Dennis was in a bit of shock as it was his first time witnessing his sensible, well-grown, responsible daughter do something like that.
However, Catalina pursued her lips to control her laughter. Her daughter was courteous ignoring the difference they had. She was proud of that. Then who asked those three rich people to put on superior air in her house?
They might not be as rich as them, they were proud of what Anya had built for herself on her capability.
The three rose from the couch in sync. Molten anger rolled in their every nerve. Gianna growled fury, vibrating her whole being, "Anya Owen!! Who are you calling beggars?"
Casper breathed heavily. He shouldn't have meddled in with the women's business. As much as he was infuriated by Anya, his blood was rolling in anger at his wife and mother.
Cordelia pointed her cane at Anya. Her body was shaking in rage. In her whole life, nobody had ever dared to insult her like Anya, "You ill-bred trash, you are unfit to be a part of my family." Her breathless voice of anger shrilled in the living hall.
Anya was amused how the old lady was still strong enough to get that voice out of her body. She wanted to be that strong in her hoary.
As if a timer bomb exploding at zero. Anya's parents and Alvin were ticked off. Not to mention Krystle. But a soft voice silenced the hall, "Who are you calling an ill-bred trash?"
Everyone froze. In the elders' chaos, Anya least wanted Zane to hear such things. Although her battle with the Matthews started to keep Zane unharmed, she also had her motive. Above all, she didn't want to affect his childhood in any way.
Taking a shallow breath, Anya managed to bring a smile to her face, "My baby, come here."
Meanwhile, Cordelia managed to curb her anger and put on a sweet lady's expression. Casper was standing indifferently while Gianna's malicious eyes followed the little boy.
Dennis and Catalina clenched their fist, taking away their glare from the old lady. Their priority was also Zane and his well-being.
Anya kneeled as she hugged her son. She nodded at Krystle to stay back. "Baby, the old madam here…"
Cordelia's back stiffened. If Anya gave a wrong impression of them to the little boy, then all her plans would fail. So she cut off Anya and acted surprised, "Zane!! Oh my god, come to great-grandmother. Come."
Zane looked at the old lady and remembered Alvin's word, 'Viper.' A wicked lady who acts doting, generous, and sweet.
His eyes shifted to Gianna who was looking at him in distaste. 'A livid, hateful, wild, evil woman.'
His eyes brushed over Casper. He turned around and looked at Alvin. His eyes asked, 'Are these the women?'
Alvin raised his brows and a sly smile bloomed on Zane's face. "Great-grandmother, Daddy's grandmother." He sounded excited.
Alvin's brows twisted. Who said he was deceitful? His little enemy was the most devious one there?
Anya almost fell on her butt hearing Zane joyously mention that. Wasn't he just angry hearing ill-bred trash from Cordelia?
Wait!!?
Anya turned to her parents. Zane just mentioned Alvin as Daddy. Her parents must be shocked. But Dennis and Catalina were sighing in relief that Zane didn't see the ugly side of Alvin's family.
Zane ran away from her arms and went to Cordelia making the latter too ecstatic. Krystle stood just as shocked as Anya. This wasn't Zane. He used to hate to hear about his father. Leaving that apart, Zane seldom got close to anybody, much less excited.
The two friends looked at each other. Thought of Zane leaving Anya never crossed their mind. Rather, the two turned to Alvin, the devious man who gets what he wanted, by hook or by crook. Now he was using a little boy.
Using? No, it wasn't the right word. The two devious beings joined their hands for Anya.
Alvin brushed his finger under Anya's chin to close her mouth. He held her arms and pulled her to stand on her feet. "Watch your son's mind-blowing acting." Alvin didn't want her to think Zane left her. So he mentioned it despite guessing she might understand.
Anya always knew her son was mischief like her and had a resemblance to Alvin. Who knew he was a replica of Alvin?
'Alvin Matthews, Zane is still a baby.' She wanted to stop them. Zane doesn't have to act or help her. She just wants him to be happy.
Anya pinched his waist and pointed her forefinger towards Dennis and Catalina, hiding from the latter. Alvin glanced at the two and caressed her hair to turn her focus on Zane.
Whereas the other three noticed the confident, brave Anya in Alvin's arms. They assumed her weakness was Zane and she was afraid to lose him. Hence she was complaining to Alvin.
How foolish of them!
Cordelia signaled to the secretary Harrison who was enduring the second-hand embarrassment for the Matthews family. Secretary Harrison quickly went to the car to get the gifts brought for Zane.
"Zane is so smart. Sorry, great-grandma couldn't come to see you soon." She continued her act to lure the boy whose gray eyes were sparkling.
"Great-grandma, it's my fault. I didn't know I had a great-grandmother. As a young boy, I should have come to see you." Zane smiled apologetically.
Luring him away from his Mommy?
He was going to lure them into his trap. 'Hmph.'
"Oh my my, you are such a sweetheart." Cordelia lost her poor heart for the young boy just at the beginning.
