Marina answers “Thank you, I was wondering too. So ......”

Susan Random asked this question about Just My Luck:

Thank you, I was wondering too. So ... despite her goodygoody ethos throughout the entire book, Lewis lied about the other two couples dropping out of the syndicate?

Marina JW WARNING - SPOILERS. I thought that when I first finished the book but then, after having time for the story to really sink in, I realised something a …moreWARNING - SPOILERS. I thought that when I first finished the book but then, after having time for the story to really sink in, I realised something a bit more subtle about the ending. The Mr Pearson character was the one who was responsible for the death of Toma's child and wife. It stated earlier in the book that Lexi had been aware of this before the lottery win and that the night of their last evening together she found it hard to have chit chat with him knowing that he was the slum landlord. He even joked that night about how he wouldn't spend any money on improving the places he let out to people. That's why she gave his slice to Toma, just under £3 million, to try to make some kind of amends for him being responsible for destroying his life. Then there was the Heathcotes. We know that Lexi had snuck to their house the week or so before the lottery win because they had cancelled their usual evening together and she was suspicious that they were still getting together but leaving her and her husband out. While there she eavesdropped and heard them talking about Jennifer Heathcotes' affair with Lexi's husband. I think that's why she decided to not give her her £3 million (that's what it worked out as, £3 million per person) but she did offer Mr Heathcote his £3 million and indeed that amount was put into a bank account for him and was still there at the end of the book, waiting to be collected, but he never did because the deal was that he could only have it if he left his wife, which he decided not to do. Basically Lexi used the win to punish the people who had been, in her eyes, wronging other people. So I think the reason for not giving Carla Pearson her share was because it was her daughter who beat up Lexi's daughter in the toilet. That's all I can think of because she didn't find out about her affair with her husband until the end of the book. Speaking of which I think the reason her husband Jake held the money back was because he was having an affair with both of the other women and was playing them both. He really was greedy and was trying to figure out how he could get the most money out the situation (he calculated that if he divorced Lexi he would get half the win, around £8 million, but if he gave Jennifer her share and he took his share then left his wife then he and Jennifer would only have collectively £6 million) He was constantly scheming and even kidnapped his own daughter before running off with Carla with the £10 million he tried to get in return for his daughter. So yes, while both he and Lexi lied (shocker at the end) about the others opting out it appears that he was driven solely by greed and Lexi was driven more by some kind of moral code, even if it was an insular and flawed one where she is judge of who is worthy. That's basically what I think. I came on here to see if anyone else had any other ideas because I liked the fact that I was still throwing the plot around in my head days after I read the book. Any other ideas would be most welcome.(less)

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Lesley Ellis Excellent explanation Marina. Spot on.
Jun 13, 2022 03:37AM · flag

Joy Reddy I think your analysis was perfect Marina. Very well put indeed. I also agree with you. Lexi’s flaw was she was judgemental and handed out her own sent ...more
Apr 11, 2023 04:26AM · flag

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