His Devious Rule

Alvin was drugged, Alvin was drunk but Anya was called stupid for trying to help him and for wishing him to be alive.

It's so unfair.

Grumpy, her voice turned cold, she gritted her teeth as she lifted her hands out of the Throw and flexed her fingers, popping some nitrogen bubbles, "I am craving to choke you to death."

Well, it made him chuckle in amusement. She was frightened to her wits, cried her eyes out when somebody pretended to kill him. Recalling everything and assuming as he was dead drunk, she wanted to strangle him.

Hearing him laugh at her, Anya even tried to reach his neck but he held her hands, shoved inside the Throw as he wrapped her hands around herself.

He simply stated to clear her misunderstanding, "I wasn't drunk." And he didn't know how he was unconscious.

Anya tilted her head before falling silent. Since brown iris was very common, there were just too many people they could be suspicious about.

The Sallow family (Gianna Sallow) couldn't go against Casper so they hated Janet and Alvin.

The Matthews family didn't like Alvin either because he was illegitimate.

The Dalton family, especially Flora Dalton must have felt threatened by Anya's presence around Alvin so they could have also targeted them. Hence it was hard to solve.

A home is a place where one could drop their guards off, relax and re-energize. Anya couldn't believe it was a battlefield for Alvin.

Anya twirled around on her knees to hug him but Alvin thought she was trying to flee and made her sit.

Anya: "…"

He calls her fierce but he doesn't let her be sweet or take care of him.

She gave another attempt to change their moods. She asked cheerfully, "I will make breakfast tomorrow. What do you want to eat? I will cook for you…" Her voice trailed off feeling his stare.

Did she say something wrong?

Alvin wasn't sure if she was trying to divert his attention or genuinely asked as it was dark and he couldn't see her expression. He first answered her question damn seriously, "I will eat anything you cook."

Anya: "…"

He gave a pause and took her past again, "Don't you feel the dinner at the Lewis family was arranged to bring Krystle away from you?" He put a light on what she hadn't considered.

Anya frowned a bit before her back stiffened recalling the days. "Alvin, I remember Krystie cursing a family for appearing in their family mansion with a marriage proposal to her when we were just twenty. That family had forced Uncle Lewis and Aunt Lewis to call Krytie home for dinner."

Anya tried to recall that family name but failed, "I-" She sighed. She was drowned in her heap of troubles that she hadn't focused on details and just calmed Krystle.

Alvin could guess from her reaction she wasn't in a state to hear Krystle's problem that time. "Could you ask her once?"

Anya vigorously shook her head. Krystle was already angry at her, if she asks anything about the past, Krystle will guess whatever happened in the past were all linked. The strong bond between them was becoming sensitive due to Alvin's return. Anya wasn't ready to lose her best friend.

She needed time to patiently speak with Krystle And it wasn't possible till Saturday.

Alvin frowned but didn't force her as it was obvious Krystle hated him. He just wanted to know that family name so that it could help them identify which family targeted them.

Anya was about to relax when Alvin picked next, "What happened next?" Alvin wasn't an idiot to think only one incident had all happened. She didn't even know who that man was so "What did the Matthews family do?"

Since Anya was already telling the past, she thought to complete it. But she didn't want to tell anything about Liam yet as she had seen Liam in the Oasis mansion. She needs to know about Alvin's relationship with Liam and Liam's motive behind his actions. If Liam was being two-faced, she wasn't going to let him off.

Alvin knew if she doesn't tell him now, it will drag on for many days. At the same time, he knew it was making her feel low, hence he controlled himself from forcing her.

Recalling the next, Anya's face fell, and bit her lips, "I had just got to know I was pregnant, w-when I received…" Her voice cracked, her head lowered when the memories of the next horror of her life surfaced, "… A broken doll in a box of… r-real blood with my p-pregnancy report copy."

Alvin cupped her face hearing her voice shake, her breath hitch. He felt a warm liquid roll under his thumb. He gently wiped the tears on her cheek and pulled her to his arms. He couldn't believe that before she could recover from one, she was attacked again and again until she was broken down mentally and emotionally.