Zane pointed at Anya and her parents, "Great-grandma, Mommy, granny, and grandpa taught me that youngsters should always be courteous to elders. Aren't they sweet too?" His voice was like delicious chocolate melting on the tongue.
Krystle held back her smile and looked away. Her face glowed bright red witnessing her godson's trap. The fear of Alvin and the insult by Anya failed in front of Zane's good boy act.
Cordelia gritted her teeth. How could she say no on his face? She was glad that an ill-bred woman and the lowly couple taught well to her great-grandson.
However, she didn't accept them as good, "But they didn't bring me to you." She was trying to put the bad side of them in the little boy's mind.
Zane had to think of a response to it. Dennis and Catalina didn't know about his father. Anya said she had her own problems. Alvin didn't even know he had a son. If he blames, it would be on Anya.
He pulled an even sadder face, "Even great-grandma didn't come to see us."
Cordelia awkwardly laughed. To save her from embarrassment, Harrison returned with a pile of gifts, "See, as soon as great-grandma got to know you are here, I brought you a lot of gifts." She tried to entice him.
Harrison was placing gift boxes on the center table when Zane leaped in joy, "Thank you, great-grandma, may I open it?"
Dennis and Catalina looked at each other. Even when they buy gifts or toys for Zane, he looks at Anya first before accepting it. What was going on?
If Zane liked a wealthy lifestyle, he would have cried to stay at the Oasis mansion and asked Alvin to get him whatever he wanted. So they weren't assuming anything and watched.
Cordelia was even more excited, "Hahaha, Oh my, they are yours." Cordelia smugly smiled at the couple, assuming she had control over Zane.
However, Casper and Harrison looked at each other. 'Was he the same kid they met in the office room?' They felt something off.
Gianna looked at Zane in disgust. A gift was all needed for that kid? She clicked her tongue and looked away.
Zane nudged Cordelia, "Great-grandma, please sit. You shouldn't stand long."
Cordelia arrogantly sat down and watched Zane tear the gift covers, and look at the race car. He blinked a few times and threw it away with the box. He has to test if Cordelia was really doting.
Cordelia furrowed. She asked when Zane was opening the second box, "What happened, Zane?"
"That's an old model car. Great-grand-ma… Oh, I am sorry, I shouldn't have done that." Turning around, he apologized to Anya, "I am sorry, Momma, I was carried away. I wouldn't repeat it." He winked at her.
Alvin and Anya: "..."
His little enemy was winking at his wife.
'I am sorry, my baby, I am not so good at acting.'
Clearing her throat, Anya tried to put on an angry face to play along, "Zane Owen, is it what I have taught you?"
Cordelia, who had to play the sweet lady role, pulled Zane close to her. She glared at Anya and said through her teeth, "Anya Owen, he is a kid. He likes what he likes. Don't force him."
Secretary Harrison saw a sly grin on Zane's face before he happily jumped away from Cordelia's hold. Why was he feeling like the little brat was acting?
Zane was impressed by how well Alvin described Cordelia. He asked with a broad smile, "Great-grandma, does that mean I can keep what I like?"
"Of course, Zane." She fell right into the trap.
Thus started the tear and throwing of gifts. Anya could see Zane was enjoying doing so and so as Zane's father. Cordelia was infuriated but as soon as Zane's adorable voice sounded, she would melt like a snowflake.
Casper and Harrison realized what Zane was doing, but they were helpless looking at Cordelia.
Dennis couldn't hold back anymore. He didn't care about the problems between Mathews and Alvin. He disliked how they looked down at Anya and how it was affecting Zane, "Zane, that's enough. Go upstairs." His stern voice silenced the living hall.
Zane stopped. He didn't want to anger his maternal grandparents. He stopped obediently and announced, "Please take it away. I don't like them." Turning to Cordelia, "Great-grandma, when I come to see you, I will play with you there." He didn't want them to come to their sweet home.
Cordelia was happy to hear it. She was about to invite him with her, but Zane left from there.
Zane was running away when he heard the gift wrap sound under his feet. Why should his mother clean it? "Yeah, please take the papers away. We don't have maids." Then he went with Krystle.
Anya: ??
There was authoritativeness in that tone, just like a certain someone next to her.
Turning to his parents from the stairs, Zane flashed a smug smile at Alvin and disappeared.
Cordelia snickered, turning back to Anya. Now that Zane was willing to visit her, she wanted to claim control over them, "Did you hear…"
Catalina pulled her sleeves up and stood in front of Cordelia, "Get up." It was a clear-cut command.
Cordelia, Gianna and Casper: ??
Cordelia's moment of glory fell right after looking at Catalina who was done with the nonsense. Gianna swallowed hard, recalling Anya choking her.
Alvin who always saw gentle, caring Catalina was also shocked. Anya innocently shrugged her shoulders at Alvin.
What she gave was a trailer, her son showed the dramatic movie. Her mother will give the climax.
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