"Hi Maxwell, it's been a while, how have you been?" A voice said as Maxwell placed his phone on his ear.
"Micheal?" Maxwell uttered, leaning against the car in front of the hospital. He smiled to himself, knowing fully well what Micheal called him for.
"Yes man. It's been more than three years, and you could still recognize my voice at a go." Micheal joked, causing Maxwell to smirk.
"I don't have all the time, just cut to the chase." Maxwell fired in a bossy tone, swinging the car keys playfully. He stared at the ward his grandfather was admitted in and sighed.
"Grandpa wants you back." Micheal stated, which was accompanied by silence that lingered for some seconds.
"Are you there?" Micheal inquired, since he got no response from Maxwell.
"I heard you. I am just wondering why he suddenly wants me back since he chased me out years ago." Maxwell answered, pretending as if he hadn't overheard his grandfather's discussion with Uncle Fred.
"Grandfather is dying, and he needs someone to take over. He needs you, Maxwell." Micheal tried to persuade Maxwell which in turn raised Maxwell's suspicion a bit.
Micheal had never been so good and polite to him, he hated Maxwell and would always forcefully take what doesn't belong to him.
Him and his father, Uncle Fred had always eyed the position of the Patron of the family, and it's obvious that they just can't wait for the Patron's death so they could take over.
"Grandfather is dying?" Maxwell asked, still troubled by Micheal's sudden switch in attitude. He would have thought he had changed his ways if he had not heard him talk earlier that day in the hospital.
"Yes, he is, and he needs you around him." Answered Micheal. As Maxwell was about to reply to him, he sighted Freya walking hurriedly towards him from a distance.
"I will call you back." He muttered, sliding his phone into his pocket.
He walked to meet Freya on the way, who looked so disturbed and perplexed.
"How was it? Did the surgery go well?" Maxwell inquired as they both stepped in the car.
"Yes, it was successful. The doctors said she should be awake in a few hours." Freya replied, sticking her face out of the window.
"Why then do you look perturbed? She will wake up as the doctors said, relax your mind." Maxwell said to her calmly, he grabbed her hand and slowly rubbed it.
"I am just a bit concerned…" she said with a sigh.
"About Auntie Marie?"
"No. Grandma called me just now that I should come to the family house as soon as possible. It's already seven in the evening, calling me by this time doesn't sound good." Freya replied while Maxwell smiled.
"I guess you are overthinking it. What if she wants to award you in front of the whole family? You know Grandma doesn't joke with the family's affairs, and would award and punish strictly." Maxwell said in an attempt to calm him down.
Freya glanced at him and sighed
"I wish it's that simple." Freya replied.
Maxwell turned on the car and drove off, heading straight to the family house.
They got there in about an hour, and Freya was shocked by the number of family members that were present.
Almost everyone was seated except for her uncle who was presently not in the country.
"Good evening grandmother, greetings everyone." Freya greeted as she walked into the living room.
"Congratulations Freya, we heard about the good news and we couldn't help it but hurry and congratulate you." Athena, Freya's Aunt, said to her in a tone that she couldn't decipher the real intent of the message.
"Yes, Freya. You've done a great job and we are all proud of you." Clara, Freya's distant cousin added.
In the midst of the greetings, Maxwell walked in and was also shocked by the number of people seated in the living room.
"Are we having a special occasion tonight, grandmother?" Maxwell asked ignorantly. Loud hisses from different angles flooded the whole room as if that was a response to his question.
"Yes, it's a special occasion as the Smiths' family is bonding with the Adams' through a marriage alliance." Adele responded to his question. Freya's eyes darted sideways as she tried to make a meaning out of Adele's words.
"What do you mean, granny?" Freya asked, hoping it wasn't what she was thinking of.
Adele smiled, blinked at Mason in a way that was oblivious to others.
Mason smiled, stood up from his seat, and the lights suddenly went off in the room.
There was commotion everywhere, and after about two minutes, the lights were restored.
Freya stood still in the middle of the room, her eyes welling up with tears that threatened to pour like an open dam. She ran her fingers across her face, and wiped the corners of her eyes with the back of her palm.
Slowly, she turned to Maxwell, and smirked.
"It's the truth, Maxwell. You never deserved me from the start, and all you've caused me all these years were troubles. Especially with my latest achievement, you are far below my league, so let's end everything here." Freya said in a firm and resolute tone. Maxwell furrowed his brows in confusion as the words traveled down his eardrums.
"What are you talking about, Freya?" Maxwell asked, his eyes opening wide in shock.
"I will marry Nicholas! He is the only one who truly deserves me. He can provide me with the life that I want, and help my family achieve greatness. And you? What can you do? You are just a man who cower behind the skirts of a woman. Just let it go." The whole crowd oozed as Freya uttered the words. Maxwell stood electrified to the ground, wondering if what was happening was real or fake.
The burning feeling of betrayal, hurt and revenge crawled up his throat, yet he decided to ask her for the last time, if she was truly divorcing him.
"Freya. I don't understand what you are saying. Didn't we…"
"Here's the divorce papers, check through and you will understand." Freya screamed, flinging the papers at his face.
"Sign the papers, get out of this house, and never come back!"