Not just Alvin, even Anya's face turned dark when they heard Bernard. They weren't sure if Bernard thinks of them as stupids as he was stupid to think he could trick her and Alvin.
Before Anya could say anything, Alvin deadpanned, "I will bring you there." He was ready to help her clear her name.
Inarticulate, Anya turned to Alvin. She couldn't believe he was confident to break through the top-notch security with her and for her. Although it felt good to have support, he was putting himself in danger.
Was he brave? Or foolishly brave?
Bernard chided his nephew immediately, "Have you lost your mind? Trespassing President's area will cost you years of imprisonment." Although he was irked by Alvin's behavior, he wouldn't let Alvin put his life at risk.
Anya decided to break the security by herself and speak with Kyle. She spoke calmly before the duo could start a war, "Not required then."
Bernard was disappointed. Nevertheless, Alvin accurately knew she was up to something. She won't give up so easily, will she?
The butler hurriedly reached Alvin in light footsteps and whispered something in Alvin's ear. The latter just nodded in response before the butler left.
Anya, who thought for a few seconds if she had anything else to ask Bernard, stood up, "I will take my leave." Without waiting for a response, she turned around and walked away.
Her son will be looking at the door and waiting for her, she needs to accompany him.
'Beep.'
Anya fished and checked her mobile to see who messaged her.
'Tap… Tap… Tap…'
She heard steady footsteps coming in front of her. Lifting her head, she identified Alvin's stepbrother, Liam Matthews. Despite the positive news over the message, her eyes turned as cold as a glacier.
Liam was in a dark blue perfectly tailored business suit. He wore indifference on his face but the frowns on his forehead didn't go unnoticed by Anya.
Finding the hint of confusion in his eyes, Anya guessed Liam neither identified her nor has the current picture of her. Hence she passed by him without giving him another glance.
She had lots of questions. Importantly, she already revealed to Alvin that the Matthews family was threatening her and even looking at her information. She couldn't understand why Alvin let his stepbrother enter the mansion when she was right there with her whole family.
A cold ran down her spine. She trusted Alvin, she wanted to trust him but these unanswered questions, the complicated circumstances were making her jelly. She couldn't take risks with the lives of her family.
Liam slightly frowned looking at an unknown lady in leisurewear and home slipper, walking around in his brother's mansion. As far as he knew Alvin never brought any woman home, he thought she might be Linus's girlfriend and proceeded to the dining hall.
Liam was entering the dining area when the faint voices he was hearing fell into deafening silence. He faintly smiled looking at the old man, "Uncle Bernard, you are here too." He respectfully greeted him.
"Liam!!" Bernard wasn't expecting to see Liam there. "How are you doing? How is your princess?" He was the same considerate man who everyone would blindly believe in.
Bernard apologized after recalling the invitation he declined, "I am sorry, I couldn't make time to drop by." Working as President of the country, he couldn't attend small and general banquets due to safety reasons.
Liam sat down where Anya was sitting before. He spoke a few words with Bernard while Alvin feigned ignorance.
Alvin was irritated that he couldn't follow Anya. He had a lot to ask and know. He needs to know what her plans are. But these men were not letting him go.
Keeping his annoyance aside, Bernard left the mansion after asking Alvin to be careful without taking any rash steps.
Looking at the tension between Bernard and Alvin, Liam was sure Anya was really with Alvin as Anya was President's assistant general secretary and Bernard was worried about Alvin.
Liam came directly to the point, "Alvin, where is Ms. Owen?"
Alvin glanced at his stepbrother, who was the only one who treated him like family in the Matthews mansion. His stepmother failed each time she tried to bring misunderstanding between them. Liam stayed by his side.
However, due to Liam's mother's consistent efforts against Alvin and Casper's negligence, Alvin couldn't bring himself to be close to Liam who was pampered by his mother and Casper showing his care through different actions.
Alvin responded with a question, "Your mother was troubling Anya, wasn't she?" Alvin knew his stepmother would do anything to destroy what he liked. Unfortunately, he failed to protect the innocent girl who he was only meeting in the library.
