A LOTTERY winner who scooped a staggering £450,000 says it ruined her life.
The woman has become bombarded by her family members who wanted a chunk of her cash.
The woman said her parents believed they deserved the money[/caption]She explained how what first started as a dream come true has since become a living nightmare.
“I never thought winning the lottery would be anything other than a dream come true,” she wrote on Reddit.
“But here I am, with more money than I ever imagined, and it feels like my life is falling apart.”
Her troubles first started with her boyfriend, who took it upon himself to decide what they would do with the cash.
“I couldn’t believe my eyes – I had won £450,000. At first, I was in shock.
“I called my boyfriend, James, and he rushed over, equally ecstatic.
“We were both over the moon, dreaming of what we could do with the money. But the dream quickly turned into a nightmare.”
She said James wanted to quit his job, buy a luxury car and invest in ‘risky’ ventures.
“When I suggested we take things slow and maybe talk to a financial advisor, he got defensive. He accused me of not trusting him and said I was trying to control everything,” she explained.
She won the staggering amount of money after buying a lottery ticket on a whim.
It wasn’t until she saw the number draw on TV and realised she’d won.
The woman added: “Then my family got involved. My parents, who I’ve always had a strained relationship with, suddenly wanted to reconnect.
“They started dropping hints about their financial struggles and how they could use some help.”
After having issues with her parents, her sister also wanted a share of the winnings.
“My sister, who’s always been jealous of me, outright demanded a share, saying she deserved it for all the times she ‘supported’ me. It felt like they were all looking at me differently, like I was just a bank to them now.”
Her boyfriend started to distance himself from her and they eventually split up.
The lottery winner said that when he moved out, he took some of the money with him as a “parting gift”.
At the time, her parents became “more aggressive” in their demands for the cash.
Her mum and dad believed they were entitled to her winnings because they’d raised her.
“My sister called me greedy and accused me of abandoning my family. I felt trapped and overwhelmed, unable to make anyone happy,” the woman added.
“I’m alone with my fortune, but I’ve never felt poorer. My family is barely speaking to me, and I’ve lost someone I thought I’d spend my life with.
“I’ve hired a financial advisor and a therapist to help me navigate this new reality, but the emotional toll is immense.”