His Devious Rule

At airport, 

With a bright smile, Zane waved his hand until he could see his mother enter the private jet. He could make a note that his mother was hesitant to leave him back in the country and pouting in reluctance.

He was sad thinking he wouldn't be able to see her in the home and be with her for a month, nevertheless, he wasn't mad as Anya would be in contact with him every day on voice and video calls.

Rob didn't disturb the little man and watched the private jet on the runway for the takeoff. Honestly, he expected Zane to cry and make a fuss like other children seeing his parents leave. Thus he had prepared in the car, all the way to the airport on how to coax Zane.

Rob couldn't understand why Anya tagged Alvin along instead of forcing Alvin to stay behind with Zane.

Anyway, Rob brushed off his thoughts, accurately guessing Alvin's presence with her was a disguise for her mission. Since they wouldn't be stepping into any danger, he didn't fret over them or their safety. Instead, he wanted to make sure about Zane's safety.

…

Walking out of the airport with the little man, they had got in the Rolls Royce when Rob's mobile began ringing. His expression hardened when he identified the string of numbers that was from the hospital.

Glancing at the little man who busied himself with his iPad, Rob stepped out of the car in case he might have to instruct anything critical. Answering the call, "Hello!?" His apathetic voice reflected his emotions. Not interested in listening to anything about Casper.

A poised voice of a lady sounded from the other end of the call, [Mr. Robertson, Chairman Matthews has suffered a cardiac arrest.]

Rob's pupils grew large at the news. He did want to ruin Casper but he never wished for something so horrible. Considering Casper's poor health condition, he involuntarily expected the worst possible news - Death.

The nurse continued to report, [Doctors successfully resuscitated the patient from cardiac arrest but the patient has slipped into comatose due to PCABI.] After a pause, she added, [Post-cardiac arrest brain injury. Please visit the doctor to learn more about the medical condition of the patient.]

Rob stood frozen for a moment. He didn't have to meet the doctor to know more. He had heard about cardiac arrest in his teenage years. Most of the resuscitated patients will die or have severe neurological disability.

After a moment, he gasped and looked at the airport entrance. Anya and Alvin were on a long flight of twenty hours. They could do the emergency landing by using air traffic control but… Rob couldn't bring himself to react and take action.

Anya had a seminar right after landing. She may be able to delay but Rob unconsciously prioritized her work over Casper who was in a vegetative state with low chances of survival.

However, Rob's thoughts slowly turned complex about the news. He just responded to the nurse, "Thank you for the update." Then he hung up the call.

He was an assistant however closely he might have worked for Alvin. He first thought to contact the Owen couple who were too kind. So he dialed Elder Collins to update him about Casper and to ask about Anya and Alvin.

He spoke as soon as the old man answered the call, "Elder Collins, Casper Matthews suffered a cardiac arrest and slipped to comatose. President Matthews and Young Madam have departed. Should I instruct air control for an emergency landing?" His clear crisp voice held no emotions.

There was a long stretch of silence on the other end. Whatever might have happened in the past years, it was unchangeable that Alvin was Casper's son. Elder Collins' instinctive thought was to get Alvin back to the country. However, Alvin could do nothing about Casper's condition.

So why should they disturb Anya's schedule?

Elder Collins instructed in a heavy tone, [No need.] He didn't like his decision but that's what Alvin would do even if they brought them back to the airport.

Elder Collins added a few instructions, [Update them about the situation after they land. Inform the Owens but keep Zane away from all these.] According to him, Anya was the right person to talk to Zane about anything and everything.

Since Liam, Linus, and Secretary Harrison were working together, he didn't worry about the Matthews Industries and news about Casper's condition leaking again.

----

Except for a few, the rest felt bad for Casper. The man who lived like an emperor was lying on the bed without life in his body. Everything he did and achieved felt meaningless.

Liam did his best to contact the best doctors around the world but nothing seemed to be useful. The days passed by without any positive news from the hospital but more negative news.

Cordelia's hopes for her son crumbled and fell into depression after learning about Casper's condition. Followed by hearing loss due to absent-mindedness. She began showing the signs of chronic neck and joint pain & dementia. 

Whereas, the Matthews Industries slowly started to stabilize. The last thing they wanted was for Casper to take a last breath and cause another chaos.

–––––

Alvin expected Anya to be affected by Casper's news for a long time but his wife had an inkling of Casper's health hence her mood was down on the day of departure. 

So he accompanied his wife, who hated seminars yet effortlessly managed each of her seminars. She skillfully argued and convinced the foreign officers and the university deans to take strict actions to protect the students.

Since they had to disguise her visit as a guest speaker until her next seminar, Alvin planned every itinerary to show the world to his wife. 

If Anya worked for a day in a city, he was there to plan the rest of the week and keep her busy anywhere and everywhere he got the chance.

Without an inkling of the plans behind her back, Anya relished her honeymoon with her husband and dropped her guards without noticing the dangers lurking right around the corner.