Winning or not winning is just a matter of luck."

"You should blame Derek for his bad luck."

He certainly had bad luck.

After all, I was reborn on the day he went to buy that lottery ticket.

Thinking this, I tried hard to suppress the corners of my mouth from turning up.

To be fair, Derek was an excellent cook. Had he been honest, I wouldn't have minded increasing his monthly allowance.

But he wasn't content with honesty. He needed a mistress too.

"Darling, could you lend me $150,000? I'm looking to invest in stocks."

Me: "Didn't you just lose $75,000 in the market last month?"

"I'm not even asking about that $75,000, but this $150,000 is absolutely out of the question."

Derek: "But-"

Scarlett's sudden retching cut him off.

I set down my fork, feigning surprise. "Scarlett, are you... pregnant?"