At the new Lewis hotel,
The party was bursting with people, drinks, food, music, and chatting. When just a few people were interested in the new magnificent hotel, the maximum number of guests were interested in gossiping about the hot topic of the town. Alvin, Anya, Janet, and the Matthews family.
Some of them were shocked about the Matthews family while a few of them pretended to be 'I knew it'. Amongst them, many wondered if Anya and Alvin were invited to the party.
Will they attend?
Wearing an extravagant long sequin evening gown, Krystle swayed her hips to the music, dancing with Linus. Linus shook his head in resignation and Krystle sighed loudly, "Your brother and my bestie will be the talk of the town for a month at least." She was excited to introduce her boyfriend but nobody cared which dampened her mood.
Linus hummed in acknowledgment. He and Krystle were tired of responding to the questions related to Janet, Anya, and Alvin. They badly needed the dance to escape the questions and breathe.
His eyes brushed over the Lewis family elders. "Your family doesn't seem to be happy." The Lewis family arranged the party as a marketing strategy or publicity stunt. However, the guests were busy talking about Anya and Alvin instead of focusing on the magnificent hotel.
Krystle looked at her parents and some relatives. She agrees there was displeasure in their family due to their failed efforts. But nobody knew so much drama was going to happen in the Matthews family and guests would be more interested in different matters. She wouldn't let them blame Anya or Alvin for having the attention of the mass.
Her eyes settled on Earl who neither got a satisfactory result on the recent project nor got Anya into his life. Krystle only felt bad for her brother.
The publicity would still work if Anya or Alvin appeared at the party. Those two were the hot topic so their mere appearance at the hotel would be written and published everywhere.
She didn't want her family to dislike Anya so she oddly wished for Anya to attend the party. However, she purposefully didn't contact Anya who needed time to digest everything that happened.
She added in melancholy, "If only…" 'they could attend.' Her voice trailed without completing her words. A smile bloomed on her face like a flower, her eyes shone as if she found the treasure. The transformation from an elegant lady to an excited fan girl didn't take long to change.
Linus halted and followed her line of sight, accurately discerning who could make her beam. As he guessed, Zane walked in like an elite holding a champagne bottle in his little hands. He walked as if everybody around him were below him.
Behind the little man was his mother who started her reign in the hall the moment she stepped inside and slowly but surely grabbed everyone's attention.
Anya thanked the fellow worker who helped her remove the overcoat. Her eyes followed her little son who was thrilled after his party that he forgot to wait for her.
Her little son was still the same, fearless, unbothered in the crowd but Anya. She grimaced silently at the attention. She was used to the eyes who were judging her for being a single mother, and for being a woman in the male dominant department. She had learned to ignore them.
Nonetheless, she would rather prefer to be invisible in this rich society which is greedy and malicious. Well, she was married to a wealthy stunning man, and it was inevitable to face these people.
Zane flashed an adorable smile and gave the bottle to Krystle, "Merry Christmas, Kryst." His cheerful voice was hard to ignore.
Krystle passed the bottle to Linus and kneeled in front of the little man, "I need a hug from my godson." She demanded.
In an amazing mood, Zane happily hugged Krystle. The latter was surprised. She was expecting to be rejected so she grinned, embracing the little gentleman in her arms.
Although Anya didn't want to compare, she couldn't help but think instinctively. After accepting Alvin, Zane was becoming more and more of his age. He smiled more, spoke more, and ran around like a kid instead of behaving like a little adult.
"Annie!" Earl greeted her, passing her a glass of mocktail. "You should have rested at home." There was concern in his tone, holding him back from asking any other question.
Anya flashed a smile at Earl and humored, unwilling to talk about their problem at the party. "Here I was worried thinking I would be scolded for arriving late."
Before Earl could respond, a middle-aged man stood by Earl. "Mrs. Matthews, you look much younger than I expected." There wasn't admiration but a taunt in the tone.
Zane instinctively got away from Krystle and frowned at the man. Krystle narrowed her eyes at the man for disturbing her time with her godson. Linus and Earl doubtfully looked at the man.
Anya identified the man easily as she went through his details just yesterday. Steve Hanks who wanted the dean position and released news of her shopping lingerie to stain her image.
She hadn't expected the man to go in front of her and look down on her. She was sure Steve Hanks had nothing to do with the trafficking. Else he wouldn't have tried to grab her attention so soon. However, she couldn't let him have his way. But Zane was right there.
Steve Hanks sensed the people guarding him. So he chuckled to hide his intention and extended his hand, "Congratulations on your award."
Zane and Earl relaxed their shoulders when Anya clinked the glass and took a sip. "Zane, let's grab something for you to eat."
Once Zane left, Anya flashed a cold smile at the man, "Well, Mr.Hanks," She responded to the taunt, "I'm at the prime of my life while some never get to live their best years." She mocked the man without holding back.
Linus and Krystle: "..."
Both knew Anya was a good girl only with close people, ignoring strangers even if they comment against her but badass with some people.
How did Steve Hanks provoke her?
Steve Hanks's face darkened hearing her taunt. He was about to insult her but Anya took a step closer and advised in a low voice, "Hide your money quickly." He was using cash to gain support from the directors of the university.
Steve Hanks: "..."
Anya stepped back and smiled to respond to his wishes for her achievements, "Thank you so much."
She pretended to take a step to leave but turned back at him. She looked calm when she spoke, "A free advice. If I was you, I wouldn't have provoked a retired officer."
Taking her confidence as arrogance, Steve Hanks took her words as a bluff. He scoffed ignoring Linus and Krystle. "Anya Owen, your award couldn't get you everything."
His chin raised in haughtiness. He got a call from Casper just a few minutes ago. He pointed at himself, "I will become the dean and my son will be CEO of Matthews Industries."
He challenged her with a vile smirk on his face, "I dare you to stop us." He guffawed confidently and walked away.
Krystle was speechless while Linus was already sending messages to Alvin.
'CEO of the Matthews Industries!' Anya wondered what game Casper had started to stop her and Alvin.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l