His Devious Rule

Alvin, who went upstairs, heard giggles from Anya's room. He carefully pushed the door, without making any noise. He saw Young Mommy narrating something with the exaggerated actions of her hands and making the Little Brat roll on the bed and laugh his heart out.

His lips unawarely curled as he closed the door without disturbing them. Recalling the unwavering dimples on her pink cheeks, he wondered why she wasn't half of this happy around him.

Anyhow, while entering his study room, he typed in the search bar of the internet browser of his mobile.

'What age should a child sleep alone in their room?'

He carefully read the results, 'Once your child is around 2 to 3 years old, it is a good time to try to make him sleep by himself…'

There was more information, but he closed the application and dialed the butler.

He instructed once the call was answered, "Uncle Oliver, prepare a bedroom for Zane Owen." He thought to let the mother and son be together for a night, "Tomorrow is fine." He added.

He heard the response and hung up the call. From tomorrow, he could barge into her room whenever he wants. He shrugged and went to do some work as if what he thought was completely normal.

————

It wasn't the sleeping time yet and Catalina and Dennis weren't sleepy either. However, they didn't hold back Anya in their room as she was very exhausted. They sent Zane with Anya and asked them to rest soon. They spoke with each other or silently accompanied until they went to bed to quickly adjust to the jet lag.

Meanwhile, Anya and Zane spent a good time with each other just by talking. Zane narrated a lot of incidents on their vacation and Anya told him little fun stories making him laugh.

Then he snuggled to Anya's arms and was showing her pictures when Anya dozed off. Zane, who didn't get the response, looked at her nodding off.

He still had many stories to tell but didn't continue. He locked the mobile and tugged at her, "Momma, sleep properly." His little hands hardly could move her.

Yawning, Anya slid down to the bed. Zane pulled the duvet over them and went to her arms seeing her arms stretch, "Baby…"

"Good night, Momma" He wished, giving her a hug.

"I love you, Baby." She said between her yawning.

Zane smiled as he looked at his mother's closed eyes. He always sees her take care of him. It was very rare she sleeps before him. "I love you too, Momma." He kissed her cheek.

He was lying down next to her when he looked at the brightly lit lights. He didn't know where to turn it off. He was getting out of the duvet to search for the switches when he noticed Alvin leaning on the door frame.

Alvin had reached there to ask her something about Harper's situation. He saw Anya dozed off and Zane was speaking to himself without knowing. Before he could step in, Little Brat took care of everything, leaving him surprised.

Now he doubted if he should search online as 'When could a single mother sleep alone in her room?'

He signaled Zane to lie down as he stepped inside. Well, Zane didn't follow his actions.

Zane asked in a low voice glancing at dozed off Anya, "Mr. Matthews, could you talk to Mommy tomorrow?"

Or else why will that strange, mannerless man come to their room without knocking. His mother taught him to knock on the door before entering another's room.

Didn't anybody teach this strange man?

Alvin inwardly sighed in resignation. He turned off the lights under Little Brat's eyes and heard a request when everything fell into darkness, "Mr. Matthews, which are the switches for dim lights?" He sounded eager to learn.

Alvin clicked another button which lit the whole room in a faint warm color. He watched Zane staring at the switch where his finger was resting.

Zane made a note of it before turning to Alvin. "Thank you, Mr. Matthews. Have a good night." Politely he was asking the man to get out of the room without disturbing his mother's sleep.

Alvin again felt like he was in Little Brat's house instead of his place. He too ignored the brat's efforts to send him away.

"Aren't you a big boy? Why do you still sleep with your mother?" He kept his voice low to avoid disturbing the sleeping beauty.

Zane glanced at his mother before looking at the man. He doubted if the man couldn't understand that their conversation might wake up his mother.

Displeased, he got from the bed and stood in front of Alvin. Now they could keep his voice lower. He responded with tiny frowns on his cute face, "Mr. Matthews, I am still young enough to occasionally sleep with my Mommy."

He has a room in their home. His grandparents and mother said he should learn to sleep alone, at the same time he could occasionally sleep with his mother for a few more years. From the time he could easily walk around and know how to use the washroom, Anya helped him to sleep alone.

Alvin understood Little Brat sleeps alone too. His efforts to teach Zane to use a separate room weren't required. He saw Zane's uneasiness and guessed Little Brat was controlling himself from saying 'Get Out.'

He went against Zane's wish and kneeled in front of him and questioned, "What time does your Mommy wake up?"

Zane didn't want to talk but the strange man wasn't playing along. He quickly responded, hoping for him to leave soon, "Mommy wakes up at five to exercise."

