Chapter 3 – Get out of a deathtrap. 1

Whoever is mindful of Allah,

He will make a way out for him,

and provide for him

from where he does not expect.

And whoever relies on Allah,

then He is sufficient for him.

[Quran 65:2-3]

1.Sung woo Side

I immediately sent a message to Junghwa.

"Junghwa, we won the lottery. The Mega Millions ticket you gave me hit the $350 million jackpot. Thank you so much!"

For a moment, Junghwa didn’t respond. [Is she glitching? Did an error occur?]

I could see the loading icon of her thinking system spinning frantically.

A moment later, she replied. "Congratulations, Dad! The hard hat is goodbye, your happy life begins now."

Indeed, the misery has ended; the happiness has begun.

But suddenly, a wave of anxiety washed over me.

I had to go to the United States with the lottery agency. Could I really trust them?

This isn't $1 million or $10 million. It is $350 million. What if they have other intentions? I asked Junghwa, my advisor.

[Junghwa, the agency says they’ll provide a flight, hotel, local guards, lawyers, and accountants if I win. But I don't have friends in America, and I don't know who the agency is. If I rely only on them and something goes wrong, it’s not just the end for me—it’s the end for my son, too. Is there any other way?]

I could see Junghwa’s system spinning furiously.

[Dad! First, call a wealth management firm that operates a 'Family Office' in the U.S. Tell them you’ve won the Mega Millions jackpot, request to place the winnings in a trust, and ask for personal protection. It is common practice for Family Offices to provide such services to high-net-worth individuals.]

[Which one do you recommend?]

[I recommend the J.P. Morgan Family Office. They manage vast assets and are highly regarded for their Family Office operations. Oh! And when they connect you, be sure to ask for a Korean-speaking banker. If things are lost in translation, it could cause issues. You need someone who can accurately understand the gravity of this financial matter.]

Junghwa showed me the hotline to the J.P. Morgan Family Office.

0011****... Maybe it was because it had been so long since I made an international call, but I could see my hands trembling.

"Hello, J.P. Morgan Family Office? I’m Korean, I need a Korean translator."

A moment later, an unfamiliar yet sweet voice came through. "Hello, this is Jennifer Kim."

I explained the situation, and she calmly requested a photo of the physical lottery ticket. Following Junghwa’s instructions, I carefully covered the barcode and sent the photo. Five minutes later, the phone rang again.

"This is Jennifer. Sir, J.P. Morgan has decided to take you on as a VIP client. All safety services will be provided immediately."

"Yes, I agree."

"Please tell me your current location."

"I live in Gijang, Busan."

"Police and a limousine will arrive shortly. Please pack only a few light essentials and head to the hotel we have reserved for you. From this moment on, we are responsible for your family's safety. I will see you tomorrow."

Jennifer, who was in the U.S. said she would see me tomorrow—what did she mean? Just then, I heard the sound of police sirens outside, followed by the doorbell ringing. "This is the police. Are you Mr. Lee Sung Woo?"

I froze. The power of money was truly terrifying.

2. Jennifer’s Side

1:00 AM, New York time. An interpretation request was forwarded to me through the night-shift desk. The voice of the man on the phone was somewhat agitated. But the moment I verified the photo of the lottery ticket he sent, my fingertips trembled.

This was no ordinary win. A $350 million Mega Millions jackpot.

This was not a size I could handle alone as a rookie banker freshly assigned to the Family Office.

I immediately called my direct supervisor, Director Richard. A heavy-set man with a glaringly bald head. He was the kind of man who would sometimes creepily scan the hem of my skirt with lecherous eyes, making my skin crawl, but he was also a seasoned banker who had survived decades in this business, building a formidable network of connections.

After the phone rang for a long time, a groggy, irritated voice finally answered.

"Kim... it’s 1 AM. Are you out of your mind?"

"Richard, I'm sorry to wake you, but check my secure messenger right now. I have a client in Busan, South Korea, and we need to activate the VIP personal protection protocol."

Richard, who must have opened the messenger with sheer annoyance, swallowed a scream the moment he saw the $350 million ticket on the screen.

"Oh, Jesus..."

Fully awake now, Richard moved as fast as a beast. It took him less than a minute to activate his web-like global network and make a direct call to a high-ranking police official in South Korea (where it was currently 2:00 PM) to take control of the situation.

"Mr. Lee Sung-woo, residing in Gijang, Busan, is an ultra-high-net-worth VIP of J.P. Morgan. Dispatch your police forces immediately to strictly protect his safety. If any issues arise regarding the client's safety, it will be considered a grave affront at the corporate level."

After hanging up, Richard shouted at me, panting heavily.

"Kim! Tell them to prep the company jet right now. Get your ass to Korea!"

"What? But it’s 1 AM..."

"Are you fucking kidding me? Every bloodsucking bastard out there is gonna smell that pile of cash. It's your ass on the line if he walks to someone else! Get over there and lock him down whatever it takes. Fuck him if you have to, just bring him in!"

The call disconnected. Yes, Richard was right. Before this colossal fortune becomes a target for crime, before other bastards snatch him away, I must fly there myself and open his 'exit'.