Chapter 4

If I were still kept in the dark about this, I'd probably be moved to tears and thanking Dad ever so gratefully from the bottom of my heart now.

"Thanks, Dad," I said, keeping my head bowed as though I'd accepted defeat.

"We're family. There's no need for such formalities," he replied with a satisfied smile.

After returning to my room, I dried my tears and contacted Aunt Heather at once.

"I was just about to call you," Aunt Heather said first. "I've finally found out how they managed to replace you with Christina in the direct admissions list!"

I was stunned for just a while.

After exchanging information with her, I finally understood everything that was going on now.

"Remember to come on time tomorrow, Aunt Heather."

I hung up afterward and stared at the happy family of three in the living room, my eyes growing colder by the second.

They'd better smile and laugh all they wanted while they still could, for it would be the last time they ever did just 12 hours later.

…

The next afternoon, the banquet hall in The Grand Bayou Hotel was filled with elegantly dressed guests, their priceless jewelry sparkling and gleaming under the chandelier lights. Most of the city's most prominent political and business figures were here.

Christina was dressed to the nines as she accepted everyone's flattery with practiced ease.

"You're truly so talented and beautiful, Ms. Christina! Congratulations on your direct admission into Starward University! You're going to have a whole life ahead of you!"

"Mr. Cooper certainly raised his daughter well. Their family has a worthy successor after him!"

Dad beamed from ear to ear as he accepted everyone's toasts. Alicia was also right next to him, boasting about her daughter's intelligence and diligence to anyone who was willing to listen to her.

As for me, the supposed second main character of the event, I was just wearing a recycled dress as I sat in the farthest corner all by myself.

The other people seated around me were some of my distant relatives. They looked at me with disdain and mockery.

"I heard that her direct admissions spot got revoked because she had cheated at school before. She didn't even sit for her college entrance exam this year!"

"I knew it. She's got a terrible character. Guess you can't blame her because her mom died before teaching her how to act right."

"Christina's so much better and has a more promising future than her. Alicia's really blessed to have her as a daughter."

They kept whispering among themselves as they gossiped about me. However, I just glanced at the time and smiled very subtly.

It was almost time.

A few minutes later, Dad and Alicia took the stage with Christina.

"Thank you, everyone, for coming to attend my daughter's celebration today!" Dad said, speaking into the microphone.

"Chrissy has always been very sensible and hardworking since she was young, and she earned her admission into Starward University with her own hard work and dedication!

"I'm so proud to have a daughter like her!"

Applause sounded from below the stage.

"As for my eldest daughter, Cher…"

He suddenly steered the topic to me, his voice turning sombre as he said, "Although she made some irreparable mistakes in her studies and missed a bunch of opportunities because of that, I will still not give up on her. She is still my daughter, after all."

All eyes turned to me at once. Some of them were of mockery, some of them disdain, and some of them amusement.

Dad continued with his act. "So, today, on Cher's 18th birthday, I've decided to transfer a property under Cooper Group to her name so she may continue living a life of comfort.

"Come up here, Cher."

I sneered inwardly. That property couldn't be worth much. He just wanted to make me sign the share transfer agreement.

I got up and slowly made my way onstage.

"Cher, you're going to be an adult the moment you sign these papers. You'll have to be more sensible afterward, alright?" Dad said, giving me a long, pointed look.

I looked at the document before me.

The first page was indeed a property gift agreement. However, when I flipped to the third page, I saw that it was a share transfer agreement instead.

The moment I signed my name on this contract, everything would be over for me.

I picked up the pen without haste. Dad's breathing had quickened at this point as he stared intently at my pen.

Just before I brought the pen down on the paper, I suddenly stopped and said, "Dad?"

I looked up at him, a smile spreading on my lips.

"Before signing this, I actually have a gift that I want to give to Chrissy to congratulate her on getting into Starward University…"