Abandoned By My Family I Crowned Myself. Chapter 04
The next day, I arrived at the hotel right on time for the inauguration dinner my father had thrown for Piper.
The moment my father, mother, Piper, and Noah saw me, all their expressions went cold simultaneously.
My father let out a derisive snort.
“Look how gracious Piper is—always thinking of your feelings, even inviting you to her dinner.”
“And you. All you know how to do is be jealous and cause trouble.”
My mother chimed in: “Ava, apologize to your father and Piper, and we’ll consider the whole thing water under the bridge.”
“This is your last chance. Don’t push your luck.”
Noah stood with his arm around Piper, smirking.
“Ava, you’re not the family heir anymore. You have no right to give Piper attitude. Apologize right now, and maybe she’ll let you stay on at the company as her deputy.”
“Being VP already shows that Uncle Martin and Aunt Claire recognize your ability. You should be grateful.”
Listening to them—one self-righteous remark after another—I felt nothing but amusement.
“Who said I came here for the dinner?”
My parents blinked, then scoffed, as if they’d decided I’d finally lost it.
Just then, the sound of cars pulling up echoed from outside the hotel.
My father straightened his suit jacket and said coldly, “Let’s go. Ignore her—we need to greet the guests.”
New York’s upper echelon arrived one after another.
But they all stood outside the hotel entrance. None of them walked toward the ballroom.
My father froze. “Everyone, what are you waiting for? Please, come inside.”
No one moved.
“They’re waiting for my say-so.”
I walked slowly to the entrance.
My father whipped around, brow furrowed. “Ava, what kind of stunt are you pulling now? Can you stop making a nuisance of yourself?”
Piper immediately added in her soft voice: “Ava, why don’t you step aside for a moment? Maybe everyone’s just uncomfortable coming in with you standing here.”
The implication being clear: the guests weren’t entering because they found *me* off-putting.
My parents bought it instantly.
My father glared at me. “Move. Now.”
My mother hissed under her breath: “All you ever do is cause problems for this family. What are you standing around for?”
The looks they gave me—such naked disgust, as though they wished I’d simply vanish.
I felt no anger. No disappointment. Only amusement.
I turned to face the crowd outside and said lightly:
“Everyone, it’s cold out. Please, come in.”
Only then did they nod and step forward.
“Thank you, Ms. Lawson.”
“Thank you, Ava.”
They filed into the hotel one by one.
Beside me, my parents, Piper, and Noah all stood rigid.
They never expected this.
My father grabbed the arm of an old business partner he was close with. “Mr. Warren, what’s going on? Why is everyone listening to Ava?”
My mother added, bewildered: “Ava has nothing now. Piper is the CEO of Lawson Group.”
Mr. Warren glanced at them and sighed, as if about to explain. But then he caught sight of Evan approaching and changed his mind.
“Out of my way.”
He shook off my father’s hand and hurried inside.
My father was completely stunned.
In all his years in business, he’d never been brushed off like that by a partner. His face turned ashen.
Evan paused as he passed. He couldn’t help himself.
“You have a biological daughter with real commercial instinct, and you ignore her. Instead you prop up an adopted daughter who can’t do a thing.”
He laughed softly.
“Mr. Lawson, you had an incredible hand of cards. And you played it about as badly as anyone could.”
My father’s face flushed crimson with rage.
Noah quickly tried to soothe him. “Uncle Martin, that guy is Ava’s new boyfriend. He’s just saying those things to provoke you. Don’t let him get to you.”
My father ground his teeth. “She’s getting more out of control by the day.”
But then his brow creased again. “Still—why are all the guests we invited listening to Ava?”
Silence fell among the group.
Finally, Piper’s eyes darted and she said softly: “Uncle Martin, do you think maybe Ava sold company secrets? That’s why they’re all fawning over her?”
She quickly lowered her gaze after speaking.
“I’m just guessing. Don’t take it seriously.”
That demeanor—meek and innocent—as if she hadn’t just planted the idea at all.
But my father latched onto it like a lifeline.
“No.”
“You’re right. That has to be it. Ava’s been at the company for years. She has access to all sorts of confidential materials.”
His expression went glacial.
My mother trembled with anger. “If I’d known she’d turn out like this, I never would have indulged her. She’s not half the woman Piper is.”
My father narrowed his eyes, his voice cold and low. “It’s fine. Once those partners decide she’s no longer useful, they’ll drop her soon enough.”
“We’ll go back to the office and prepare to sue her for leaking trade secrets at any time.”
“Business is war. And in war, there are no fathers and daughters. Don’t blame me for being ruthless.”
“This is all because she refused to listen. Because she never understood or appreciated what I was trying to do.”
Evan heard every word.
He turned and relayed it all to me without missing a syllable, then added that Piper truly had no shame.
I smiled. “Let them think whatever they want.”
“But when they get back to the office, there’ll be an even bigger surprise waiting.”
“The real show is about to begin.”