Yes, Anya was courteous to the woman who gave birth to Alvin. That doesn't mean she would let the woman look down on her. Anya wasn't a pushover to listen to every cr*p.
"Mrs. Wilson…" She turned to exit and Janet paused to look at her.
"I guess you didn't marry for love. You married an ambitious man who could afford your living and understand your entertainment industry."
The love she heard of doesn't expect the person to do something to keep them interested. If they lose interest and get attracted to another person, then that person never truly loved you.
Anya's deduction was right, "What do you mean?" Janet asked with a frown, finding no fault in her choice.
Anya went towards Janet as she voiced her opinion without hesitation, "Mrs. Wilson, I am not sorry if I offend you but Alvin doesn't like a mother who abandoned him for her career. Not a father who cared about his business and family name. Definitely not a stepmother who looked at him in disgust. Not a stepbrother who repeatedly reminded him that he had nobody, despite having everybody."
Anya paused in front of Janet as she continued, "He likes an ordinary person like me. An ordinary person who could prioritize him, even if it's second. An ordinary person who cares about him. An ordinary person who doesn't judge him for his birth. An ordinary person who lets him be comfortable in his skin."
She could proudly say she had seen Alvin's childish innocence to an overbearing control. His delighted smirk to an arrogant, dangerous smile. She could bet that Janet doesn't even know five percent of what she knows.
So does Janet have the right to judge Anya for Alvin?
Janet stood stunned hearing Anya. Anya Owen who just answered the question and added yes to her opinion wasn't only confident, she had an opinion in stark contrast to her. Her presence was oppressing yet a fine line of respect was drawn.
Anya flashed a smile that reached her eyes, "Mrs. Wilson, I am happy being ordinary. So don't tell me or expect me to change because I am not unordinary in your definition."
Then she wished Janet, "Have a good night." She pointed towards the door.
Sophia forgot her anxiousness. She was with Alvin from the time he was a newborn baby. So whatever Anya said made sense to her. More than anything, she was seeing Alvin happy around Anya.
In the beginning, Sophia disliked Anya who was a single mother and Alvin was interested in Anya. It wasn't her place to voice her opinion so she served Anya like how a guest should be treated.
After this conversation, Sophia finally acknowledged Anya. The little master had stolen her heart a long time ago.
Sophia went ahead and interjected in case Janet starts to argue, "Mrs. Wilson, let me escort you to the car."
Janet looked at Anya for a good few seconds before she exited the mansion and got in the car.
'Did Alvin also feel like this when he was speaking with my parents?' Anya wondered as she went downstairs where the whole floor was built into a recreational zone.
There was an indoor swimming pool, movie theater, gaming zone, bowling, and whatnot.
Anya went straight to the arcade gaming system where Zane was playing car race. "My baby has improved so much."
"Momma, let's race." Zane excitedly called her.
Anya's mood significantly improved. She joined her son and played with him.
She would let him win sometimes and sometimes, she would win to see how he would react. Her son didn't get angry or show any aggression for losing. Rather he motivated himself to play better.
"Yay… I won, I won…" Zane cheered when he won the race.
"Oh, my baby is a genius." She scooped him into her arms as she kissed and nibbled his chubby cheek, "We will go to bed now, tomorrow is skating day."
Giggling, Zane agreed without complaints, "Yes, Momma."
She was tickling her son, making him when she paused looking at Alvin wearing complete formals. He was wearing a navy blue slim fit, Italian dinner suit. The collar pins, cufflinks, breastpin, everything synchronized so well, it gave a refined touch to his slender masculine build. He looked hot showing no hint of muscle and suave with his groomed hairstyle.
She hadn't thought much when Ean said business meeting. Now everything was making sense. A part of her wanted to say, don't stress out so much on settling in the capital, but she indeed liked he wasn't going to keep leaving the country for work.
Zane followed her line of sight and looked at his father entering the mansion. Even if he wouldn't voice it, he knew his father looked best among most of the men he had seen.
Alvin halted in front of her, looking at the little monster smugly smiling at him, with his arm on Anya's shoulder.
His little enemy will never learn. He took Zane into his arms as he chided Anya, "Do you find yourself a bodybuilder? He is old enough to walk on his own." He put the little man down ignoring his glare.
Why was she feeling like there was unsaid completion between the two?
Zane was reaching to hold Anya's hand when Alvin lifted her off the floor, making her gasp.
Zane: "…"
What if he was handsome? Zane never saw anybody as childish as his father.
"Alvin Matthews, am I not old enough to walk by myself?" Anya asked in bewilderment.
Alvin went upstairs as he shrugged, "Who said only kids should be carried?"
Anya wanted to smack herself. She couldn't believe the rules were different for her and her son.
"Get fresh. I will put Zane to bed and find you." She didn't argue which was useless.
Alvin who heard about Janet's visit to the mansion from Linus became thoughtful. He put her down and obediently went to his room.
She spread her hands and Zane grinned, running up to her. She carried him to his room as she carefully spoke, "Baby, I was thinking to let Alvin know…"
"Momma, I am sleepy." Zane cut her off as he got off her arms. He wasn't ready to call anyone 'Dad.'
He went to the restroom, returned to the bed, and snuggled under the duvet.
Anya could understand Zane needed more time. She never lied to Zane as his father was dead or unknown. So he knew his father was alive and somewhere.
She went onto the bed and embraced him, "I am sorry, Baby. It was mommy who hid about you from Alvin. I am the one to be blamed."
Zane lifted his head to look at her, "Momma, you like Mr. Matthews, then why didn't you tell him?… In the past."
"The adult world is too complex. Mommy will tell you what happened when you grow up. I promise that."
"Mommy must have had a reason to hide." He trusted his mother.
Anya hummed, "I was afraid I might lose you." 'And his life.'
Zane wrapped his arm on her in assurance, "I will always be with mommy." He paused and continued, "Actually, once Mr. Matthews asked me never to follow any man who calls himself my father. He wouldn't take me away from you, Momma." He thought 'losing him' means a man taking him away by calling himself a father. But his father is Alvin.
Anya chuckled hearing her smart son. She kissed his forehead, "Alvin wouldn't hurt us, Baby. It's other people. You can trust Alvin, he would do anything for us."
Zane was aware of that as Alvin always did whatever he asked. "Okay, Momma." He dozed off without hard feelings.
Anya just stayed in bed with complex thoughts, before getting off the bed to find Alvin.
—————
At Collins villa,
Janet entered the villa in a daze. Linus, who was playing a video game with his cousin-brother, passed the mobile to his cousin-sister as he stood up. "Aunt Janet is home."
First to react was Elder Collins who wanted to hear about Anya Owen. Bernard glanced at the door, closing the magazine.
Bernard's wife exited the kitchen carrying light snacks for supper. "Jane… is everything alright?" Janet appeared to be very bothered.
Elder Collins was having high expectations for Anya after meeting Zane. He frowned looking at Janet's sour face.
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