The sky was adorned with hues of crimson as the sun began its descent over the towering city skyline. The scenery of the horizon was great. Yet, the lady gazing at its beauty had an extremely foul mood.
"Any news about my father's location?" Maisie gritted her teeth and spoke coldly.
"Unfortunately, there is no news from all the investigators. I'll call you back later," the other person on the line answered before the call abruptly ended.
In fact, Maisie felt extremely desperate as she tightly clenched her right hand on her expensive phone. The long nails painted with sultry purple were on the brink of breaking just by her strong clutch on the device. "Where could my father be hiding after making such a huge mess? She does not even want to meet his family!"
Maise had just heard the horrible news. A lot of family lawyers came to the Reagent Mansion and extracted their properties. Not only that, even the ownership title of the mansion was also transferred! Just like a bubble that burst in a slight touch, her home was gone!
It only took one night of gambling for her father to destroy their wealthy legacy. Her home was gone. And his father was nowhere to be found.
Maisie glanced at the elder in the room. It was her maternal grandfather. The elder was staring at the sky.
"Grandpa, are you not going to react?"
"Let me enjoy the horizon first, dear," the elder answered without moving his attention away from the sky. "The view is beautiful. At least, this apartment was not included by your father's foolishness."
"My father was not foolish. He was just fooled!"
"No need to defend him. He is coward for running away from the mess that he created. Look at the beautiful lines in the sky... it's still relaxing," her grandfather muttered without a trace of emotion in his tone.
"Hmmph! To watch the sunset unfolding before my eyes, I could not even appreciate its charm, grandpa. Please tell me, what should I do? Is it okay to let those traitors take away our belongings?" Her expression was dark as she turned to the side and faced her grandfather.
Rather, this sunset had become an ominous sight for Maisie. It was as if telling her that the brilliance of her family was fading in a blink of an eye.
"Ha! Your father was really foolish! And, I don't think you would agree to my idea to solve this matter, dear... Tsk! I have been telling your mother to divorce your father, but, she was stubborn to the bone. Now, this is the consequence of bad decisions."
In fact, Maisie's mother was currently hospitalized because of their situation. But even if her mother is awake, there was nothing they could do. The evidence of her father's gambling was irrefutable.
Maisie could only release a frustrated sigh. "Grandpa, what is your idea? Just tell me. I can't focus and think of any solution. I think it's better to listen to yours."
"You won't be pleased to hear it. Are you sure?"
"Still, let me hear it," Maisie insisted and sat beside her grandfather.
"Well, if you insist... then, I'll say it. Those family friends that we had acknowledged actually colluded to provoke your father to gamble our wealth. The other connections that we have refused to help us too. But, I think that your ex-husband was a decent man. With his fortune, I'm sure he could help you and our family to deal with this catastrophe. I already contacted him. As long as you are willing to get married to him again, he is more than willing to help us out."
Her ex-husband!?
Hearing this, Maisie's eyes widened in disbelief. "Grandpa, I hate that man! If he is more than willing to help, why is there a need to put such a nonsense condition? Am I a joke to him?"
"Our entire family had become a laughingstock because of your father. That man just does not know how to stop his gambling addiction," her grandfather sighed and clasped his hands. For a minute, both of them became silent.
After a while, the elder pushed a bright silver envelope towards her direction and calmly spoke, "It's up to you if you want to accept your ex-husband's condition. Here is the invitation letter your ex-husband sent for you. You can have dinner with him and discuss your arrangement or you can burn the invitation if you want. You don't need to force yourself, I will find a different way to deal with our situation."
"To think that he was quick to send an invitation? Grandpa, marrying that man again would be a slap on my face. But, with this situation, I cannot let our family be ruined. It is true that he is capable of helping us. This dinner invitation - - - I'll go," Maisie reluctantly agreed.
"I just felt powerless at this point. I hope you don't blame this old man for pushing you to make that decision. If you cannot bear it, just leave him again dear," the elder stated. However, for some reason, there was a trace of playfulness in his tone.
"Leave him again... Hmm... It really is my fault, isn't it?" Maisie whispered and took a deep breath. She opened the silver envelope and scowled. "My father would not indulge in gambling if I did not divorce that man. The day I decided to end our union was the day I also made our family vulnerable to those malicious people. They even befriended me saying I was strong for making such decisions. But, behind my back, they were plotting a vicious scheme."
"Your father is a fool. There is no cure on him. Anyway, it's a good life lesson, right, dear? That's why life is interesting because of those kinds of people. Oh, by the way, if you are planning to accept the dinner invitation, it's probably wise to go now, dear. It is rude to be late."
This time, she somewhat caught the playful tone of her grandfather.
Maisie paused and stared at the elder for a long time. "Why do I feel like you are less bothered by this situation, grandpa? We could be homeless tonight!"
"Ah! I have two reasons for your question, dear. One, I have raised you well. I'm confident that you will be fine anywhere..."
It may sound flattery but that was the truth. Maisie was indeed competent. She just does not want to see her family suffer. Rather than reclaiming their lost legacy slowly, she would rather do it in a faster way.
"I will be fine anywhere as long as it is away from that man. But now, I had to become his wife again," Maisie bitterly expressed before she urged her grandfather to continue, "What about the second reason, grandpa?"
"Well... I'm old... I don't want to die because of severe stress. I wish to become a great-grandfather, dear. Hehehe... That is what your grandmother had ordered me before she left in this world. Of course, if you have children, I will be the proudest!"
Maisie immediately raised her hands and gestured for her grandfather to stop. "Stop talking about death, grandpa. With your health condition, I'm sure you can still see my children's kids."
"That's right. Hehehe, at least, I have lightened your mood, dear. You can attend your dinner invitation without scowling at your ex-husband. It's getting dark. But, look at the horizon. Even if the sun already set and is now dark, it is still vast and will soon be full of stars. There is still endless possibilities."
"Grandpa, your optimism is really suspicious... Did you made a deal with that man already?"
The elder quickly shook his head. "No way! Just meet him and see it for yourself!"