All Chapters of My Fortune Is Mine!: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

"Did you know Penelope Eva had an illegitimate child with someone?""Really?" "Yes and apparently they were planning to elope from the country". "The man apparently owns that small diner on Second Street, everyone's talking about it. It's all over celebrity deets.""Can you believe it? she wanted to risk her career for a man like that? Not like she had any real talent anyway, the only reason why she made it this far is due to her old celebrity mother. Ugh, Nepo babies and their misplaced privileges"."I always knew Penelope was a slut, she wanted to trend so badly. I guess this is her big break. Her career is finally over." She laughs. The others join in. The room is filled with their incessant laughing. I listen while they slander various individuals. The room was stuffy and filled with different scents of intoxicating perfumes. I'm currently seated with my mother-in-law and her friends at this family get-together but in reality, it was just another chance to get together and goss

I'm currently trying to process what this man had just said."My father left me with that much money??" I exclaim. Giovanni nods. "I understand this must come as a shock to you, when you get home and see your mother she'll explain to you better". As if on cue the driver started the car and we were in motion. We sat in silence as I tried to process my thoughts. The divorce, father's death and now this. This seems too much. We approached my parents' house and I was glad to see that it still looked like it had looked three years ago. Although the color had changed from baby blue to cream. The lawn was newly mowed.I got out of the car just as my mother came out of the house. I just stood there staring at her. I wanted to say something but my tongue was at war with itself. She looked older but more beautiful than I had last seen her. Her blonde hair was silver and she had it cut in a short bob. She wore a simple green dress that suited her nicely. She stood there too and slowly raised

"He's mine"I look at her in astonishment, her lips curving into a saccharine smile but her expression quickly changes back into one of remorse. She was about to say something and before I could stop myself, I slapped her harshly across the face. She clutches her right cheek, her eyes wide as saucers. The room gasped and the attention of everyone in the room was on us. I couldn't believe what I had done myself. Did I just slap her? It was as if my body had moved on its own.She looked as though she would retaliate. I instinctively brace myself. Giovanni steps beside me and her fierce expression changes into a meeker one. She looks at me again, anger in her eyes, turns and walks away, her hips swaying slowly in the tight gown she wore. The onlookers continue to stare, rushed whispers flying in the air. I self-consciously wrap his suit tighter around me, my head hanging low to avoid any eye contact.Giovanni places his hand on the small of my back, and whispers, "Don't look down". Hi

"Is there a problem?" Giovanni asks as I continue to stand there like a scarecrow with performance anxiety in a field of overconfident crows.I hesitate for a moment, take a deep breath and walk in, closing the door behind me. "Gio—Mr. D'Errico, I-I need to t-talk to you...i-in private," I say, feeling like a broken record player stuck on the stutter track."They continued to stare at me, there were about seven of them gathered around the big round table with Giovanni sitting in the middle. "Who on earth is this woman? Doesn't she know that interruptions aren't allowed during a meeting like this" one of them says angrily, he has a thick Arabic accent as he glares at me. "Isn't she Emily Rivera, the heiress to the Rivera fortune!" One of them exclaims. The room began to fill with murmurs making me feel uncomfortable as they all looked at me with growing interest now. I look at Giovanni again, silently willing him to get up. He gets up finally and they all stop taking as he advances

As I sat on the edge of my bed, I took a deep breath and reached for the tubes attached to my body.My mother put her hands on me."No you can't, you'll hurt yourself,' she said, placing her hands on mine. I could see the worry in her eyes. I tried to control my breathing, but my mind was spinning. The constant beeping of the machine and the sterile hospital smell made matters worse. The door opens and Giovanni walks in calmly. 'What happened, who was murdered?' I ask frantically, my heart racing and my mind filled with fear and confusion. I catch the quick look he gives my mother, and my anxiety only grows."The driver, apparently someone snuck into his ward and killed him," Giovanni responds in a calm tone, almost as if he's talking about the weather. My mind goes blank for a moment as I process this information. Oh my God, I say to myself, putting my hand to my mouth in shock."You'll be discharged today," Giovanni continues, his voice still calm and collected. I can't believe what