THE LOUDEST WIN

“Lawton! You and better come to dinner tonight, or I will disown Amanda finally and forever. If she thinks firing her from the family company is the worst I can do, she doesn't know me yet.”

“Inform my daughter, since she isn't responding to my calls, that I want the two of you at dinner tonight, I must announce the new changes that have occured in the family company to all of the family. And she is still part of it. For now, at least.”

The call went off. It had been Lawton's mother in law and she had just left an imperial command. She had organized a dinner and Lawton guessed it was to cut them off completely in front of the entire family.

Changes in the family company indeed.

It was already the next day and Amanda was nervous, she had left the hospital after a brief visit to prepare for her pitch to Roxanne because Roxanne's manager had agreed to the meeting.

Lawton wished he could tell her not to worry so much, that it was already set, but he wanted her to just go on her own. Afterall, her success deserved to be her own and he wanted to remain behind the curtains.

Tessa had woken up and Lawton was sitting in front of her after receiving the call.

“Who was that?” Tessa asked. “I could hear them screaming from the phone.”

Lawton took the drink she had just drank and dropped it on the cupboard. “It's Madame

Williams. She has ordered us to come to dinner at the family mansion.”

Tessa sighed. “That woman is not even half as powerful as you. She thinks to order you around like she wants. It pains me so much, Young—”

Lawton frowned, very displeased. “Don't call me that. That life is far in the past and you promised to forget it the day you left with me.”

Tessa nodded with a sigh. “And I don't regret it. Being your mother is a blessing.”

She gave Lawton a smile and he was so glad that she was feeling more like herself. Tessa was the only one in his life who knew who he really was. But he had not yet told her that he was returning home as a secret heir.

He would have to tell her that his father was dying and someone was after them. No, she was too fragile at the moment and wouldn't be able to handle it.

“So, will you go?” Tessa queried.

“Yes, I will go first and then Amanda will meet me there after her meeting.” Lawton had a little inkling of why Madame Williams was summoning them.

His guess was that he wanted to make his wife's dismissal loud. But she will be so shocked when Amanda comes back, Lawton reasoned with a secret smile.

Lawton finished taking care of Tessa for the day and then took a bath and prepared. He took the bus to the upper part of town and then trekked the rest of the way into the lavish estate of the Williams family.

He could see the gleaming cars the rest of the Williams children had parked on the grounds.

Latest models, all in flashy colors that suited each of their personalities.

He passed by the front door security guard as the guy who was about his age gave him an up and down scan, obvious disregard for Lawton in his eyes.

Lawton didn't say a word, simply passed him and made his way through the large, cool lobby, to the main sitting room. It was empty and he could hear voices coming from the opposite dining room.

Immediately he stepped through the doors, there was silence as everyone noticed him and then a derisive wave of scorn and mockery passed through the table.

All the Williams were there, except for his wife and their sickly father. Their mother sat at the head of the table. The two sons and their wives sat together and then Alora and her husband.

Lawton sat on the seat at the other end, away from them.

“Where is Amanda?” Madame Williams snapped. “She couldn't even get here on time?”

Lawton fixed her his steady gaze. “She went to speak to Roxanne about becoming the company's model.”

Everyone burst into laughter so loud Lawton's ears hurt.

“Why does she even bother?” Alora scoffed.

“We all know Roxanne won't meet with any of us. She doesn't consider us her level or her type of circle. She wouldn't even take our calls!” Raymond said.

“Well, maybe she's gotten more determined to escape poverty since she's stuck now with her riffraff of a husband.” Alora cackled and they all laughed some more.

Lawton didn't pay them any mind. He simply drew the plate in front of him closer and piled his plate with food as he started to eat.

“You eat like a starved man, Lawton. Anyways, you people probably don't have any food in your house, do you? I bet you've been hungry all your life,” Madame Williams said, wrinkling her nose in distaste at Lawton.

All of a sudden, Amanda walked in with a bright smile on her face. She walked to her mother's side and dropped the documents triumphantly, with a loud plop on the table in front of everyone.

“I secured the deal!” She pumped the air with her fist and Lawton had to hold back from laughing.

“What?” Raymond snorted.

“That's not possible,” Alora snatched up the document.

Charles stood up and rushed to peer down at the documents alongside his sister's head.

Timothy just brought out his phone to check online.

Immediately, Lady Clarissa rushed into the dinning room. “Madame Williams, Madame Williams,

Roxanne Duke just made a post saying she has signed a contract with your family company?!

Oh my Goodness, is that true?!!!”