"Cassandra is blessed with such good fortune."
Ice crawled down my spine.
Three days ago, I'd won the lottery. One million dollars after taxes.
I'd told exactly one person.
My husband, Abner Fletcher.
And he'd told his mother. Who had apparently decided my money was hers to distribute.
"No."
I set down my chopsticks. My voice didn't waver.
The smile froze on my mother-in-law's face.
"What did you say?"
"I said no. I'm not following this rule."
I looked at every face around that table.
"Last year, the winner got a reward. The year before that, a reward. But when I win, suddenly I'm the one paying out? How does that work?"
"The rules change every year." Abner tugged at my sleeve under the table, voice low and pleading. "Mom decides."
"Why does she get to decide?"
I shook off his hand.
"Why did everyone else win money, but I'm supposed to lose money? Is this your idea of fair?"
"Watch your mouth!" My father-in-law slammed his palm on the table. "It's New Year's Eve! Stop bringing bad luck to this family!"
"I'm the bad luck here?"
I laughed.
"Not the person who rigged the game against me?"
My mother-in-law's face went gray.