He instinctively rubbed her back without knowing what to tell, seeing her stifling her cry.

——— Five years ago———

###3rd POV, Anya won't mention Alvin's name.###

Anya hadn't stepped out of the apartment for a month after the video call threat. Krystle was worried and thought to give her some more time.

While making a list of the groceries, Krystle noticed Anya frowning hard standing by the door of the bathroom. "What's wrong?"

Anya didn't hide. "Does fever medicine affect the periods?" Anya even doubted if her mood was affecting her periods as it had been more than fifteen days late to her periods.

Krystle didn't need even a minute to realize she forgot to give pregnancy control pills after the night. She was worried about Anya's health at that time, it went out of her mind.

She hurriedly got off Anya's bed and opened her wardrobe. Pulling a pale pink midi dress, she stuffed it to Anya's hands, "Get ready, quick." Then she ran out to make a call.

Anya didn't want to go grocery shopping. Although it was illogical, she was afraid she might bump into Alvin even if she went downstairs. She had been under house arrest by herself.

Krystle who was pacing in the living hall, caught the sight of Anya zoned out, "Annie, please quick."

Anya reluctantly changed and tidied her hair and went out. Krystle didn't respond to any of Anya's questions until she parked the car outside the hospital.

"Annie, I have taken the appointment. Don't worry about anything." Krystle tried to boost her confidence.

"Krystie, what's going on? I think I am just stressed out." Anya thought the periods will be back on track once she gets over the fear.

"You might be pregnant, you idiot." Krystle snapped at her dumb friend and pushed her towards the gynec department.

Anya was shaking the whole time. The doctor was sweet and patient, she tried to calm down Anya but nothing was fruitful.

Coming from a small town, middle-class family, this was a really big deal, her parents would loathe her, they would have to hear the taunts of people and the baby?

Anya had no confidence to take care of a little life when she was just over twenty and knew nothing. She wasn't even capable of looking after herself, how was she going to raise a baby?

Anya had fallen so silent that it scared Krystle while they were waiting for the reports. "Annie, don't worry, I am right here. Let's hope you are not pregnant. If you are, we will look after the baby. We can learn everything over the internet now…" Going to Alvin or aborting the baby wasn't their option at all.

Krystle kept talking to keep her mind occupied but it wasn't helping.

When the reports came, Krystle checked it and faced the tense Anya Owen. The latter's tears started rolling the second Krystle nodded.

Well, it would have been good news if Anya was in a relationship and loved the person. The circumstances were entirely complicated. Krystle hugged her friend, even cried but she stayed strong for Anya, she pushed off her worries, she ignored the uncertainties. She was determined to be with her friend and the little life.

After some time, Krystle broke the hug and wiped her face. Although she didn't like it, she wanted to respect Anya's choice as it will change her whole life, "Annie, think carefully. Do you want to keep the baby?"

Krystle thought to give her a day or two, but Anya nodded between her tears. She didn't accept the baby because it was Alvin's child, she accepted because it was a life and she had no right to kill any life. "B-but I am s-scared." She whimpered. She hadn't even considered being in a relationship, much less having a baby.

Krystle nodded in understanding because even she felt scared as her friend. She again questioned just for her opinion, "Technically, Alvin Matthews has the right to know about the baby. But it's your choice whether to keep the baby or not. If y-you want to… be with him, I will help you."

Anya considered letting Alvin know about the baby, at the same time she was afraid to meet him. Hearing Krystle speaking about being with Alvin using the baby, Anya decisively shook her head, "NO."

Her love for Alvin was something pure, she never had any kind of intention towards him. So making him hers or using the baby to be with him was out of the question.

Krystle was happy about it, especially when she knew Alvin was losing his company and the Matthews family had many dirty secrets. However, she reminded Anya, "Then Mommy and Godmother will look after the baby." She tried to cheer Anya subtly pointing out that she will be a single mother until she gets into a relationship.

Krystle's attempt to cheer failed horribly. 'Mommy!?' Anya paled as a white sheet. A mother, she was just freaking twenty.