The Scorned Heir

Chapter Seven

As Cassie made her statement, Elizabeth restrained a laugh. The rest of her family members in the room were staring at her. Was she completely insane? What was she attempting to accomplish?

Why did she assume she could get the bid from Buddy if Arnold and Grandpa Rogers couldn't? Everyone in the room thought she was insane.

Larry, her brother, shook his head in amusement, wondering what had gotten into her. It was the worst possible time for her to impress her family. She would fail the task and bring further shame on herself.

Arnold was the first to speak up. "This is not a prank. What makes you think Buddy will give you a good deal? How do you expect to win the bid?"

Elizabeth thought it was right to use the opportunity to embarrass her sister. "What has gotten into you, Cassie? Do you have any knowledge of the Buddy Industry? Do you even know who they are? What makes you think you can obtain a deal with them if Taylor couldn't? If you fail, and I know you will, you will further shame our family, and no one wants that.”

Larry agreed with a nod. "Elizabeth is correct! If you fail to win the bid, you will only damage this company's reputation. That would eliminate any possibility of us collaborating with other companies."

Cassie's face flushed slightly as she stood there. She had anticipated this reaction from her family members before speaking up.

Her status in the family plummeted after she married Ethan. She was continually reminded of her marriage to a loser. She could handle the humiliation, but her parents were treated equally, which enraged her considerably. However, she believed that if she won the casino bid, her family's reputation would be restored. That would also put an end to her parents' daily embarrassment.

But as she looked around the room and observed the expressions on her family members' faces, she realized she had made a massive mistake by speaking up. She should have ignored Ethan's counsel. She looked at him, displeasure and wrath in her eyes.

Ronan Rogers was furious as he listened to the room's outbursts. None of them had agreed to take up the responsibility, but they could openly mock Cassie for doing so. How dare they?

Although he loathed Cassie merely because she chose to marry Ethan, he was delighted she was self-assured enough to take on the challenge. As a result, he resolved to support her.

"Can everyone keep quiet? Aren't you all embarrassed by yourselves? You couldn't accept the work due to your fear, but she was brave enough to. So why are you all making fun of her?" The old man inquired, and the room fell silent once more.

He was especially displeased with Arnold, who was too afraid to take on the duty yet had the guts to talk and shame Cassie.

He glanced at Cassie, whose expression had brightened due to the unexpected help. "You will be our representative and will work on the casino bid. If you win, you will be appointed CEO of our company."

Cassie gave a firm nod. "I will try my best, Grandpa."

"Good. You have three days to devise a strategy, negotiate, and close the deal." Before settling into his chair, Ronan Rogers said.

The meeting ended after additional debates and strategic planning, but everyone stayed behind to offer ideas.

The majority of the people in the room were staring at Cassie. They couldn't believe she had taken the job even though winning the casino bid was almost impossible.

"She'll embarrass the entire family if she loses," Arnold remarked quietly to Larry but loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.

"Arnold, why are you making such an effort to mock Cassie? Do you believe Rogers Company is untrustworthy enough to engage with Buddy Industry?"

"It doesn't matter what I believe in. Cassie will not win the bid, as we all know."

"Oh, Arnold, quit your rants. You are ready to condemn, but you never help the family." Cassie yelled, and all eyes in the room focused on her. How could she address the family's eldest son in such a manner?

"You married a jobless man who can't afford the necessities, and you're about to humiliate this family by accepting a task you can't complete." You should be ashamed of your rash choices." Arnold became enraged.

Cassie opened her lips to say something, but Ethan interrupted her. "What if she is successful? What if she wins the bid? Should we place a wager?”

Arnold's eyes widened in surprise before swiftly returning to normal. Why was Ethan suddenly so sure of himself? Why did he think he could take him on? Before speaking, he smirked at Ethan. "Would that be a bet? Do you believe you can alter the situation with a simple wager? In any case, let's hear it. What exactly will this wager be about?”

Before speaking, Ethan cleared his throat. "If my wife, Cassie, wins the casino bid, you'll grovel at my feet and accept your ignorance. If she loses the offer and fails to land a deal with Buddy Industry, I will grovel at your feet and admit I made a mistake. What do you think?"

Larry joined Arnold in his laughter. "What kind of wager is that? You must enjoy humiliation. Anyway, I accept the bet, and now we must wait for the result."

Ethan nodded and turned to face everyone in the room. "Arnold accepted the wager, and I know you all heard him. He can't backtrack or refute it. I hope you will all be present to witness this day."

Everyone looked at him with trepidation. He spoke with assurance, confident that Cassie would win the offer. The room fell silent once more.

Cassie looked at her husband, puzzled at what he was trying to do. "What are you trying to do?" She spoke quietly to Ethan, but Arnold interrupted her.

"You can't get him out of this right now. He initiated the wager, and there is no turning back now." He said that with a smug grin on his lips. "I can't wait to watch you grovel at my feet."

Cassie was concerned, but Ethan smiled mischievously. He didn't seem upset by the circumstance, and she couldn't figure out why.

She looked around the room and realized that everyone was on Arnold's side. She wasn't shocked that they were constantly on his side. Instead, it inspired her to push even harder. She had to give it her all to win the bid.

"I have no plans to cancel the wager. It's still running." Arnold squirmed uncomfortably in his seat as she spoke.

In all her years of existence, she was never one to back down from a fight.

…….

Cassie and Ethan returned to the shack where they lived to find her parents waiting in the sitting room.

Her mother was pacing, and her father was tapping his feet agitatedly on the floor. Cassie's mother, Lilian Roger, burst when the young couple walked in. "Are you insane, Cassie? Why would you listen to this man who contributes nothing to this family?"

"Mum, I know I....."

"How could you force her to accept such a task? How could you? You have only brought shame and embarrassment to this family." Mark Roger, her father, cut her off.

"I didn't give bad counsel to my wife. What if she wins the bid and signs a contract with Buddy Industry?"

Cassie's mother snorted inappropriately. "What if she wins the bid? That is the most absurd thing I have ever heard. Do you think Buddy Industry will work with a tiny business like ours? What gives you the impression that Cassie can beat the other reputable companies? Please tell me."

"Mother, you haven't even given me a chance to prove myself yet." Cassie spoke slowly. It was unfortunate that everyone, even her parents, questioned her talents.

“You have nothing to prove, and It would be beneficial if you did not listen to him.” Lilian finished with a yell.

Mark rose from his seat and fixed his gaze on Ethan. "You are the source of this family's constant humiliation. And you do not attempt to fix it. Instead, you wager with Arnold, which will only worsen the problem. I'm sick of seeing you with my child, and I won’t stop till I kick you out of my family for good.”

Ethan felt his hands clench and unclench. But he did nothing and as usual, he swallowed his anger, and remained calm. Cassie, spoke again. Supporting him as usual and her words broke his heart. God! He loved her so much. He would make her proud.

"Dad, Ethan is a member of this family. I don't care what you think of him if he leaves, I'll go with him. He has only supported me, and I anticipated the same from you both."

Lilian laughed. "I will never support such a ridiculous idea, especially one from this loser and scumbag.”