"Flora Dalton, I guess you didn't recognize me. Did you?"
Flora got the information from the maid of the Oasis mansion that there is an Owen named girl in the mansion.
She looked at Anya from top to toe. She couldn't believe the fat girl who was wearing cheap clothes without any fashion sense was the one standing in front of her.
Anya looked pretty like a doll dressed up with exquisiteness and gracefulness. Anyway, Flora scoffed thinking it was Alvin's money and Anya must have lost weight to impress Alvin.
She said through her teeth hiding her jealousy, "Anya Owen."
Anya was surprised, "Good. Now do a thing. Go to the one who encouraged you to drug Alvin and ask them, why didn't they tell you about me."
Anya saw Flora's jaws clench in reaction. Flora had beauty but brains. Fooling and manipulating her was too easy.
If Flora meets Gianna as per Anya's deduction, then Gianna knows about Zane's existence. It was very important for her to guard up against Gianna.
If it wasn't Gianna, then Anya will know who was included in sending her and Alvin away from each other.
To live a happy life, she needs to unknot all the past. Anya wanted to resolve everything before taking up a new job and focusing on herself, Alvin and Zane.
At another end, Zane looked at Alvin when they went towards the door. Zane knew his mother too well, the way she looks at Alvin was completely different from how she faced the other men. He had even noticed most of Alvin's and his likes and preferences were similar, like broccoli, chocolate,
So Zane guessed Chipmunk Monster as his father. He wasn't certain because Alvin had asked him not to go with the man who calls himself his father.
If Alvin is his father, 'Why doesn't Chipmunk Monster know that I am his son?'
He thought of asking Anya but he was careful in case Alvin wasn't his father and Anya might feel bad.
When he called Alvin as Daddy, he expected Alvin to react in some way but he didn't get to see anything. He tried to shrug off his thoughts on 'the father' topic until his mother spoke about it.
"Who is that lady?" He asked.
Alvin glanced at Zane whose voice changed back to distant. Although he felt comfortable with it, he felt like he missed something. Shrugging off his thought, "A nobody." He answered plainly.
Zane was satisfied. We don't like a 'nobody,' which means Alvin doesn't like that lady. So his mother doesn't have to be hurt.
Alvin paused at the door, and both father and son looked behind. Alvin didn't voice, and Zane took the lead, "Momma…" They simply didn't want her to waste time on unnecessary people.
Anya turned to the two who were waiting for her. She glanced at Flora and her father before walking towards them, apologizing to the property agent.
Zane flashed her a sweet smile, finding her prettier in a skirt than in her formal wear. Likewise, Alvin recalled Anya Owen choosing either long dresses or pants to sit on the floor of the library. Now, he wanted her to follow him around wearing pretty dresses.
...
Inside the villa, President Dalton grabbed his daughter's arm and questioned in hysteria, "What did she mean by drugging Alvin? Flora, what have you done?" In the critical situation, they couldn't afford to face more strikes on the company.
Flora winced at the pain around her arm. She pushed her father away without minding her force. President Dalton fell to the floor yet Flora blamed him without a hint of worry on her face.
"Is she and her words more important than me? How could you stand when she was hitting me? That f**king sl*t… "
She looked at the door and grounded her teeth. "She thinks of herself as queen by losing her weight…" Flora was screaming at top of her lungs without accepting the reality.
The property agent was sighing for losing the potential buyer. He quickly helped President Dalton who was in shock. The agent muttered to himself looking at Flora, "She doesn't even respect her father."
President Dalton always endured Flora's outrageous actions as she was the only daughter of their family. Being pushed to the ground, hearing her arrogant remarks and the agent's words, he went to Flora and slapped her across the face for the first time.
'Thud.' Flora fell to the floor holding her cheek in utter shock.
"I should have taught you the value of parents, money, and food." He growled, breathing heavily. He nodded to himself as he added, "Better late than never." He walked away without looking back.
