REBIRTH: SEVEN DAYS BEFORE DOOMSDAY

PISSED OFF

Thirty minutes and an intense but silent car ride later, I parked the car in front of the supermarket where I had bought the lottery ticket.

There were two places I could redeem the lottery. From the lottery commission headquarters, or from the supermarket I had bought the ticket from.

Most people expected me to go to the headquarters, so I knew the building would be full of people and paparazzi.

When we stepped out of the car, I let out a groan. For once, I was glad I was wearing a disguise.

The supermarket was packed full.

I pulled the sunglasses over my eyes, adjusted the brim of my hat, and followed right behind Harris as we began to walk towards the supermarket.

He was large enough that he pretty much covered me from the prying eyes of the few media trucks around. I was really glad he had decided to come with me.

Even with forty million dollars waiting for me, I couldn't afford to be careless.

The building wasn't particularly large, and even though there had clearly been an effort by the owner of the building to clear out the entrance of the supermarket, it was still full of people.

It didn’t take long before I began to notice the stares.

One person looked at me, and then nudged the closest person. It didn’t take long before the whispers began to spread.

“Oh my god!” someone audibly gasped, “Is that her?”

"Yes, that’s her.”

That's the lottery winner."

"That's Kara. They said she was going to get forty million after taxes. I’m so jealous."

Someone even raised their phone and began to take pictures. I urged Harris to walk faster, and he did.

As we picked up our pace, I turned my face away from the camera. This was exactly what I didn’t need. I did not want to be famous, and now I knew my face was about to be plastered all over the internet.

"Don't worry about them," he said quietly as he led me through the crowd that was now beginning to form around us,

"I'm not worried." I hissed under my breath as I adjusted my purse, “I’m just annoyed.”

He chuckled in response, and kept silent as we entered the building. By the time we stepped in, the owner of the supermarket was waiting for us with his head bowed, and a cheeky smile on his lips.

He quickly motioned for a security guard to lock the doors, and then, quickly began to attend to me.

The verification process took some time, but thankfully, there were no major complications. I signed the necessary documents, confirmed my identity and completed the claim.

It took an extra ten minutes before he completed the final confirmation, and when he was done, I signed my name, and picked up the documents.

“Thank you so much, Ms. Kara,” he said with a warm smile on his face, “I am sorry about the ruckus outside, and I would like to assure you that the cashier who released your identity has been fired. You should get your money in the next hour.”

I picked up my documents and stood up, “Good.” I nodded, not saying anything as I turned around and walked out of the supermarket with Harris in tow.

The security guard opened the doors, and we had barely taken three steps outside into the parking lot when a loud voice called out my name.

"KARA!"

My blood ran cold, and I stopped. I could recognize that voice even in my sleep. I didn’t even need to turn around to know that it was Ethan.

But I did turn around, because I could hear him stomping towards me. My brows furrowed as I watched him rush towards me with a face that was twisted in rage and anger.

His eyes immediately landed on Harris, then back to me, before landing again on Harris.

"What is he doing here?" Ethan demanded. “Is he why you have been acting different? Is he who you are cheating on me with?”

I stared at him and just kept silent. Harris clearly wanted to say something, but I stretched out my hand, stopping him. I could handle this myself.

He did not like that. “Doesn’t he have his own money? Why is he here collecting my money?”

That was when I noticed something. He wasn’t angry because he lost me, and he wasn’t here in a foolish attempt to get me back. No, Ethan was here because I had won the lottery.

"Your money?" I finally asked,

"Yes." He hissed as he took a step forward, "Do you really think you could disappear and collect forty million dollars without telling your husband?"

There it was. That word again, the one that made me sick: ‘husband.’

"We're divorced." I hissed,

"Not yet," Ethan answered with a smile, “And until that divorce is finalized, then, we are married. And since we are married, that means all the money you won is mine.”

People around us had taken out their phones and were taking videos. I didn’t care about them or Ethan.

I looked up at him with annoyance in my gaze. “Ethan,” I hissed out his name as though it was a curse, “Move,”

"No," He stepped closer. "You don't get to do this. You don’t get to take my money and run.”

"I bought the ticket," I said calmly. "I won the lottery. The money is mine."

"You are my wife!" he roared, his voice loud enough that some of the people taking videos took steps back in shock,

"And?" I asked, seemingly unconcerned about his outbursts.

His face reddened. "And that means I'm entitled to it!"

I gave him a cold smile. "How much do you think you are entitled to, half?"

"Half?" he chuckled, “No, I am the husband. I should have all of it.”

“No,” I said, “Once again, I am going to ask you kindly to move.”

His jaw tightened. "You can't just refuse."

"Watch me," I said, and took a step to the side,

"You're my wife. Everything you own belongs to us." He roared, and took a step towards me,

I felt my muscles tense as he walked closer to me,

I had seen that rage in his eyes before, so I knew what he was about to do.

"Ethan, don't." I growled,

He didn’t listen, he was far too mad to.

Ethan raised his hand, he was clearly trying to slap me.

Everything slowed around me, my instincts took over, and I reached for my power, but just before I could do something, Harris moved.

His hand shot forward and caught Ethan's wrist mid-swing.

I froze, and so did everyone else as Harris took a step forward with his grip still locked tight around Ethan’s wrist.

And judging by his expression, Harris was as pissed as I was.