Alvin decided to speak with her in the morning. "What is your plan tomorrow?"

Zane couldn't believe the questions weren't stopping. Since he wasn't sleepy, he pointed to the door, "Mr. Matthews, shall we talk outside?" When he went to talk to Alvin, the latter had listened to him. So Zane didn't want to be rude.

However, he blamed him without batting an eyelid, "You are disturbing my Mommy's sleep." Then he walked towards the door, very confident that Alvin would follow him out.

Alvin: "…"

Alvin followed the little man wondering why he had to speak to this brat.

Anya opened her groggy eyes when the door closed. She had woken up when she couldn't reach Zane on the bed. Hearing Alvin's low voice, being very patient and cautious about his words, she didn't have the heart to disturb their conversation.

Although there wasn't affection or warmth in their conversation, she was happy to know Alvin doesn't ignore Zane, as he does for others.

She wasn't prepared to say anything about what happened in his bedroom. Since Zane had taken a good rest in the evening, she let him spend some time with Alvin, his father.

————

In the Matthews mansion,

Liam was going to Casper's study room when a delicate lady in a lavender silk nightdress, wrapped in a warm sheath, went towards him.

Gianna Sallow aka Madam Matthews, wife of Casper, mother of Liam, and stepmother of Alvin. Although Casper was head of every business, Gianna managed the charities, schools, and colleges that were under Matthews companies.

Her smile, her walk, and her style, everything spoke of elegance and grace. It was hard to say she was a woman in her early fifties.

"Liam…" A melodious voice floated in the air.

However, Liam didn't smile back. "Mom, "Unfortunately, he is aware of the evil side of his mother.

Worried, Gianna lifted her hand and caressed his cheek, "Look at the dark circle, why aren't you resting properly? You look so exhausted." She sighed as she held the sheath close to her body due to the cold, "My dear son, don't ignore your health."

Despite the affectionate and caring words, Liam's face stayed stoic. He answered the unspoken question which was the reason his mother was thereby ditching her beauty sleep.

"Yes, Mom, I met Alvin today. He is doing well. Is there anything else I could help you with?" Unlike talking affectionately with his mother, he sounded formal.

Right, his mother wanted him to be an heir of the Matthews family, instead of her son. The position had the priority than the relationship.

Confusion clouded Gianna's eyes when she sensed Liam's anger at her. She was indeed going to meet him to know about Alvin, but, "Liam, what's wrong in caring about you?" She loved his son.

Liam was aware of it but he didn't like the motive behind her appearance. "It's late, Mom. You should go to bed."

He gave a side hug as he wished, "Good night." Then he walked away.

Only he knew, five years ago, it was his mother who told Casper about the presence of Anya Owen. It was his mother who made up nonsense stories of Alvin and Anya to rile up Casper against Alvin.

When Alvin left the country, Liam avoided his mother. According to him, his mother was the main reason for the damage in their family.

However, as per Gianna, Casper had destroyed their family the day he slept with Janet Collins. Gianna was a prideful woman, how could she bear to accept that her husband went out and slept with a younger and enchanting actress. As if it wasn't less hurtful, Gianna had to lie to the world that a bastard is her second son.

Casper didn't care how his actions emotionally broke Gianna. Casper didn't apologize or spoke with her. He just threw his orders and minded his business as if it wasn't a big deal.

While putting on an act of good hostess of the Matthews family, she didn't realize when she became vile and scheming.

Since Janet and her son made her life hard, she swore to make their life difficult, filled with thorns.

She had done a lot of things to send Alvin out of their life and family, but nothing had a big impact. Casper was getting angry but didn't let Alvin move out, to save their image.

That's when she noticed Alvin searching the whole city for a book and bringing it to somebody. One who wasn't going to college regularly never missed going in the afternoon. Not to attend the classes but for a girl.

She had watched Alvin and Anya for a long time. Nothing happened between them as she expected but she guessed Alvin treasured the small-town girl hence he was keeping her away from his wealthy friends' group.

Gianna simply used the chance and achieved what she wanted.

However, life is cruel to her. She often heard Casper's dissatisfaction with Liam's leadership but was impressed by Alvin and his growth.

Casper cared nothing but his image and business. She could guess Casper was planning to bring Alvin back in his style.

How could Gianna let a bastard take her son's position?

Creating a deeper grudge between father and bastard was her aim.

She knew the easiest way. Hurting Anya Owen and framing Casper without proper proof will do her job.

'Anya Owen, don't blame me for your stupidity. Blame that sl*t for seducing my husband. Blame that bastard for being near you.' Gianna snickered coldly and returned to her bedroom.