His Devious Rule

The sun shone in the sky. The garden around the house was lit with the beautiful colors of flowers. The butterflies were flying from one blossom to another for nectar.

Zane was reading a book, sitting under the shade of a gazebo while Anya was lying on the lounge, with a heartwarming smile.

A little girl came running to the main door of the house, wearing a white chef cap that fit her little head perfectly and an apron that tied on her pretty dress. Her hair was in a beautiful hairdo and delicate clips adorned her raven hair.

Her cognac eyes twinkled when her gaze fell on the two who were in the gazebo, "Lunch is ready." Her adorable smile carried dimples that could melt anyone easily.

While the smile widened on Anya's face, Zane's lips twitched uncontrollably. "Momma, I am not hungry." His words were more like a displeased complaint, reluctant to have lunch.

Anya sat up as she giggled. Her hair cascaded down her waist in soft curls. Her delicate fingers brushed the curtain bangs away from her face. Her indulgent and amusing voice slipped her lips, "Maybe this time it will be tasty." She tried to give some hope to her son.

Zane's face contoured in disbelief. It wasn't the first or second time. He had lost the count of how many times his taste buds were sacrificed. "Momma, accept the truth. Your husband is awful at everything but business." His words came a bit firm and louder, reaching another set of ears.

'Achoo.'

A man sneezed coming to the door, "Little Donut, your son is badmouthing me again." The father also complained to her.

Zane rolled his eyes. Undoubtedly, how much they tried to be different, he and his father were replicas of each other.

He stood up, keeping his book aside, "Momma, I will prepare some fried rice." After the disastrous cooking trials, it was always he and his mother who had to clean up the mess and cook something.

The little girl smugly announced, displeased for talking ill of Alvin, "We have used all the eggs."

Zane and Anya: 😵

They had bought more than a dozen eggs in the morning. Mother and son looked at each other and ran inside the house to check the kitchen.

....

Anya didn't wake up with just a smile but a silent laugh, hugging her young son who had grown up to be a dashing young boy in her dreams. Opening her eyes, she planted a kiss on his forehead.

'By the way, who the little girl was?' Angela was older than Zane but the girl in her dream was quite young and had dimples, hair, and eyes that were attractive as Alvin.

Anya: 😮

She couldn't believe her dream planned another child for them. If they have another baby, she wants the baby to be a girl, a protective and proud daughter of a father.

Silly laughter sounded from her chest as she got up from the bed. Getting fresh, she quickly packed Zane's school bag and went to find Alvin. She wanted to share the dream that was so vivid, joyous, and too real.

She was welcomed to the empty bedroom of an untouched bed, a study room filled with fascinating artifacts, and lifeless machines waiting for attention in the gym.

Anya scratched her head without knowing where else Alvin could go early in the morning. Alvin's company was still finding a suitable workplace so he didn't have an office. It was too early for breakfast.

Anyhow, she went downstairs and asked the butler who was instructing the gardeners near the main door, "Uncle Oliver, good morning." She flashed a sweet smile at the man still affected by her beautiful dream. "Have you seen Alvin?"

Oliver was surprised by such warmness from Anya. His smile was wider than usual when he responded, "Good morning, Ms.Owen. Mr. Matthews hasn't returned."

'Hasn't returned?' They were together before she went to bed. "Did he go somewhere in the night?"

Oliver had thought Anya might know it, "Mr. Matthews left the mansion in the night. I guess you were sleeping hence he hasn't informed you." Since Alvin treated her dearly, he assumed Alvin would have informed her.

Anya didn't want to think negatively and complicate the simple things. However, why was she feeling like Alvin was trying to avoid her?

Anya wouldn't say that night was simple. She doesn't know the pain or the struggle Alvin was in but what she went through wasn't something she could forget or get over easily.

However, why was nobody ready to accept the past but her?

Five years ago, she might be just a small-town girl, she knew what was right and what was wrong. When she agreed to help him, she never meant with her body. Yet, she didn't blame Alvin.

Was she so weak-minded?

Or because Alvin was also the victim of the situation too?

But she wouldn't let anybody do the same to her. In the past, she wouldn't go near other men. Now, she would rather break their bones.

Her mood dampened. The excitement of her nerves turned cold as if somebody poured a bucket of cold water over her body, reminding her of the previous day's events.

They say happiness can't conquer sadness. Anya went through it in a split second.

"Ms. Owen!!" The butler Oliver had to shake her shoulder after several tries to get her attention.

Anya snapped out of her daze and heard the butler ask in worry, "Is everything alright?"

Anya nodded, flashing an apologetic smile, and went inside the mansion.  She worked out in the gym, helped her son get ready, and dropped him to school, and Alvin's mobile continued to be switched off.

Although she decided to get back to work, she had a long paid vacation. So she visited the police agency. The cops were still contacting the banks to collect the information.

She picked her son and Jia from the school to the Oasis mansion and the day ended without a word from Alvin or a glimpse of him.

Anya didn't mean to give time so that Alvin could avoid her. She started fearing that the past drifting them apart.

Even Zane was often looking at Alvin's room and study room and felt his absence at the dining table during meals. Lying on the bed, he asked, unable to hold back, "Momma, where is Mr. Matthews?"

'I didn't see him the whole day.' He didn't add those words.

Anya could only respond, "He had gone out for his work."

Zane went to sleep thinking Alvin was on a business trip like the previous time.

Anya might be able to track the mastermind behind the attempt to murder on next day. She hoped for Alvin to return in the morning.

—————

At Revir island.

The Revir island was an island of streams located in the tropical heavy rainfall region. Due to rainfall in the mountainous region, the streams flowed throughout the island forming beautiful falls, giving a surreal vibe to the island.

To protect nature, there were only a few resorts and hotels on the island with a few hundred inhabitants.

A team of men in suits rushed to fetch the new guests on the island. A man at the lead smiled professionally watching the tall and handsome man whose lips were pressed in a thin line, eyes covered by sunglasses.

He extended his hand for a handshake, "Mr. Matthews, welcome to Revir." He had heard about Alvin, it was the first time he got to see him.

The expression on Alvin's face was bone-chillingly cold. The temperature on the island failed to warm his heart. He removed his thick overcoat and passed it to Rob who was behind him. Ignoring the resort manager's hand, he passed by, with his piercing eyes scrutinizing the place.

Rob couldn't understand what happened suddenly in the night. Alvin was like a heavily snowed mountain where the avalanche was expected anytime to bury the people and froze them to death.

Rob gave a quick handshake to the awkwardly standing manager as he caught up with Alvin while speaking with the manager, "How are the arrangements?"

The manager's short legs failed to keep up with the tall humans. He had to jog as he responded, "Everything is prepared as per your instruction." Arrival information of them was kept a low profile.

The manager had the misconception that Alvin was going to hold his next auction in their resort. It will bring lots of reputed, high-profile people to the island, and tourism would boom.

Well, it wasn't his mistake, Rob made his words sound that way so that the hotel staff could be at their beck and call.

Rob asked the next question as he sat on the third row of the buggy, "We heard President Johnson is staying in your resort."

The manager was surprised as Miles Johnson's stay was also a secret. He responded while breathless by the jog, "You have the right information, Mr. Robertson." He couldn't possibly lie and stain his image.

"Drive," Rob commanded the driver and the buggy drove towards the resort leaving the manager and other staff at the port.