How Lucky Can You Be

Sometimes, all it takes is one ticket to change everything.

According to the North Carolina Education Lottery, a Union County woman is celebrating a life-changing win after purchasing a scratch-off ticket at a local Publix.

Haya Freitekh bought an $8 Million Money Maker ticket at the Publix on Providence Road South in Marvin—and walked away with the game’s top prize of $8 million.

When it came time to claim her winnings, she had a big decision to make: receive $400,000 a year over 20 years or take a one-time lump sum. Freitekh chose the lump sum option, taking home $3,456,494 after taxes.

It’s a reminder that sometimes luck really does strike when you least expect it—and maybe, just maybe, your next stop at the store could be a lucky one too.