Chapter 5 Family Meeting

• Cassius ended the call and stepped into the house.
• Having just returned from school, his mother-in-law, Alanna Marcott, couldn't help but nag when she saw the man. “Oh, Cassius, it's time you start looking for a job. Several of our neighbors have been asking if my son-in-law is a loafer... Do you know how embarrassing that is?”
• “I got it, Mom,” Cassius replied, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
• He promptly entered the study, closed the door, and turned on the computer.
• As Alanna sighed, Hansel, who was watching television, let out a cough. “Why bother wasting your breath on him? He's as useful as a chocolate teapot.”
• “That's because I'm doing this for our daughter,” Alanna replied as she lowered her head and wiped her tears. “Do you know how much stress Vanessa is under? Your mother is far too biased... The Seltzer family manages so many companies, so why can't she arrange a job for Cassius?”
• Hansel turned off the television sullenly.
• Of course, he knew just as well how prejudiced Claudia was.
• She had always believed in choosing a partner of the same social status, so when Hansel went against her wishes and married Alanna, who was only a high school teacher, Claudia became utterly disappointed in him.
• Needless to say, Claudia got even more furious when Vanessa married a good-for-nothing like Cassius.
• The other children in the Seltzer family were either senior executives or running their own businesses, yet Vanessa was the only one still stuck in middle management. One might say it was a way of letting Vanessa learn through experience, but in reality, it was nothing more than oppression.
• There were many things Hansel wanted to say, but now, all he could summon up was a deep sigh.
• Just then, the door flew open, and in walked an excited Vanessa waving an envelope in her hand. “Dad, I've received the invitation!”
• All at once, the gloom in the room dissipated, and Hansel couldn't stop praising his daughter for her capabilities.
• Alanna, too, wasted no time whipping up a batch of fried chicken to reward Vanessa.
• Cassius, who heard the commotion outside, broke into a smile.
• Not long after, the door to the study swung open, and Vanessa walked in with a plate of pasta.
• “Hurry up and finish your food. Grandma just called to say she's holding an urgent family meeting. I can't believe we'll get to attend it as well...” she said, her voice heavy with emotion.
• Ever since Hansel was kicked out of the family mansion after his wedding, he had been marginalized by the Seltzers and left out of internal meetings. The fact that they were finally included left Vanessa bubbling over with excitement.
• Cassius merely nodded as he stared at his plate of pasta and fried chicken wings, a warm and fuzzy feeling in his heart.
• Alanna knew he loved chicken wings, so he was very grateful that she'd always make a point of saving them for him.
• After their meal, the family drove to the Seltzer residence where Claudia resided.
• The rest of the family had already gathered together and were chatting happily as they crowded around a silver invitation.
• Having just turned seventy recently, Claudia sat in the middle, all smiles as she held the hands of her eldest granddaughter, Valerie Seltzer, and her grandson-in-law, Stephen Quinton.
• Such favorable treatment left Hector and his family over the moon as they sat beside Claudia. Meanwhile, Henry Seltzer, the second son, could only watch on in envy with his family and maintain civility.
• Alas, when Hansel and his family entered the house, Claudia turned glum and cleared her throat. “Today's meeting is solely for the internal Seltzer family. Those without a position can leave.”
• Among everyone present, Cassius was the only one who wasn't a Seltzer family employee.
• Vanessa immediately turned a shade of red as she glanced at the man beside her, feeling both embarrassed and worried. More importantly, she feared that he might cause trouble.
• Ever since a relative got beaten up by Cassius for publicly humiliating her and ended up in the hospital, she had been on tenterhooks about tense situations like this.
• Thankfully, Cassius smiled before taking out his phone and making himself comfortable on a lounge chair outside the mansion.
• Back in the house, Claudia turned toward Vanessa. “Have you given any thought to what I told you earlier?”
• Upon seeing how overbearing her grandmother was, Vanessa shuddered and said through gritted teeth, “I'm sorry, Grandma. I can't agree to it.”
• With that, the rage in Claudia's eyes gave way to her usual cold harshness.
• Hansel and Alanna looked at their daughter quizzically, but before they could ask any questions, Claudia grabbed her cane and tapped it on the floor. “I've gathered everyone here today because Fourwaters Union's banquet will affect the next step in our family's strategic planning.”
• By then, Lilian's smugness was on full display. “Mom, Stephen has gotten a members-only silver invitation. Not only can he bring family members into the venue, but the seats are also in the center of the fifth row. We'll be very close to the front.”
• “Fourwaters Union has prepared three types of invitations for the banquet,” Stephen explained with feigned modesty. “Those with the ordinary invitation have to sit at the back, and you've already heard about the members-only silver invitation. The last type is a gold emerald invitation, and I think only eleven of those were given out.”
• Claudia nodded. “Since we'll be in the fifth row, let's find a chance to mingle with those in the first three rows. I reckon the gold emerald invitations were given to the major players like Horbah's top ten financial giants. Even getting to know one of them would be more than beneficial.”
• Sadly, Hansel and his family had been pushed aside, so they couldn't even get a word in.
• Vanessa waved the envelope in her hand and piped up, “I've also received an invitation, Grandma!”
• The next second, the entire Seltzer family turned to look at the woman skeptically. What?
• “That does look like Fourwaters Union's envelope!” Stephen exclaimed.
• Lilian let out a derisive snort. “I bet it's just an ordinary invitation. Their seats will be right at the back, where they can't even get a clear view of the stage. What's the point of going, then?”
• Nevertheless, there was no denying that the Seltzer family had gotten their hands on another invitation.
• Hansel straightened his back while Alanna nervously raised her head. Judging by their intense and expectant gazes, it was clear they were hoping that Claudia would praise Vanessa.
• Unfortunately, they were met with disappointment.
• “Open it and take a look, then,” Claudia said with a cold nod. “Let's see how far back your seats are. If they're too far away, people won't even care to give you the time of the day. It won't do us any good.”
• Vanessa clutched the envelope, her eyes filled with indignance.
• Argh! I stood in line under the sun for three hours before I got this invitation, and yet, no one said a single word of comfort or encouragement. How I wish I could throw this envelope in their faces! Then again... these people are my elders and relatives.
• Still upset and frustrated, Vanessa gritted her teeth and tore open the envelope.
• When a most extravagant invitation card with gold emerald borders suddenly appeared, everyone gasped in astonishment.