Chapter 1

"Anna? Are you in there? Why are you sitting alone in your room instead of downstairs with everyone?" My mother, Lucia, stood in the doorway, looking at me gently.

"The Family elders will decide how the estate is divided. Don't overthink it. Whatever they decide will be fair."

The moment I heard her voice, I closed the post and walked out.

Lucia was still holding the bracelet Annie had wanted for ages. When she saw me, she smiled gently. "Don't worry. Even if the Family gives you less than your fair share, your father and I will make it up to you privately."

Just then, Mr. Conti, the family office's lawyer, texted me. I had made an excellent impression on the Family elders, he said, and many of them were willing to vote for me.

I glanced at it and turned off my phone.

"Okay."

That was my answer.

My father, Antonio, was looking through property listings with my younger sister, Annie.

"Annie, you'll be an adult soon and moving out. Do you want a place by the sea and another downtown?" Antonio asked. My brother, Marco, grinned. "She obviously wants the seaside place. It'll make dating William easier."

Annie blushed at that.

I was about to come of age too, but nobody asked me where I wanted my new house.

Antonio closed the property listings. "All right. Today's your lucky day. I'm taking you all to the mall. Pick whatever you like. It's on me."

Annie squealed with delight and hugged his arm.

With that, the driver went to bring the car around.

The whole time, not one person asked me where my new home should be after I came of age.

It was as if I didn't exist at all.

They all looked so happy. I couldn't bring myself to break the moment.

Besides, it had been ages since I'd gone anywhere with my parents. I didn't want to miss the chance.

I said quietly, "Let me change first."

When I came back out, there was no trace of them in the living room.

Even the car was gone.

I took out my phone to call them, and saw Annie's new post.

The first photo was a pile of designer bags and clothes.

The caption: "Daddy's paying today."

The next was a photo of Antonio, Lucia, Marco, and Annie.

The caption: "Family photo."

They were all beaming in the picture.

I stood frozen for a long while before I finally dialed my mother.

"Anna? What is it?"

I asked in a cautious whisper, "Did you already leave? I'm dressed."

She pretended to be surprised. "Oh! We forgot all about you. We waited for a while, but you didn't come out, so we assumed you didn't want to go."

"After all, you've never liked spending money."

"Oh well. We'll take you along next time. Just stay home today."

She hadn't even finished when Annie's voice came through from her end. "Mom, let's get sushi today."

"Sure, anything you want."

Before Lucia had even finished speaking, she ended the call.