This is the scene that the old master Sy witnessed.
In his heart, he felt warmth and a tinge of loneliness. His family could even manage to be happy on their own without him.
The old master Sy looked at his younger son from another woman. The young man turned out great, he couldn't be anymore happy. Then he stared at his wife, despite the estrangement all those years, they are still married because the woman is smart and just didn't even bother with him and rather lived her life free from him.
Instead of suffering from the misery of her husband's infidelity, she took it as an opportunity to separate houses and decided to even talk to him like how married couples should.
Without their grandchildren, he doubts that Vanessa would be patient enough to even take a look at him.
She's strong, independent, rational and doesn't dwell on her emotions if it's destructive, it's the same attributes he fell for her for, and the same attributes he wished she didn't possess.
Maybe…. maybe… the old master Sy stopped this train of thought.
No matter how regretful he is, it still wouldn't change the fact that he was the one who betrayed her first. He was the one who disappointed her.
He was looking at Vanessa when their grandson, Baelfire saw him from the entrance. "Grandpa is here."
Vanessa looked over at him and their eyes met. The woman then took her eyesight from him as if she only saw a distant acquaintance and not a husband for more than forty years.
The old master Sy could only hide the sadness and longing in his eyes when his butler/former secretary touched him, sensing the emotional change in his master.
They have been companions for many years, funny but true enough, it's like a husband and wife are familiar with each other, even to the point of sensing the other's fluctuating emotion.
Seeing his father approaching, Ric put down the little girl in his embrace, and walked to meet the old man halfway. He bowed in respect and filial.
"Father, how are you?" He then bowed to Secretary Pito which made the latter bow back.
The old man tapped him on the shoulder, even if this son is of another woman and not by his wife, the old master Sy is fond of him because of his upright and kind character.
He's been sharply observing this son from afar. And he couldn't be any more happier that his most beloved son, Rawlf, even if he didn't really show it, is guiding his younger brother carefully.
Rawlf on the other hand nodded to the old man at the same time, greeted only the word "father" and he did the same with Secretary Pito.
The distance between them, the old master Sy couldn't do much about it. He could only thank that just like his mother, his eldest son is rational and civil to their treatment towards him. But whatever this son would do, at the end of the day, he will always be the apple in his eyes, that without Rawlf and the Sy Madame's knowing.
"Your timing is perfect dad. The kitchen is already preparing dinner." Veronica greets the old master Sy rather warmly seeing the cold atmosphere he received.
"Gwampah, look look! Fey's (Fair's) skirt looks pweety (pretty) isn't it?" Again, the little girl turned left and right to sway the plaid in her cute, flowy skirt. While Ric on the other hand had to control himself from the urges of scooping his kawaii niece and danced around in front of his strict father.
The old master Sy's laughter boomed inside the house. He fondly and gently touched the little girl's head.
"Fair is grandpa's greatest treasure!"
And not forgetting his grandson he continued,
"And Fire is grandpa's greatest hope." The meaning in his words is obvious. The Sy Madam nodded in satisfaction. Rawlf gently smiled as if it's old news.
Ric nodded in agreement, as he knew his place and position from the start. Veronica still doesn't know how to react. Rawlf gently holds her hand assuring her that it's only natural.
"Masters, Madams, dinner is served!" The finally good atmosphere even turned better when Butler Ru called for dinner. Since Baelfair is held by the old master Sy and Baelfire is held by the Sy Madam, the couple, Rawlf and Veronica first went inside the kitchen to check if everything is served. The rest followed suit and so did the two young men, Edwrd and Ric.
"Wow dude, who would expect that we will turn out to be a family." Ric turned to the young man beside him.
Edward closed his fist signaling for Ric to do the same. Both young men fists up together, completely ignoring the weird look others gave them.
'It's brotherly affection, duh,' They both thought in unison.
After the dinner, while the women and children return to the living room to play, the men except Edward, directly went to the study to discuss.
After an hour, Ric went out first, probably, Rawlf had finally finished with him. Seeing Baelfair once again, he scooped her up and decided to play around her before leaving.
Since Fire isn't really a playful kid in the first place, Ric could only mess up with his hair to tease him a bit.
Sometime later, he told them to be safe in their flight before bidding a farewell.
Reluctance to depart from his newly met nephew and niece, especially to the niece apparent in his eyes.