A 49-year-old Baltimore County man who stopped for a soda at a Royal Farms store trusted a gut feeling that he should buy a Maryland Lottery scratch-off. “Mr. O” purchased a $1,000,000 Blowout instant ticket and left the store with the unscratched game in hand, not realizing he was the state’s newest millionaire.

“I just had a feeling that it was going to be a good day,” he said.

His life-changing purchase happened when the electrical contractor, on the way to work, stopped at the Royal Farms store located at 1601 Middleborough Road in Essex.

“Mr. O” pocketed the $20 $1,000,000 Blowout scratch-off before leaving the store and saved it to play later. Discovering a $1 million prize was shocking.

“I couldn’t believe what I saw,” said the winner. “I knew I had to tell my wife, but I waited because she might be upset I spent $20 on a scratch-off.”

The Baltimore couple had recently started their own business and were being frugal with their finances, he said. So, when “Mrs. O” came home, he advised her to sit down and assured her that everything was going to be okay. Then, “Mr. O” showed her the lucky instant ticket and told her, “I won.”

“I couldn’t see because I was not wearing my glasses,” said the wife. “I looked at him and said, ‘You spent $20 on a scratch-off!’ ” When she realized they were millionaires, “Mrs. O” called their daughter and son-in-law crying and shared the great news.

“You see, they are paying off this loan and we want to help them,” she said.

“Mr. & Mrs. O” told Lottery officials that in addition to helping with that loan, the couple will renovate their home and move. They plan to save the rest of the windfall. “We are frugal people and plan to live like we do now!”

The Royal Farms store that sold the winning scratch-off also shares in the exciting win. The Baltimore County store earned a $1,000 bonus from the Maryland Lottery for selling a $1 million top-prize winning scratch-off.