Chapter 1

“Let’s congratulate the first prize winner, Chloe Taylor!”

When I heard my boss, Vincent Peterson’s, familiar husky voice, I noticed that I had returned to the past.

Hearing that I won the first prize, my colleagues cheered for me, and my best friend, Cathy Carter, hugged me. “Chloe, you’re really lucky! I’m so jealous of you!”

But I did not feel any joy at all. The horrors of what I had experienced were still burning vividly in my mind.

In the past, I excitedly went on stage to receive the prize. I wanted to use that money to get my mother a new phone.

But Vincent suddenly announced that he had doubled the prize because my performance last year was outstanding. In the end, I received $6,000.

But before I could feel happy, Cathy egged me on to treat them, and Vincent threatened to fire me if I ruined the mood.

In the end, I had to pay for the Christmas meal that Vincent had preordered, and I paid an additional $50,000.

After I paid the bill, Cathy and Vincent abandoned my drunken self at the roadside, and they sweetly left arm in arm.

In the end, I froze to death at the roadside.

I felt a shiver down my spine. When I recalled Cathy’s wicked face, I instinctively pushed her away.

Cathy did not mind it, but she urged me to go on the stage and receive the prize.

Vincent kept calling my name, and I was forced to go and receive the prize in the end.

I never imagined that winning a prize could fill me with unease, even fear.

I dragged myself toward the stage with heavy legs.

Vincent handed me the card with the prize amount written on it. Perhaps he had noticed my emotions because he said teasingly, “It’s my first time seeing someone unhappy for winning a prize. Chloe, smile!”

I felt like the card I held was a death warrant. How was it possible for me to smile? But I still forced out an awkward and ugly smile.

Vincent continued teasingly, “Chloe, you’re not disappointed with the prize money, are you?

“It’s my fault for not being good enough as a boss. I declare that the first prize will be double the amount!”

The crowd erupted in cheers. My colleagues watched with jealousy, but Cathy clapped and cheered happily for me.

I was stunned and unable to say anything. If this continued, what happened to me in the past would happen again.

I grabbed the microphone from Vincent. “I want to pass up the prize to someone else.”

The crowd instantly fell quiet. Vincent frowned. He wanted to say something, but someone shouted from below the stage.

“Chloe, you’re amazing!”

“Chloe, please give it to me. I’ll have the money to buy food for my son!”

“Chloe, can you give it to me? I need another $6,000 to buy the newest phone!”

I ignored all the voices and looked at Cathy, whose face had darkened slightly. “I want to give the prize to my best friend, Cathy.”

Cathy’s lips twitched. She did not feel happy about it. I could feel that this situation was more complicated than I had previously expected.

When Cathy tried to stand up to say something, Vincent grabbed the microphone from me.

“It’s a bit unfair if you just give it away to someone. Why don’t we just have another lucky draw?”

Before I could consider it further, my colleagues below the stage enthusiastically agreed.

That was fine with me. I did not think that I would be chosen again in another lucky draw.

The lottery machine on the screen began to spin again. [Three, two, one, stop—]