Dear Ex-wife Marry Me novel (Maja) novel Chapter 1436

Maja knew she was walking on thin ice, but confrontation with the two family elders was to be avoided at all costs.

She nodded when she noticed the butler standing sentinel at the door, the entrance ajar.

Was Beck under surveillance?

Beck rubbed his temples, aware of her concern.

"It's not as bad as you think. I haven't spent much time with Grandpa and Grandma, but they've never been unkind to the younger ones. They're too pious, I guess. Otherwise, they wouldn't have left the Sanders' estate and retreated to that little island years ago."

Beck approached the door, paused as if recalling something important, and gently warned, "If there's a way to compromise, best to avoid a head-on clash."

Maja nodded, fearing that such middle ground might not exist.

Beck made his way to his grandparents's study.

Inside, Mr. Sanders sat, his hand gracefully moving a quill across the paper.

Mrs. Sanders stood by, seemingly on the verge of speaking, only to sigh instead.

"Concerned about your son?" Mr. Sanders finally spoke.

Augus was their pride, their heir apparent, now prematurely gray. Even the stoniest of hearts would soften at such a sight.

"He's my worry, who else? I've always been proud of him," Mr. Sanders put down his quill, deep in thought.

"That boy, Ian, right? His records aren't bad, but he's currently wanted by Windhelm. As long as that warrant's out, he's a fugitive. And you know his other issues."

They fell silent, Mrs. Sanders twirling her bracelet, murmuring prayers under her breath.

The study door creaked open after a knock, and Beck entered upon receiving a nod.

"Grandpa, Grandma."

Mr. Sanders didn't look up, Mrs. Sanders continued her prayer, and the scent of fresh ink filled the air.

"Maja and Ian are truly in love. Can't you just let them be?"

Mrs. Sanders halted, her voice dignified, "We've never intended to trouble anyone from the Sanders family. As the head, one must abide by the rules. Without them, there is chaos. The fortune-teller did say, if Augus and Cynthia were together, it would lead to disaster. Sometimes, destiny must be acknowledged. In all our years, we've never been wrong."

York glared back, hostility hanging in the air before he sneered and walked away.

The murmurs shifted from Maja to York, whose ambitions were too transparent.

"He's eyeing the Sanders' shares."

"Typical, he has no sons, and his house is filled with women, none of whom are pregnant."

"His only daughter is spoiled and foolish, no wonder he's on edge."

Every other Sanders had sons, except for York, whose daughter spent money like water, splurging thousands on male models—much like a male version of Beck.

But to the Sanders, thousands were but a drop in the ocean, and no one really cared, save for a few snide comments toward York.

In his youth, York flaunted his conquests, even in front of his bride, only to end up with a daughter. None of his mistresses bore children, and later it was revealed that York suffered from a low sperm count—his daughter his only child.

Still, he kept a harem, an embarrassment to his daughter and a slap to his lawful wife, who, with age, had lost her allure.

As for his daughter, she was left to her own devices, with plenty of money but no love.