Shaking with irregular breathing, Gianna was sitting on the couch, holding an ice pack at her neck. Her body shook in terror whenever she recalled the burning lungs, sore throat, and unfazed merciless glowering eyes peering down at her.
How could she think Alvin wouldn't do anything to her?
How could she forget Alvin had crossed them a long time ago?
A tear rolled down her red cheek. She wiped it off as she did for an hour. Flora's state was just like hers on the day she met the couple. Gianna had thought Flora was foolish to end up in such a state, so what about her?
Sitting alone, she felt the loneliest in her life. She wanted somebody to soothe her. Stand by her and say, 'How dare that bastard does this to you?' But reality sucks. She knew she had none. Even her son will ask her, 'What did you do, Mom?'
Her brothers will come running to her but they cared about money and fame more than her. Or Probably it was her who used the money to make them do what she wanted. It was her who ruined their loving bond with benefits by losing her rationality due to her hatred towards Alvin, Janet, and Casper Or just disappointment towards Casper.
The door of the suite opened without knocking. She didn't move from her place or bothered to take a look.
Infuriated, Casper entered the suite with his secretary trailing behind him. After the press conference, all the cops went home and the Commanding Officer noticed him and gave another insincere apology.
'I forgot you were here, Chairman Matthews. Everyone was working day and night to find the murderer, I sent them to rest tonight.' That was what the Commanding Officer said.
Well, Casper didn't know it was Anya's message to the Commanding Officer that made him send everyone home.
Storming inside the suite, he sat down in front of Gianna and closed his eyes to calm down. Harrison poured water into a crystal glass and served Casper.
Casper shrugged, "Whiskey." He demanded.
Harrison wanted to ask him about dinner but he didn't dare due to his terrible mood. He went to the mini parlor in the suite, poured the brown liquid into a rock glass, and added ice cubes as per Casper's preference.
He was going back to Casper when he noticed PA Jones sitting at the dining table and nervously shaking his legs. He cared less and served Casper.
Then he turned to Gianna to ask about dinner, whether he should order to deliver to the suite or if she would like to go out.
"Madam Matth…" His voice trailed seeing her pale as a sheet. She was quivering occasionally and was holding an… Ice pack?
His experienced voice turned to shock and asked in hysteria at the sight of the glaring red marks, "Madam, what happened to you? Wh-who did this to you?"
Casper opened his eyes and looked at his wife who didn't bother to react to Harrison. He looked at the red marks and his expression changed.
Gianna had done numerous terrible things for Alvin and treated Casper like a pile of muck, yet he never hit her or strangled her.
How dare anybody touch his wife?
He stood up and grabbed her chin. He tried to tilt her head to take a better look but Gianna pushed him away, groaning in pain.
Gianna never showed her pain to him, so Casper could guess she was holding back her emotions. "Jones." Casper hollered.
PA Jones panicked as he stood up, jarring the chair on the floor. He ran up to Casper and stuttered, "CH-chairman Matthews… Ba-Bast…. S-second Young Master w-was here wi-with Anya Owen."
Gianna, who heard them, opened her eyes in anticipation. She didn't want Casper to show her any compassion. The corner of her heart wished to hear him curse or get furious at Alvin.
Her heartbeats sounded loud in her ears but the suite was in grave silence. It seemed nobody was breathing either.
She lifted her gaze and met Casper's suspicious eyes. And he asked, "Did you do something new or are the old deeds catching up to you?"
Her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach but a peal of laughter slit through the silence. Her sore throat pricked her but she laughed till she teared up in pain and the mocking laughter.
She stood up, continuing to laugh at him or herself for having an expectation from a heartless man. She entered a bedroom and slammed the door shut.
The silence returned. Casper took a sip of his whiskey, then chugged the whole glass. It burned his throat yet his face didn't flinch.
"What happened here?" His grave voice shot a question at PA Jones.
PA Jones reported everything including every word he heard.
