The Resurgence Of The Lost Heir

Chapter 8 Jealousy

"Won't you let your grandson have a seat and have something to eat first?" the old master said.

"Oh, I'm really sorry. Come, come," Grandma said and paved the way for him.

When he entered, he saw many family members sitting around the dining table. Some stared at him with discerning eyes, while others stared at him curiously. Some stared at him with hatred and envy.

"Good day," Jerome only said these short words and sat down. His simple greeting triggered some elders of the family. They thought he was being arrogant, but the truth is, he didn't like to talk much and was not good at initiating conversation.

"Hmmm," his aunt hummed.

"Good day, dear," his second uncle replied in a friendly tone. The others rolled their eyes. The old master saw everything. He didn't want to interfere and wanted to see how his grandson would handle them.

"Good day? Is that how you were taught to greet your elders?" His first uncle, who didn't bother to respond to his greetings, said harshly.

"I am sorry if that is not how things are done," he accepted and apologized.

"Sorry for yourself," his first uncle said with disdain.

"Calm down, honey. You know the boy has no parents, so he lacks parental upbringing. You should take it easy on him," his first uncle's wife held her husband's hand and said in a gentle tone. Her words seemed to be defending Jerome but were indirectly rebuking him.

"Grandpa, who is the woman who just spoke?" Jerome paid no attention to her words and asked his grandfather.

"Oh, she is your uncle's wife," the old man replied even though he didn't know why he asked that.

"Oh, she is an outsider. Then she is of no importance to me. There is no need to reply to her," Jerome nodded his head as if he had just come to realize something.

"How dare you talk to my wife this way? Is she wrong? A child who has no manners, what good thing can he bring to the family? He doesn't know how to talk to his elders," his first uncle banged on the table angrily. He almost spilled the soup on the table.

"You are my uncle. Someone who doesn't respect the dead, do you think she is worthy of my respect? Teach your wife how to behave so the younger ones wouldn't find problems with her," he said and picked up his spoon, not looking at the angry uncle.

"You, you," his uncle's wife couldn't say any words. All that came out of her mouth was 'you.'

"It's alright. How can you fight the person I just brought home? He had been missing for many years. Instead of welcoming him with open arms, you are finding fault in whatever he does," the old master scolded his eldest son.

"Dad, are you backing him?" he inquired angrily.

"Of course I will have to. And let me tell you this, he is now the heir of this family. He would be the next patron after my demise. You all should give him the maximum respect he deserves," the old man declared.

"What?"

"No way."

"That's impossible."

Everybody around the table had something to say; their mouths were wide open. How could the old man just appoint a stranger as an heir? Did he want to destroy the family?

"Why is it impossible? Why can't it happen?" He picked up a banana, peeled it, and ate it. He didn't care about their opinions. None of them had been able to take the business to the next level. Even though the Cadell family is said to be the most wealthy and powerful family in the country, no one knows how messy the family is. He can't leave it in their hands.

"But father, how can a stranger lead the company and the family? He knows nothing. He doesn't even know the family rules. He lacks manners and will only destroy the family," James, Jerome's first uncle, tried to reason with the old man.

"Family rules? You know all the family rules, right? What improvement have you brought to the family? All that your daughter knows is to travel around the world with her friends, spending the family money without bringing any profit. Your son has been causing problems every day. He has never done anything good. All he does is gamble and change different girls. All that your wife knows is to go around bragging she is the daughter-in-law of the Cadell family and goes shopping. What exactly has your family brought into the family? Do you think you have the right to complain?" the old master rebuked him.

"But, father, I have been the one managing the company, and nothing bad has happened to the company. Isn't it too much to take it away from me and give it to a total stranger?" James felt humiliated, hurt, and betrayed.

"Aren't you ashamed to say something like this? You have been in charge for more than two decades. What good have you brought to the company? How far have you brought the company? The company's improvement has been stuck for the past twenty years. And do you think it is something you should brag about?" The old master was getting angry.

"But grandfather, Uncle's children are not the only children in the family. We are all part of the family, and none of us have been given the opportunity to show our talent," Annika, Jerome's cousin, said.

"Well, Annika, I understand you wanted to prove that you are capable, but Annika, you still lack in some ways. You are brave but can't resist pressure. You easily give up things and take forever to rise again. You should be the vice president," the old master said in a doting tone. Annika was the most capable one in the family. She is even more capable than James. But because he didn't want any division in the family, he chose James to be the president while Annika assisted him.

"Thank you, grandfather, I am grateful." Even though she wasn't satisfied, it was better than nothing. She would silently accept this position and fight her way up. She must be the president at all costs.

"If Annika is the vice president, then what. What am I going to do?"

"Uncle, why not be in the marketing department? I can see you have the talent," Jerome, who had been silent all this while, suggested.

"Good, good, you are right," the old master nodded his head in satisfaction. His son is really good at convincing customers and clients.

"Shut up, how dare you?"