The Victorious Emerging Son In-Law

PTE

wandered slowly down the busy sidewalk lost in thought. Hands stuffed in his pockets, shoulde

phone, feeling alone. Then

ng. Bruce br

time!" Fred an

orced pleasantries,

hesitation. "E

over, Fred. Lydia served me pape

nful events as Fred

. I'm sorry," Fred said g

face. "I just feel lost, y

've got this friend here for you.

amiliar voice. "Thanks for listening. It

through this toget

light in the darkness. He had h

ges things." He gave Fred a brief rundown of Lydia's astronomical success rapidly overshadowing everyth

in all the expected places as Bruce recounted Lydia's family

o climbed so high only to willfully throw away something so real and loyal.

eved that, Fred. I do. Now she has it all - the glitz, glamour, presti

med with hope...before disenchantment left everything a little more lacklustre in reality. Time slipped by unnoticed as

ess walk transported him across town. As he bid Fred a goodbye heavy with the loneliness of losing his oldest local frien

d through the gritty streets somehow still pulsing with boisterous Friday night energy that now grated against his raw emotional state

ters to collapse, Bruce's phone vibrated insistently in his pants. Probably Fred texting one last message of support or

ut Bruce's spiralling thoughts at the sheer number of texts an

l company confirming his upcoming test drive...a bank asking for verification b

on his lips unspoken. His thumb hovered over one seemingly leg

t," ran the preamble detail that barely registered. It was the followi

l lottery. Per your minor previous participation agreement directing all lump award sums into a p

Bruce's pulse roared in his ears, nearly drowning out the discordant music and raucous vo

s lap it hardly computed as actual money in any tangible sense. Bruce grappled helplessly to gr

m...some cruel targeted joke...Yet even as prudence instinctually tamped down the bubbling hysteri

ed to authenticate against reputable sources. As each credible confirmation trickled gradually in, the fragile fortress w

Bruce held a digital golden ticket worth enough money to

lled the lottery commission directly instead, verifying funds availability. Once satisfied no dirty loopholes existe

nal lawyers would descend, spurred by six-figure retainer incentives to rapidly construct an anonymous financial lattice

rything - former versions of reality, scopes of ambition, self-doubts over inadequacy. Even Lydia's seemin

sway any longer? Oh, Lydia would choke on bitterness and disbelief if this u

He could crush Nicholson Enterprises under his heel without breaking a sweat now, salt the ear

really. Untold extravagances could rain down in seconds on command if ever desired. But that held little appeal. No, it was the boundless independently f

pose surged through him though, echoes of bittersweet nostalgia swirled - memories of a starry-eyed woman who once dreamt and planned excitedly by his side at the genesis of