Casper concluded Gianna's actions as stupidity. Why did she have to provoke Alvin in the face by talking ill about Anya?
That apart, Liam warned Anya to leave Alvin's side on his instruction, then Casper didn't bother about Anya as Alvin left the country immediately. Thus he was cent percent sure Gianna has done something to Anya that he doesn't know.
Or else, why will Anya Owen declare war against Gianna instead of minding her job?
And he doesn't even know what Alvin and Anya were going to do, to be on guard. But attacking them first was definitely a foolish idea.
—————
At Beach mansion,
Alvin was working in the study room to wrap up his work before departing. Suddenly recalling Anya had asked him to cook with her whenever he could, he closed his laptop and went downstairs. Before entering the kitchen, he heard mother and son's hearty chortles with the butler's laugh.
Standing by the door, he saw Anya blowing at the spoon and feeding something to the little brat for tasting. Then Zane's face glowed brightly as he nodded vigorously. "Momma, it's so yum."
She was about to embrace the little guy, Alvin cleared his throat for some attention. She still cuddled her son, looking at the door, "Alvin… You are on time. Let's have dinner."
The butler interjected, "I will arrange the table." He started going in and out of the kitchen to arrange quickly.
Seems like he is too late. Alvin could only nod and enjoy the dinner. He got back to work, and Zane watched television in the living hall while Anya got to her work.
It was nine when she got up to send Zane to bed. Coaxing Zane to sleep, she covered him with the blanket and turned off the lights.
Her eyes were pulled to the faint light in the darkness outside. She saw a man who was speaking on the phone at the beach.
"Why is he there?"
As she hadn't spent quality time with Alvin, she went out after grabbing a warm knitted wrap. Only after stepping out did she realize the waves were too loud, which thumped her heart until she adjusted to it.
Her gaze went to the dark sky full of stars. As she guessed, it was a full moon day. Her attention snapped back when the saltiness in the breeze increased. After almost dying in the ocean, she disliked the thought of water bodies.
"Dig up more. I want every detail. Find out where the mother is…"
Anya heard Alvin's instructions to somebody over the phone. She silently went and appeared in front of him. The moonlight was kissing his handsome face, making him all the more attractive.
Alvin's arm went behind her neck and pulled her closer to him. He hummed once before he ended the call.
"What are you digging up?" Anya asked due to his seriousness.
Alvin didn't choose to hide about Angela this time. There was a lot of quick progress on the little girl's situation.
His fingers gently caressed her head when he recounted what he got to know, "The suspended matron wasn't letting anybody adopt Angela by lying to everyone. She was also receiving a hefty amount every month for it but she doesn't know who the person is."
Alvin felt her fingers clutch his shirt without commenting. Seeing her calm reaction, Alvin guessed as she probably thought of Angela's circumstances.
Anyway, his team joined hands with Skyline Industries' team for further investigation. However, "We got a clue." He added
"Huh?" Anya's head tilted.
"Gabriel Sallow." Alvin couldn't believe Sallows got themselves into his hands, "A man appeared calling himself as a father of Angela while the adoption process was almost complete. That man works for Gabriel Sallow."
Whoever it was, if they couldn't look after their child, why couldn't they let others love and care for the child?
Anya can take legal actions against the man who lied as Angela's father and the parents for trying to affect the girl's life. "Shall I-"
Alvin cut her off, flicking on her nose, "Skyline, cops and my men are looking into it. Just focus on wrapping the cases."
Anya nodded her head. If she completes her work, she will have more time to look into it. She changed the topic, coiling her arms around his waist, as she wrapped the knitted warm wrap around him. "You were right!" She exclaimed, "Mr. Benton killed his stepson and two more."
They hadn't found any clue for so many days. Pulling her to stand on his foot, he slowly walked causing her to chuckle in amusement at his actions.
"How did you find the evidence?" He wasn't interested in the case, yet the question slipped his lips just to hear her.
Without running away, Anya made herself comfortable and briefed as they continued to talk and stroll by the beach, under the bright moon.
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