Joshua and Steve, who have known each other their whole lives, buy a lottery ticket together and agree to split any money they win. When they win the prize, Steve gets lost, which shocks Joshua. As rumors spread about Steve’s new, lavish lifestyle, Joshua learns that his friend has betrayed him, which starts a fight for justice.
Steve and I have been best friends since we were very young. We’ve been through a lot of storms together, both real and imagined.
I remember when my car broke down in the middle of nowhere.
I asked Steve to borrow his car for a week, and he agreed right away. Also, let’s not forget all the weekends he spent working on my house repairs.
In return, I’ve been there for him when things got tough. As he went through a messy split, I was there for him emotionally and financially when he needed to talk things over.
We were sitting on my porch on a wet Friday night, drinking beers and talking about life. We had no idea that this was the first step in a chain of events that would end our friendship.
“Hey Josh, ever think about what you’d do if you hit the jackpot?” Steve asked with a sly grin on his face.
I laughed and shook my head. “Man, I’d be rich if I had a dollar for every time I thought about that.” But really, I’d probably pay off the house and maybe take a trip around the world with my family.
Steve smiled. “Yes, the same here. But let’s agree to do something right now. No matter what, when we win the lottery, we split the money 50/50. Deal?”
I made a toast with my beer. “Okay. Each of us put in ten dollars, which made the ticket twenty dollars. “Don’t go back.”
It was just a joke. A dream come true. We didn’t think anything would come of it. But sometimes life will surprise you in a funny way.
We sat in the same place the next week with beers in our hands and scratched off our ticket. When the numbers lined up, I almost choked on my drink.
“Steve, do you see what I see?” My heart was beating fast in my chest as I stuttered.
Steve’s eyes got big, and he began to whoope with happiness. “Josh, holy cow! We did it! Ten million bucks!”
We jumped around and hugged like we were teenagers. I felt like I had a million ideas for how to make things better for my family. But first we had to have a party.
“Man, let’s go tell Reyna. Wow, this is amazing!” I said as I got up and saw my wife Reyna inside the house.
Steve stopped me, though, and he had a funny look on his face.
He said in a low voice, “Let’s keep this between us for a while.” “You know, figure out the best way to tell them.” I don’t want my ex to ask for more alimony.
It didn’t make sense, but I believed him. There was more than blood between us. I thought that.
The following days were a blur of happiness. Steve’s phone was off when I called to plan our big surprise. I thought, “No big deal.” He might have been taking a break.
But the days turned into weeks, and no one answered my calls. I even drove by his house a few times, but it was always dark and empty.
I was worried all the time. Did something bad happen to him? Was he in trouble? When I asked around, no one had seen or heard from him. He seemed to have disappeared.
While having dinner with Reyna one night, she told him about something she had heard from someone else.
“Did you hear Steve quit his job?” He also bought a house in Wyoming, right?”
There was a cold knot in my stomach. Wyoming? I hadn’t heard anything from him about that. I chose to look into it more.
Talk was going around. People saw Steve having a great time and throwing money around like it was confetti. My worry turned into a terrible discovery. He was not lost. He ran away! Staying hidden from me and our deal.
I was hurt very badly by being lied to. He had been there for me through good times and bad, and now he was leaving me out of something we had won together.
For a while, I looked through old texts and pictures on my phone. It was a picture of us outside the corner store with the winning ticket in our hands. Proof that we agreed to do this.
I gathered all the proof I could find because I was determined to make things right. Anything that could help my case, like texts or emails. It wasn’t just about the money; it was also about faith and morals.
Steve is being sued by me after talking to a lawyer.
It was clean and scary in the courtroom. The kind of place that makes you feel cold all over. I sat on one side with my lawyer, Sarah, next to me. Steve sat across from me with his lawyer.
He wouldn’t look at me at all.
Steve’s argument was very harsh. His lawyer made me look like a shady person who was trying to take advantage of an old friendship.
“Mr. Lambert,” Steve’s lawyer asked, “is it true that you are having money problems?” Doesn’t this case just seem like a way to get money for yourself at my client’s expense?”
I clenched my hands and tried not to make a noise. “That’s not true. We made a deal that this is about. Steve and I agreed to split the money we won. It has to do with trust and being honest.
Steve finally spoke, and his voice was cold. “Josh, you know things can change. I really didn’t think you’d follow through with this. Who would sue their best friend?”
There was a lump in my throat. “Who disappears with ten million dollars and leaves their best friend in the dark?” I fought back. “You went away, Steve. Not a single call or answer. “Just gone.”
You could feel the stress in the room. Sarah showed our proof, which included texts, emails, and that picture of us holding the winning ticket. Steve was deeply affected by the picture, and I could see a hint of shame on his face.
I broke my voice and said, “We had a deal.” “You promised, Steve.”
The court case went on for a long time. It was like a fresh wound was being opened every time. Steve’s defense got weaker, and we could both see how hard it was on him.
But I had to finish this. It wasn’t just for me; it was also for my family and the idea of being fair.
After what seemed like forever, the court finally found in my favor. Steve had to give me half of the jackpot plus interest.
The win was not what it seemed. I knew it was the end of a friendship I thought would last forever when the judge gave the decision.
I saw Steve walking up the driveway the day after the decision. I was sitting on my porch with a cup of coffee. He looked different—lost and smaller in some way.
He began, “Josh,” but his voice was shaking. “I’m really sorry. I was too stressed out. I did a terrible thing.”
“I know I have to pay the court fees too,” he said. “It’s too much for me to handle.” I really need you to help me. If you drop the case, I’ll give you three million dollars. It’s all I can afford without letting my life fall apart.”
I looked at him, and thoughts of times we had spent together in the past came back to me. He had been there for me so many times, through laughs and tears.
I had a desire to forgive him, accept the deal, and end this nightmare. But the lie hurt too much.
“Thank you for saying sorry, Steve,” I said in a low voice. “But I can’t take you up on your offer. It’s not just about the money. It’s about what we stood for. “The idea behind our agreement is too important.”
Steve slouched and nodded, but tears were in his eyes. “I get it. I made a big mistake, right?”
“Yeah,” I replied, my voice heavy with feeling. “Yes, you did. But this could be a chance for both of us to start over.
As I watched him walk away, I felt a strange mix of comfort and sadness. This marked the end of an age and the start of a new one.
Steve had to sell all of his things to follow the court’s order. There was a sudden end to his lavish way of life. Friends we both had told me that he was having a hard time rebuilding his life and that he was now living more simply.
As for me, I got my fair share of the money: five and a half million dollars after interest.
I got rid of my bills, bought a nice house for my family, and made smart investments. The stable finances were a plus, but the lessons learned were priceless.
I thought about the hard lessons I had learned about friendship and trust. I was tougher and more careful after what happened. I promised myself that I would be more careful from now on so that no one could take advantage of me again.
Things kept going. Putting my attention on my family and the things that really counted helped me rebuild. When Steve lied to me, I was hurt, but the scar would always remind me of how important confidence is and how much it costs to lie.