Chapter 7: The Lost Starlit Sky
“What happened to you? Your clothes are filthy, and where is the heel of your high-heeled shoe? Did it run away from home?”
Maggie exclaimed in shock.
“Ugh, don’t even mention it. I ran into the Black Short-Sleeve Gang again.”
“What?! Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Would I still be sitting here hugging my dear Maggie if I weren’t?”
“As long as you’re alright. But… your necklace?”
Maggie’s sharp eyes instantly noticed Daphne Finney’s bare neck.
“I failed to protect it. It was stolen.”
“Damn that Black Short-Sleeve Gang! Didn’t they say they would only take money and not jewelry? What, have they changed their rules again?”
Daphne rested her head on Maggie’s shoulder, unsure how to explain in just a few words that she had traded the necklace to save Grandpa Ham.
“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you tomorrow. My dear Maggie, let’s talk about your blind date today. I know you need my comfort.”
“Sigh, don’t even bring it up. My aunt keeps hoping I’ll marry into a wealthy family, but you know our family’s situation.”
Maggie leaned back slightly against the sofa, her eyes filled with helplessness and melancholy.
“Over the past decade, our family has gradually improved, but my father still can’t shake off the nickname ‘gold digger.”
“With that reputation, do you think I can climb into any prominent family?”
Maggie swirled the juice in her glass, watching the ripples reflect the uncertainty in her eyes.
“It’s all because my aunt was lucky enough to marry into wealth, and now she thinks everyone can have her kind of luck.”
“Don’t be sad, Maggie.”
Daphne sat closer, causing the sofa cushion to sink slightly. She turned sideways, carefully studying her friend.
Maggie’s deep blue eyes were captivating, her nose high and straight, her figure curvy and alluring. The only flaw was that she wasn’t very tall.
Daphne looked at her sincerely. “You must know, my dear, that you are stunning. Look at that figure—elegant and sculpted like the Venus de Milo. I guarantee you’ll attract plenty of admirers.”
Maggie shrugged with a bitter smile, her shoulders trembling slightly. She pursed her lips helplessly. “With this figure of mine, some people only see me as a child-bearing machine. The only ones interested in me are old men looking for a wife to bear their children or stepmothers for their kids.”
She lowered her gaze to her hands—long, slender fingers with neatly trimmed nails painted in a soft pink hue.
“No, you are my Scarlett O’Hara. If I had your beauty, my aunt wouldn’t worry about me marrying into wealth.”
“Well then, my Venus, Scarlett is willing to marry you.”
“Hahaha! That would drive my aunt crazy!”
They exchanged a glance and burst into laughter, the sound ringing like silver bells, easing some of the tension in the air.
After joking around, Daphne instinctively reached for her neck and let out a small sigh.
The necklace would never be recovered, would it?
It was a treasured gift from her grandfather on her tenth birthday.
The pendant was a delicate sapphire surrounded by tiny diamonds. As a child, Daphne even named the necklace “Starlit Sky.”
Shaking her head in resignation, she vented her frustration. “This is the third time I’ve run into the Black Short-Sleeve Gang this year. I don’t know if I should call myself lucky or unlucky.”
“Every single time, I end up getting robbed.”
Maggie sympathized with Daphne’s misfortune, but living in the East Side, she didn’t truly understand how terrifying the gang was. She could only wrap her arms around Daphne’s shoulders to offer warmth.
“Maggie, when will I finally save enough money to buy a house?”
Daphne hugged Maggie back, biting her lip slightly.
“You’re still thinking about buying a house?”
Maggie raised an eyebrow, her expression resembling a crescent moon. “The property prices in the West Side aren’t cheap.”
“Exactly. Even in this crime-ridden West Side, I can’t afford a house, let alone anywhere else.”
Daphne frowned slightly, a shallow crease forming between her brows. Her eyes dimmed, like a sky covered in storm clouds.
“And you know my brother-in-law has been arguing with my sister lately. He keeps hinting that I should move out. I don’t want to put my sister in a difficult position.”
Maggie hesitated, her lips parting as if to speak but closing again. Seeing through her thoughts, Daphne quickly pressed a finger against Maggie’s lips and spoke first.
“Forget it. You’re still living with your parents. How could you take me in? A short stay is fine, but I’d have to live there for three to five years to afford a house. I don’t want to go from being my brother-in-law’s problem to being your parents’ problem.”
“Alright…”
Maggie gently patted Daphne’s hand, her warmth passing through their touch. Her eyes were full of concern. “I have some savings. Just let me know if you don’t have enough for a down payment. I can lend you some.”
“Alright, let me save up a little longer. Maybe by the end of the year, I’ll have enough for the down payment.”
Daphne smiled gratefully, her lips curving upward to reveal a row of white teeth. Then, glancing at her watch, she jolted as if struck by lightning. She leaped up, hurriedly grabbed her bag, and dashed toward the door.
Turning back, she said, “Maggie, please close the door for me! I have to go pick up my sister’s kids!”
With that, she rushed out the door and hurried home.
Daphne’s brother-in-law, Parson, might not be a noble aristocrat, but he was at least the owner of a farm near the West Side mines.
Born with a sharp mind, his naturally wavy black hair was always neatly combed, making him look sharp and capable. Though not tall, he carried himself with a proud, upright posture, like a fighting rooster, exuding confidence.
He graduated from an Ivy League university with outstanding academic achievements and smoothly entered the prestigious Milan Securities Exchange in the West Side.
Parson was extraordinarily talented. His keen insight into financial markets and excellent social skills made him successful in business negotiations and teamwork. His humor and sincerity effortlessly won people over.
To outsiders, Parson seemed like the perfect husband.
His annual income exceeded a million thanks to recognition from his superiors and years of hard work. He was financially well-off, accumulating assets year after year, becoming the very image of success.