He took his car and left the villa. Flora was left to cry her eyes out. She didn't know every day was going to be hell for her from that day.
——————
In a cafe,
Anya dug the dessert spoon into her chocolate mousse cake and enjoyed her snack. Alvin leaned back on the chair at ease and sipped his Americano. Zane was sipping his steamer hearing his mother hum in satisfaction at the taste of chocolate.
Both the men gave a look of distaste to chocolate and focused on their warm drinks.
Anya scooped the cake and held it in front of Zane, "Baby, it's tasty. Would you like to try it?"
Zane kept the glass down and smiled, "Sure Momma," He ate the spoonful and nodded, "It's very delicious." He lied sweetly.
"Another spoon?"
Zane was very calm while turning down, "No, Momma, you have it."
Anya giggled because she knows he doesn't like the cocoa taste. He rarely tries milk chocolates.
Zane pointed to Alvin and said as if worried about Alvin, "Momma, what about Mr. Matthews? Won't he feel bad if you don't offer it to him?"
Alvin: "…"
'Could he just toss this little man out of the window?'
Anya stored in her mind that she has to look after two boys. She pushed her dessert plate in front of Alvin who was sitting opposite them, "Alvin, try it."
Alvin elegantly turned down, "I am okay. You like it, you have it."
Anya was about to pull her plate away, Zane probed again but in a whisper, "Momma, you fed me. Mr. Matthews must be angry that you didn't feed him." Zane was sure Alvin couldn't bring himself to turn down if Anya tried to feed him. Just like in the morning when they ate broccoli.
Alvin squinted his eyes at the two. He was cent percent sure Little Brat was up to no good. He seriously wondered how he got to know the food he dislikes.
Anya lifted her brows at Zane. She could guess he was up to something. Zane innocently blinked as if he didn't know what Anya was expecting. He picked up his glass and continued to drink his milk.
Considering Alvin's possessiveness, Anya scooped and stretched her hand, "Try… One spoon." She urged the man.
Alvin slowly breathed out to make up his mind before he went closer and took the spoon to his mouth. He directly swallowed it and sat back.
"Mr. Matthews, how is it?"
Alvin controlled his reaction, glancing at Anya's eyes. "Tasty."
Anya burst into melodious chortle reading Alvin doesn't like chocolate too… too? She looked at Zane who was smugly sipping his milk. How did her son guess it?
Alvin couldn't believe the mother and son were making fun of him. He changed the topic, "There is a villa…"
Anya quickly cut him off, "Alvin, I am not saying the villas you chose are bad or have any problem. They are simply out of my budget. Shall we check the places I have shortlisted? Please…"
Alvin didn't agree. Speaking budgets, they will have to compromise on important things. "If they aren't up to the standard, I will reject it."
Anya knew he was speaking of security because of the Matthews family. People who have rotting money will use it in one or the other way to achieve their goals. She couldn't escape them.
Alvin suggested, "There is a good apartment in the city. It's closer to schools, and supermarkets. Do you wanna check there?" Without the permission of the apartment owner, nobody could go onto their floor. The security was exceptional.
Zane doesn't like the apartment where he feels locked up and she also doesn't like to be acquainted with neighbors due to her odd experiences.
"Momma, let's take a look." Zane voiced his thoughts knowing his mother was worried about him.
Anya shook her head, she won't compromise on Zane's needs. "I need a private swimming pool and a small lawn." She couldn't get them in the apartment.
Alvin shook his head in resignation. He suggested, "How about I build a villa for your requirement? You can give me the expenses."
"Oh…" Anya trailed her words, "By the time villa is built, are you planning to trick me into marriage?" She knew how sly he could be.
Alvin almost choked up on his coffee. 'You have been tricked.' Alvin thought before it flashed to him. Once she agrees to marry him, he will bring her to the Oasis mansion. So rather than being stubborn with her choice of villa, he should seduce her to marry him soon.
With the new goal and determination, "As you wish." He behaved like a doting husband who would fulfill her every wish.
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