His Devious Rule

Linus watched Krystle who was anticipating to know about what happened in the past. She was trying hard to hide her eagerness but she was too poor at scheming and putting on an act, unlike Anya Owen who is a silent killer.

"Krystle Lewis." He slowly uttered her full name, contemplating if he should ask her or not, "Did your friend ask you to meet me to know the past?" He was a fool to assume Anya was ordinary. He wasn't going to underestimate her again.

Krystle could feel his suspicion in the tone. What was she scared of? She shrugged, "I came to you." She hated that Linus doubted her friend. "If not you, I will dig up from somewhere else." She revealed boldly.

Linus was inarticulate for a few seconds. What was he expecting? He thought she might try to make up lies or pretend to be clueless.

Despite hearing the truth, he couldn't get angry at her. Probably he would have shunned her if she lied. He swirled the bourbon in his rock glass and watched the liquid spin in the glass.

"So!!!!" He didn't want to have any stupid misunderstanding. If she was around him due to his brother or Anya, he wanted to get rid of her just like his past flings, "You slept with me to know the truth."

Wait, wait!! Didn't she already give him an inkling that she was hanging out with him seeing him stressed?

Krystle's hands itched to smack the man. Her annoyance came out in her tone, "Do you think I am cheap enough to sell my body for a piece of truth?" She scoffed and chugged the beer.

Linus saw Hothead grab her overcoat to leave from there. He was kind of glad her interest in him was different from her eagerness to know about the past.

Before she could grab her handbag, his voice filled the room, "Bro wasn't meeting Ms. Owen in the library to hide from others…"

Krystle paused and turned to him. Linus knows whatever he will tell Krystle will reach Anya's ear. He chose to tell her so that Krystle could understand his brother and doesn't put negative pressure on Anya Owen.

Alvin finally has a zeal to live life instead of aimlessly working and making money. Linus didn't mind giving some more push to their relationship, "He didn't want anybody to trouble her because of him…"

Krystle heard him attentively. Sometimes she argued with him and also got angry. Linus was patient with her, he briefed her, countered, and didn't forget to take his brother's side.

However, Hothead still disliked his brother.

——————

At the Oasis mansion,

Sleepyhead Anya whined when she was pulled up from the pillow and a loud voice drummed in her ears, "Girl, let's eat…"

Anya rested her head on Krystle's shoulder, wrapped her arms, and continued to sleep.

Zane closed the room door as he went out. He wanted to stop Krystle from waking his mother, at the same time he wanted his mother to eat. Also, his mother said, he doesn't have to be worried when friends are together. So he gave them privacy.

"You are wasted." Krystle chuckled, looking at her friend refusing to wake up. She was so used to seeing Anya on her toes to take care of Zane in the past years. She was happy to see her focusing on herself once.

Anya's nose wrinkled and groaned. She left Krystle and fell back on the bed, "You stink." Pulling the duvet in a half-asleep state, she rubbed her face as if removing the smell.

Krystle: "…"

She didn't drink much beer. She smelled herself and realized why she was smelly. Anyway, she snapped at her friend, "Were you a dog in the past life?" She couldn't believe Anya was so sensitive even when sleepy.

Anyway, Anya had dozed off. Krystle went for a quick shower and returned to see Anya still asleep like a log. Letting her sleep, she reached the dining hall where everyone was waiting for them.

She saw a seat empty to the right of Alvin and next to Zane. She wanted to sit with Zane but Alvin so she went around and sat next to Linus.

"Godmother, where is My mommy?" Zane glanced behind and looked back at her.

"My darling, Annie is sleeping. We will bring her dinner later." Krystle convinced Zane and flashed a sweet smile.

Zane nodded and picked up the spoon to start dinner.

Krystle asked looking at Dennis and Catalina, "Aunt Lina, why is she so exhausted?" As far as she knew, Anya had court, no other work.

Catalina awkwardly smiled, "She was sleeping when… Mr. Matthews brought her." Catalina's voice trailed out as she turned to Alvin.

One after the other, everyone turned to Alvin who focused on his dinner as if his name wasn't uttered.

Krystle kicked Linus's leg under the table, "How arrogant!" She muttered for Linus to hear.

Linus: "…"

Zane voiced everyone's question, "Mr. Matthews, is my Mommy alright?"

Alvin looked up at the little man. He took his own damn time, chewed the chicken in his mouth, and swallowed it before responding, "Your Mommy worked all night without sleeping." So she needs rest.

Dennis and Catalina looked at each other. As parents, they didn't know. As a best friend, Krystle had no idea.

Dennis glanced at Alvin who resumed eating, he was barely holding himself back.

—————

At nine in the evening,

Krystle felt sleepy, she wanted to speak with Anya as she had to leave for an early morning shoot.

"Annie, I have something to tell you…" Krystle shook Anya who was trying to bury herself in the duvet.

"Later," Anya whined. She felt like her head was going to explode just being half awake. She had lots of things to do and so many uncertainties to face. And all she felt was exhaustion and lazybones.

"My Baby…" Her hands tried to seek her solace, her energy pill.

Krystle spoke in disbelief, "He followed Alvin Matthews." She couldn't hear what they were saying but the two were so serious that she was bewildered. 'Those two are so alike.'

Missing her son, Anya curled up under the duvet and fell silent.

Krystle spoke her gut feeling, "Annie, why do I feel like Zane guessed who his father is?"

Anya pulled the duvet down and opened her eyes. She wasn't surprised to hear it. She won't be surprised if Zane guessed it. Her son was just too smart and very attentive.

"Zane brought him a scarf in his saved pocket money to show the gratitude from the Owen family," Anya revealed to Krystle who was inarticulate.

Anya shrugged at her reaction. Zane was trying to lower the work for her. He doesn't like Alvin but he is definitely curious about Alvin. Since they will leave the mansion soon, he bought a token of appreciation on behalf of the elders.

Krystle pointed out her understanding, "Why do I feel like Zane is eager to leave from here?"

Not just Zane, Dennis, and Catalina were also eager for it. They don't belong in that place and it was very hard to get accustomed to it.  They also didn't want to get adapted to it as they knew that wasn't how they would like to live.

Krystle asked seriously, seeing Anya blankly watching the darkness at the bay window, "Do you still like him?" If it was a no, she wouldn't tell her what happened with Alvin, so that Anya doesn't have to feel owed to Alvin.

Anya's fingers dug into the duvet. She tried to hate Alvin, ignore him when they met, nonetheless she couldn't.

He might be anything, overbearing, heartless, arrogant, possessive, or indulgent, however, her feelings were still the same. She might get annoyed at him but nothing more than that. Rather she was finding herself having profound feelings.

Unsure how her friend will react to her response. Anya still chose to respond without brushing off the topic this time, "I can't help it."

She can't stop her stupid heart from falling for the same man. Whereas her best friend hated that man. She won't be able to go against Krystle.