Liam Annie Brenda NovelStolen Scratch-Off: I Left Her With Nothing

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At the company's annual party, they handed out gag gifts: a prank scratch-off ticket for everyone. Each one was a winner of a hundred million dollars.
I thought it was lame, so I just took it home without scratching it.
But when I came out of the shower, the ticket was gone, and my wife had a look of pure ecstasy on her face.
I was about to tell her it was a fake.
But in the next second, my mother-in-law burst through the door. Annie, divorce him! Now! I always said this good-for-nothing wasnt worthy of you!
Youre a hundred-millionaire now! You can have any man you want!
Without a second thought, my wife, Annie, agreed. I know, Mom. Ive already made the appointment. Were going tomorrow!
Then she turned to me, her expression a caricature of innocence. Youre not going to try and claim this ticket is yours, are you?
I already checked. Lottery tickets are bearer instruments. Finders keepers.
Liam, my moms right, she said, her voice dripping with contempt. A loser like you isnt good enough for me anymore.
My heart turned to ice.
I turned and quietly put away the gift Id bought her with my million-dollar year-end bonus.
If I wasn't good enough for her, then she didn't deserve any of this.

Did you hear me? Pack your things and get out!
Youre a grown man. Dont tell me youre going to try and squat in this house after the divorce?
My mother-in-law, Brenda, pointed a finger at me, her face a mask of smug triumph. My daughter may be rich now, but shes not stupid.
She suffered with you for years. Its only fair she gets some compensation for her emotional distress!
I was stunned, staring at Annie, trying to process it. You really want a divorce?
She shot me a look, the disgust in her eyes impossible to hide. Thats right.
Ive been married to you for five years, and Ive never even owned a real Herms bag. What good are you?
You never gave me the good life. Now that I have my own money, its only natural that Id divorce you. You brought this on yourself.
I suddenly felt like the worlds biggest fool.
For five years, I had given her my entire paycheckfifteen thousand dollars a monthwithout fail. The house and the car we bought after we married were all in her name. The bags I bought her werent Herms, sure, but some of them cost more than a luxury car.
And she had the nerve to say I never gave her a good life.
Seeing my silence, Brenda thought I was refusing. Dont you even think about trying to steal my daughters ticket! she shrieked. Thats hers! It has nothing to do with you!
You never worked hard enough to support her, and now youre after her money? Youre shameless!
Everyone in the neighborhood says itthat Annie married a freeloader!
And they were right!
Annie turned away. Mom, stop. Its embarrassing just talking about it.
They had no idea. The company had just promoted me to General Manager, with a 5% stake in the business. If it weren't for this, Annie would have been set for life, the wife of a very wealthy man.
But now, it seemed fate had other plans for her.
I looked at them, a cynical smile on my face. The company gave me that ticket at the party. All of my colleagues can vouch for it.
Annie clutched her pocket protectively and then kicked my shin. Are you that desperate for money?
Have some dignity, Liam! The ticket belongs to whoever holds it!
Just then, another figure burst through the door.
He swept Annie up into a hug. Annie, is it true? Did you really win a hundred million?
It was my best friend, Dylan.
Hed given me so much advice when I was trying to win Annie over.
I never imagined he would be holding her in his arms, right in front of me.
And Annie, the moment she thought she was rich, had called him first.
It was obvious what was going on between them.
Annie dropped the act. She wrapped her arms around Dylans neck. Its true, Dylan. From now on, how about I take care of you?
Dylan, I think youre my good luck charm!
It must be because you kissed me today. Thats why I won!
So really, you deserve a share of this prize money!
My head was spinning.
The ticket was stolen from me, so my luck had nothing to do with it. But Dylan cheats with my wife, kisses her, and he gets a cut?
The sight of them made my stomach churn.
I remembered the first time I saw her, feeding stray cats. I was so drawn to her kindness, her innocence. I pursued her for three years, and I cherished her. A few years ago, when the company was struggling, I felt so guilty that I couldn't afford to buy her a nice gift with a bonus.
Now, I finally had a million-dollar bonus to give her.
And a single, fake lottery ticket had shown me just how pathetic my devotion had been.