His Devious Rule

Krystle digested the open challenge of Steve Hanks. If not anything, she knew Anya would do nothing she was unsure of.

"Annie, who the…" Krystle paused when there was a mini crowd around them, "Anya, you have come." It was the restrained voice of Krystle's father.

Krystle's mother spread her arms and hugged Anya, "You look gorgeous, Anya." Krystle's mother awkwardly complimented when Anya didn't react to the hug.

Anya: "..."

Though their words and actions didn't seem out of ordinary, Anya's smile faltered looking at the fake smiles and expressions.

Without giving Anya a chance to speak, a middle-aged lady spoke, "Hello Anya, I'm Caroline, we have met before." That was a voice of effort to be acquainted.

Anya knew Caroline was Krystle's aunt, managing director of one of the Lewis hotels. Weren't they always just flashing her a smile that used to be genuine?

Caroline didn't notice Anya's reaction and pointed at her husband to give the introduction, "I'm sure you have met my husband, Stefan." Stefan had never bothered to spare an eye on Anya.

By the end of Caroline's words, Anya's smile had vanished. Her friendly appearance morphed into distant and unsociable. She barely nodded.

She used to think these kinds of parties were boring. She changed it to a headache when all the Lewis members were flattering her.

Krystle knew what was happening there. Her family wasn't looking for Alvin's business association but pretending to be close to Anya.

She looked at Earl when he returned with Zane. Earl was the good boy of the family, thus he stood helpless against their family. Now she knew why Alvin was perfect for Anya.

She cut in, "Are you guys done?" She looked at the elders whose fake mask hardened, "Pretending isn't your great trait, and stop making Annie uncomfortable." She was ruthless in saving her best friend from misery. She wouldn't change even if it was her own family.

Anya considered saying, 'It's alright' as it was Krystle's family but what Krystle said was also true. After the whole day of events, Anya wasn't in a state to endure anything.

With her son's eyes on her, she didn't want to lie or pretend as if she was fine. No, she didn't entertain unrelated people.

The Lewis family members looked at the spoiled daughter of the family and sighed. To the three families, Krystle was the only daughter who they spoiled rotten. And what Krystle said was also true. They nodded at Anya as an apology and scattered.

Father Lewis sighed and flashed an amiable smile to Anya, "You need to rest after a long day, Anya." Willingly or unwillingly, they had followed the whole day's incidents. He honestly was surprised Anya came to the party amidst the chaos.

Anya tried but she didn't have the switch to change easily. So she forced a smile at the man and responded looking at her grumpy friend, "I wanted to come even if it's just for five minutes."

Krystle crossed her arms and raised her chin. She smugly said, "Thank me. The star of the party came for me."

Father Lewis chuckled and left to attend to the other guests. They never had thought the girl who used to silently stay at the party had become the center of attention.

Mother Lewis held Anya's hands. "Anya, you are looking pretty." It was a genuine one. Always seeing Anya in simple outfits, Mother Lewis hadn't expected Anya to look like nobility. Maybe she didn't expect the small-town girl to climb such a high position.

Anya smiled, holding back Mother Lewis' hand, "I'm sorry for arriving late, Aunt." She paused to feel the numerous eyes, "I won't be staying long, I hope it's alright."

Mother Lewis patted her hand in assurance, "We understand. Take care of yourself."

Krystle snorted, "Why would it be a problem?" She hugged her friend and gently rubbed her back. She wanted to be with Anya in the morning but Anya refused to get her implicated in everything.

Anya grumbled, "I don't like all these." She could never be comfortable when people fake and fawn over her

Krystle complained too, "This is the reason I didn't want you to become a Matthews."

Although Krystle didn't know the particulars in the past, the mess of the Matthews family was long known to the Lewis family. And her friend still ended up falling right into the vortex.

Anya could understand Krystle's worry. She accepted Alvin after knowing everything about his family. She wouldn't blame him. "We will solve it, Krystie." It was just short-term.

Krystle let go of her friend and grumbled, "Why do good girls fall for bad boys? Argh."

Anya wanted to argue as Alvin wasn't bad and she wasn't good but held her opinion to herself to spend some time with them.

–––––––

At Oasis mansion,

Alvin was busy listening to Ean and Liam, considering all the possibilities before they could take action. He uninterestedly glanced at his mobile screen when it beeped, alerting him of messages.

[Bro, Steve Hanks taunted sister-in-law.]

[He challenged Sister-in-law to stop him from becoming dean and his son from becoming CEO of the Matthews Industries.]

[Did Brother Liam resign?]

Out of all the messages, Alvin's eyes zeroed in on the first message. Neither Linus mentioned Anya's response, nor Alvin bothered about it.

Ean and Liam looked at each other when Alvin's expression turned cold. Ean took the liberty and grabbed Alvin's mobile. He scoffed, "Casper Matthews is so predictable."

Liam had guessed it right. He knew his father very well. He was also aware of the reason Casper would pick. When the company was being raided, how could Liam go home instead of the company to handle the crisis?

Well, his wife and daughter were more important to him than the company.

However, the duo was rendered speechless when Alvin spoke, "Rob, what is Steve Hanks up to?" Anya hadn't shared much about Steve Hanks so he had asked his team to keep an eye on the people who were refusing Anya's ascend to the dean position.

Rob fished his mobile, looked through something, and solemnly said, "He is hiding fifteen million cash in his old villa."

Alvin didn't consider thinking twice when he instructed, "I heard there was a fire incident."

Those kinds of words couldn't be instructed over their mobiles so Rob went out to handle it.

Liam and Ean: "..."

Liam couldn't believe what he heard. His younger brother was much more sinister than his father.

Ean processed what just happened and demanded a response, "Alvin Matthews, you are burning money for taunting your wife. Why didn't you burn the Matthews mansion for trying to kill me?"

Liam wanted to cough up blood hearing Ean. Instead of worrying about getting caught by the police, they were talking about burning his home.

Were they from the same world?

Alvin glanced at his friend. Lawyer Abbot had told him that filing against Cordelia will gain them nothing but money for his car and medical expenses for Ean.

Cordelia was old and her apology or the simple act of being out of mind was enough to nullify the possible punishment. Thus he had to let Cordelia live every day in fear.

He didn't tell all that to Ean. He grabbed his mobile to drop a message to his wife. He shrugged at the glowering eyes, "You are alive." Whereas his wife had to bear the mockery.

Ean was baffled. He hissed in annoyance, "We aren't best friends anymore."

Liam: "..."