Neither Anya spoke about her counseling, nor Alvin asked about it. Zane was completing his homework, Krystle and Anya were just cozying up on the bed while Alvin focused on his work and Linus returned holding a file.
"Mr. Collins, would you like to have supper?" Sophia asked when he entered the mansion.
Linus's expression was complex, unlike his lively mood. He didn't respond and asked, "Where is bro?"
Sophia was a bit worried when she answered, "In the study."
Linus quickened his footsteps with several thoughts in his mind. Rushing inside the study room, he ignored his brother's glare for not knocking on it. Linus placed the file on the table with a deep frown on his face.
He solemnly reported a matter, "Gabriel Sallow is the father of Angela. Angela's mother was a model and currently settled in Dexter with a businessman. The Sallow family doesn't know about Angela."
Alvin wasn't surprised as he had guessed it beforehand. Thinking the file had DNA reports of Gabriel Sallow and Angela, he was pushing it aside when Linus commanded, "Check the file."
Alvin furrowed at Linus' behavior. When did he offend Linus that he seemed to be angry at him?
Alvin opened the file and his eyes narrowed as soon as his eyes fell on the names of DNA reports. It was Alvin Matthews and Zane Owen. For unknown reasons, he couldn't bring himself to look at the result.
Numerous thoughts swirled in his mind, his heart uneasily started beating. He felt suffocated, unable to think calmly when he guessed the report was positive, else why would Linus bring it to him?
Linus massaged his temples. He wasn't sure who he had to blame. Alvin for not knowing who he had slept with or Anya for smartly hiding everything and struggling alone.
Although he had no right to question any of them, he couldn't bring himself to go to Anya. The thought of Alvin forcing Anya into a drugged state wasn't something simple to discuss and solve.
He reported how he started to doubt Alvin being Zane's father. "I found Sister-in-law's pregnancy report from the hospital." In the beginning, he tried to collect all the information about Anya, Zane, and Zane's father.
Later Alvin asked him to stop the search as Anya had promised Alvin to tell him everything when the time comes. Alvin's men stopped looking into it, and so did Linus.
However, the nurse who had taken money from Linus contacted him on Saturday when she managed to look into old documents and found Anya's reports.
Initially, Linus didn't find anything suspicious until his eyes fell on the date and number of days Anya was being. On Sunday, he randomly calculated days with the date and was shocked. It was the same day Alvin was drugged and the next day the scandal broke out.
Could there be such a coincidence?
Linus couldn't rest at ease without confirming. He submitted for their DNA test with Gabriel and Angela. Shockingly, both came positive.
Linus wanted to talk with Alvin, but he chose to let him gather his thoughts, looking at him out of sorts. He left the study room.
He was passing by Anya's room when the door opened and Krystle stepped out, both going face to face. He discerned the reason behind Krystle's hatred towards Alvin.
'Does that mean bro…' Linus stopped himself from thinking of it.
Numerous positive yet negative thoughts were appearing in his mind repeatedly. Linus had thought Anya agreed to be with Alvin because she liked him. Now Linus doubted if it was because of Zane.
If the reason was Zane, why didn't she let Alvin know? He grimaced when he started to doubt Anya having ulterior motives against Alvin.
Krystle, who noticed he was tense, couldn't help asking him, "Is everything alright?"
A question was at the tip of his tongue, 'Does Sister-in-law like bro?' He held back. He lied, "Exhausted." He wanted to go to bed and sleep quickly. Or else his mind will create a heap of questions that will affect his relationship with Anya and also Krystle.
"Wait…" Krystle showed her forefingers and ran inside Anya's room. She returned with a tube of oil and tugged him towards his room, "Let me help you relax."
Linus's stiff body relaxed hearing her. He liked how she didn't ignore or say a word or two whenever he was struggling with himself.
Krystle looked at the essential oil in her hand as she spoke, "I just now helped Annie to massage her head with this." Looking at his jacket, "Quickly change, I will help you."
Changing into leisure wear, he sat on the carpet while she sat on the bed, gently massaging him with her fingers. Krystle was still working on his forehead when he dozed off leaning on her legs.
Wondering if there was some trouble with the NGO, she woke him up, "Sleep on the bed."
Linus listened to her but pulled her on the bed and embraced her to sleep.
Krystle didn't want to get any closer to him when she wasn't sure if he would say yes and be in a relationship with her. "Linus, let me go…"
She tried to move away from his arms but Linus pulled her closer. He sleepily mumbled a question, "I won't be as successful as you, I will be struggling with my work. Could you still want to be with me?"
If he can't depend on her, rather than avoiding her, he wanted to do something and be with her. He was thinking of a small business, he hoped it would work smoothly.
Astonished, Krystle flipped around to face him. His eyes were closed, she didn't feel him as drunk yet she sniffled going close to him.
Linus smiled as he let go of her, "We will talk tomorrow." He wasn't drunk or talking in sleep to change it in the morning.
Krystle didn't leave, confirming he wasn't talking in sleep. She grinned widely as she responded to his first question, "Even if you come penniless, I still want you."
She happily cuddled him to sleep while Linus was happy for them but his smile was stiff, thinking of Alvin and Anya.
—————
Anya had to forcefully carry her son from the books to put him to bed. "My baby, I will ask the teacher to give you a few days to complete the work. Please sleep. It's already very late." She kissed his forehead and coaxed him to sleep.
When the little one went into the deep slumber, she went to find the big one. Without finding Alvin in the bedroom, she entered the study room to see him reading a file, having no idea he was staring at the DNA report.
Alvin hadn't told her what the doctor said to him about her condition. She was dissatisfied with herself, disliking her anxiety for his efforts to help her. She wanted to thank him for his efforts and also apologize to him for not appreciating him.
Despite her apology and gratefulness, she couldn't accept his goodwill. With those complex thoughts, she didn't know how to face him. She shouldn't avoid him so she wanted to speak with him even if he gets angry.
Alvin closed the file and lifted his head. However, he couldn't bring himself to look her in the eyes. There were a lot of questions but his rollercoaster of emotions wasn't letting him calm down to think through. Hence the last person he wanted to see or talk to was Anya.
Opening another file related to his work, he solemnly instructed her, "It's late, go to bed." His voice was cold and restrained.
Anya paused sensing his reluctance to speak with her. She wanted to apologize so that he doesn't have to go to bed with anger. "Alvin, I…"
Alvin impatiently flipped the page as he cut her off, "I have work." It sounded more like, 'Get out.'
From the man who followed her ignoring the work to the man who didn't have a second to spare a glance at her, Anya learned to cherish his time when he chooses her over everything.
She didn't want to irritate him. So she carefully asked, "Shall I wait in your bedroom?" She didn't want a cold war, especially when she was going to move out of the mansion soon.
Alvin didn't respond and continued to flip the page. Anya chewed her lips as she left the study room. She blamed herself for not taking care of her PTSD which was causing them more trouble.
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