How could he think nobody will get to know if he doesn't see her outside the library?
Liam who came to speak with Alvin fell silent at the question. He was also sure his mother undoubtedly must have done something to push Anya Owen away. Or just to torture the person Alvin liked.
Nevertheless, Liam couldn't bring himself to confess that he also had a hand in sending Anya away from Alvin. He wasn't ready to lose his younger brother. He was afraid Alvin might misunderstand him.
His intention was to keep Anya safe somewhere without letting his father do anything to her. If something had happened to Anya, Alvin would have lived in guilt as she was the only person Alvin treated wholeheartedly and ready to put any effort.
The dining hall was in uncomfortable silence until the housekeeper brought dinner for Liam who came directly to the Oasis mansion after work.
Liam broke the silence between him and Alvin once the housekeeper left, "Flora Dalton got to know Anya Owen is with you in the mansion before Ms. Owen's news leaked."
Alvin was already aware of it. He didn't respond directly to Liam. He glanced at the kitchen and called, "Aunt Sophie."
Liam elegantly sipped wine when the housekeeper came out of the kitchen and Alvin ordered, "Bring her."
As soon as Alvin got to know Anya got a mobile from a lady, he soon found the maid and asked the housekeeper and others to keep an eye on the maid's activities. He hadn't thrown the maid out like the other maid because of Anya. The latter pitied people who work hard the whole day to make a living with necessities, but end up being used by wealthy people and bear the punishment.
Soon a maid stood with her head lowered. She was the same lady who gave the mobile to Anya on the lawn, on the day of her kidnapping.
Housekeeper Sophie, who always looked welcoming to the eyes, glared at the maid, "Are you going to speak now? Or will you face the Young Master's wrath?" In reality, Sophie had no idea what the maid did.
The maid knew why she was summoned there hence she was quivering like a dried autumn leaf in the wind. The previous maid was saved because Anya argued with Alvin. Anya wasn't there for her.
Recalling Alvin throwing a maid and her whole family out of the city, her fear skyrocketed. She fell to her knees, apologized, and cried as she confessed that she was informing Alvin's whereabouts and the lady's arrival to Flora Dalton.
Liam: "…"
He was surprised when Alvin didn't punish the maid but threw her out. This wasn't the Alvin Matthews Liam knew. Alvin was like Casper, their father. He will destroy their whole family and bring them on the road to beg.
Shaking his head to remove the unwanted thoughts, Liam informed Alvin, short and straight, "Dad is looking for Ms. Owen again. If you can't be with her, you should keep her away from you." Liam was aware Alvin was more powerful than him, the President of Conglomerate. So Liam didn't underestimate him this time by forcing them to stay away from each other.
Alvin recalled what Anya had said when he asked her to move on from the past. 'Nothing is in the past.' Now he understood what she was dreaded.
However, contrary to her fear, an evil smirk appeared on his handsome face. He was quiet all these years, it wasn't because he couldn't confront his father. He was uninterested and he used to think Anya would be happily leading her life without any trouble due to his presence.
Looks like he needs to show that the helpless son wasn't powerless anymore. The simple and clueless girl is shrewd and brave. Thus the powerful and controlling father has no dominance.
His eyes glinted sharply, his lips curled to a lopsided smirk, his mirthless voice was intimidating, "Then warn your father… I am back." To collect all the debts with interest.
Liam's lips opened and closed his mouth like a goldfish. A part of him wanted to ask Alvin to solve this as a family issue. However, the issue had gone out of hand the day his father brought up Anya's name.
Alvin who always ignored the hurtful remarks of their family had gone wrong the day Anya's name came up in the Matthews mansion. Nobody expected a chubby, simple, small-town girl to be the bottom line of Alvin.
Thus the storm had started the day Anya came into the life of Alvin. Time will say who will lose and who will stand at the end.
Although Liam hated his father, Casper was still his father. He neither could support Alvin to destroy their family nor support his father to hurt Alvin.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel