Krystle saw her friend buried under the duvet. She wasn't angry at Anya. Instead, she was surprised how she was able to focus on work and Zane without contacting Alvin.
Anya suddenly pulled the comforter down and sat up. She didn't want to lose Alvin without giving it a try. So she needs to change Alvin's image in Krystle. First of all, Krystle was disgusted by the Matthews family so she started with a secret.
"Krystie, Madam Matthews - Gianna Sallow is Alvin's stepmother. Movie Queen, Janet Collins is his biological mother." Since Alvin allowed her, she let her friend know the dark secret of the Matthews family.
Krystle was shocked to hear that. She tried to join the dots and slapped her forehead. "Holy F**k!!!" Now she understood why Alvin and Linus were cousins. She was so confused all the time thinking about Madam Matthews as a mother of Alvin and how a mother could trouble or loathe her son.
Anya questioningly lifted her brows, without understanding Krystle's reaction. The latter also reported what she got to know, "Alvin was trying to keep you safe from Madam Matthews."
"Huh? Keeping me safe?" Anya was confused. Alvin didn't even know that she was in trouble.
Krystle nodded and briefed everything she got to know.
.....
Gianna Sallow always destroyed everything that made Alvin happy. It may be a toy, his favorite sports car, or a friendship. There were times she was petty enough to ruin his school projects and assignments. She never let Alvin get anything better than what Liam had.
Thus Alvin never tried to get Anya's contact or meet her anywhere but in the corner of the library. But he was too naive.
Gianna soon got the air of Alvin spending his time with a girl. But always seeing the girl serving him water, bringing him lunch, and snacks, Gianna assumed Alvin got himself an errand girl. Thus she didn't give importance to the girl.
Nevertheless, when she noticed Alvin's car at the university even after his graduation, she started to keep a close eye on Anya. Cold-Hearted Alvin who bothered about nobody had searched the whole city for a book and exported some books for a girl. That's when Gianna understood the importance the small-town girl had in Alvin's life.
Looking at the startup company strengthening its foundation, Gianna was naturally incensed. Though she was happy that Alvin had nothing to do with Matthews Industries, she knew well the startup company could give leverage to Alvin in the Matthews board of directors meeting.
The investors of the startup company were Matthews and Watson, she didn't have the power to pull away from the investments. Thus she started planning against Alvin through Anya.
Around the same time, Casper Matthews got a business proposal from the Dalton family. One of the requests or demands was a marriage between the families. Alvin declined to become a tool of a business deal that clicked Casper's fury.
Flora Dalton, who wasn't ready to accept the rejection, drugged Alvin. Alvin was fortunate, Anya unexpectedly was in the karaoke bar when she overheard Flora's plan.
Anya's smartness turned out to be dumbness. Krystle was enraged at her state. Krystle messaged Ean Watson from Alvin's mobile and took Anya away.
The men hired by Flora found Alvin and shifted him to the hotel. Although Alvin doesn't remember anything, Flora made use of his state and put on the drama. Hard luck of Flora, Alvin refused mercilessly.
So Casper Matthews pulled his investment out of the start-up, influencing Watsons to do the same.
Casper expected Alvin to bow down and listen to him but Alvin still refused and started looking for investors for his company.
Gianna took the opportunity and dragged Anya's name into their family. Thus Casper Matthews used Anya to control Alvin.
On one hand, Anya received threats and she ran away from the city. On the other hand, Alvin either had to choose to get engaged to Flora Dalton and protect Anya or refuse the marriage and put Anya in danger.
Afraid Anya might be in danger, Alvin started searching for her but she was nowhere to be found. Gianna was the dean of the university so she hid Anya's details. Krystle was angry at Alvin so she lied as she didn't know.
The pressure on Alvin increased for marriage with Anya's life at stake. So Alvin declined the investors who came forward to invest in his company and he closed it down. He left the country so Casper Matthews will have no base to threaten him or do anything to Anya.
…..
Both the ladies needed time to digest the blow. Anya had guessed Alvin gave up on his dream but never guessed it could be because of her.
If she hadn't run away from the city and met Alvin, would he have followed his dreams?
Wasn't she just a girl he was training for his company?
Why was she so important to him?
Did they run away to protect each other?
The more she thought, Anya was disgusted by the Matthews family.
Krystle looked at Anya in stupefaction after hearing Liam Matthews met Anya, she had received a picture of her standing on Earl's apartment balcony and the video call from a man who pretended to kill Alvin.
Krystle suddenly hugged Anya who was in deep thoughts. "Idiot, you never told me." She rubbed Anya's back realizing the psychological pressure had on Anya.
Sitting back, Krystle held Anya's arms, "Did you tell all these to your counselor?" Anya's depression is cured so Krystle hoped Anya wasn't holding everything to herself for this long.
Anya innocently shook her head, "I got another threat written on paper." She hadn't dared to voice anything to anybody and ran away from the hospital.
"Are you crazy?" Krystle exploded at the realization that her PTSD wasn't treated yet. She never forced Anya to tell because her counselor had warned them strictly.
Anya pursed her lips and watched her friend angry and also trying to cool herself. PTSD!? Her depression is cured. Isn't that enough?
Krystle was glad Alvin came back to her life or this fool wouldn't have dared to voice it to anybody. She took a deep breath and relaxed. She tried to coax Anya for treatment, "Annie, PTSD leads to severe complications which you probably are not noticing yourself. I will find a suitable doctor and make an appointment. We will go together. Alright?"
Anya's lips curled into a blissful smile, seeing her friend so worried about her. Krystle wished for nothing but good in her life and always stood by her like a pillar of support. Hence Krystle's opinion of Alvin mattered to Anya.
Anya tried to calm down Krystle, "Krystie, this is the second time I spoke about these events. I am perfectly fine."
Krystle shook her head in denial, "Even if you think you are alright, I will bring you to the doctor. I can't be assured till then."
She always thought Anya's drastic changes were because she became a mother and took a huge responsibility. She hoped for the same unless it wasn't some complication of untreated Post-traumatic stress disorder.
Anya didn't argue and gave into her friend knowing she will be restless, "Yes, my master, I will listen to you. But we will keep this from my parents." She didn't want her parents to be more worried about her.
Krystle was happy to hear that. She lay on the bed and looked at Anya. She snorted, looking away from her. "I had thought you moved on from Alvin Matthews but you were afraid to put him in danger."
Anya ignored her remark. She held her friend and pulled her up, "Don't you think somebody encouraged Flora Dalton?" Officer Owen's suspicions hardly go wrong.
If Flora wanted to drug Alvin and climb her way up, she could have done that before the engagement deal between the two families. Somebody fooled her as Alvin will have no choice after sleeping with her but Flora didn't know Alvin would despise her for such tricks.
Visit freewe𝑏no(v)el.𝘤𝑜𝓂 for the best novel reading experience