His Devious Rule

At Oasis mansion,

Zane woke up naturally at half-past seven. He involuntarily looked next to him before recalling he has a room for him in the mansion. He would have been happy sharing a room with his mother. Getting off the bed, the first thing he did was to run to his mother's room.

He saw a slender frame under the duvet. However, at the first sight, he knew it wasn't his mother but… He examined the sleeping position and shook his head in resignation. His godmother's sleeping position is truly out of the world.

One hand was thrown on the pillow and another hand was spread on the bed. Her long hair was sprawled everywhere. Coming to her legs, one leg was out of the duvet while another one was inside.

Without disturbing her, Zane pulled the duvet over her leg. Then he checked the gym and found Alvin working out with Linus. Both of their attention was on the heavyweights they were carrying so Zane silently returned to Krystle and took her mobile from the bedside table.

Zane had access to Anya, his grandparents, and Krystle's mobile. So he easily unlocked the phone and went to the armchair as he dialed his mother for a video call.

"Momma…" He cheerfully greeted her and noticed the steering wheel in her hand and car interior.

"My baby…" She barely glanced at the screen as she pulled the car aside. Then the two spoke.

...

Meanwhile, in the gym, Linus found it hard to work out due to the throbbing headache of a hangover. He wasn't a gym freak but looking at his brother being fit and he started working out a year ago.

He grimaced seeing barely visible ab lines. Sipping his protein shake he went to Alvin who was training his arms. He lifted Alvin's T-shirt and exclaimed at the sight, "Damn bro!!!" He was jealous of his brother.

He sulked even though he was aware Alvin started focusing on strength training when he and his employees were attacked and looted at an excavated site. It took more than three years for Alvin to achieve it while Linus had daydreamed to get it in a few months.

Alvin controlled himself from slapping Linus's head with the weight he was carrying. He raised a brow giving a death glare to his little brother.

Linus awkwardly laughed as he dropped the t-shirt hem and sat down on the bench. He hadn't forgotten about how he delivered their grandfather's message to Alvin. Anyway, he asked to refresh it. "Bro, grandfather knows you are here. When are you going to meet him with Young Mommy and Zane?"

Alvin dropped his weight for a brief break as he dabbed the sweat-absorbent around his neck where a sheer layer of sweat had formed. He had mulled over this the previous night. So he nonchalantly responded, "I am going alone." After breakfast.

If somebody was planning something against Anya or Zane, he wouldn't give them a chance.

"But…" Linus, who was about to convince Alvin, took pause recalling his unsolved dilemma. He questioned in confusion, "By the way, Dad said he didn't speak about Young Mommy with Grandfather. Then how did Grandfather get to know?"

Linus was aware his father was against Alvin or him marrying anybody and taking care of somebody's child. Yet he had called his father to confirm. Bernard was displeased when he heard that Elder Collins got to know about Alvin's interest in Anya, a single mother.

Alvin turned to his brother who was sipping protein shake while thinking over it. Looks like his brother sold his brain as soon as he was invited to the party by Loudmouth.

Linus indeed didn't think too much about it yesterday and was busy with his NGO planning an event. Then he got a call from Krystle and everything was history.

Now he thought hard before he joined a few pieces. However, his first guess was way beyond the capacity of that person, "Flora Dalton!?"

Alvin attacked the Dalton companies and even notified them it was him. With the news of Anya being with Alvin, Flora must have assumed Elder Collins will separate Anya and Alvin. Alvin never really went against his maternal grandfather.

Linus missed a crucial point. Does Flora know Anya was a single mother for an old man to separate a couple?

Alvin's guess was the Matthews family; his father or stepmother. But his stepmother should be happy to know he was going against Casper. She always wanted to outcast him from the Matthews family.

Linus shrugged when he recalled Casper could be infuriated hearing about Anya and Gianna couldn't handle the happiness of Alvin. "Never mind. Grandfather will be infuriated if he gets to know all these. Meet him, I am busy today." He was going out of the city to distribute winter necessities to less fortunate people.

Alvin glanced at Linus's reflection on the mirror wall. His brows knitted realizing how Bernard was using Linus to his advantage. Linus was schooling in the military school when they were sent on a field trip to help people. Linus got to see how people suffered to live every single day. So he wanted to help them instead of joining the army.

Elder Collins was impressed by his grandson's thoughts and allowed him to do whatever he liked. Even if Linus might give up half the way, the Collins family supported him.

Linus never gave up, he acquired the appropriate knowledge through higher studies and joined some organizations as a volunteer. Then with Alvin's help, he opened the first NGO while he was still studying abroad. Linus' work was to hire some people, invite volunteers, run campaigns, plan the events to gather funds, and use them to help the people.

Bernard was cunning enough to use his relationship with Linus. Alvin was aware fifty percent of Bernard's income was sent to an NGO every month but he couldn't help questioning Bernard's actions.

Bernard often appears, at last, gets photographed when giving the things to poor people, and gives short interviews. Alvin never cared whenever Bernard was being praised in the media due to Linus's efforts. Nevertheless, he was a bit discontent after seeing the real colors of Bernard due to Anya.

Nope, Alvin wasn't calling his uncle evil because no person is entirely righteous. He didn't fancy how Bernard coats his moral and principle-filled words for his motives.

Alvin's company does donate money, it was to reduce taxes. He wasn't so big-hearted. So he wasn't sure of Bernard's real intention behind his actions.

Was he helping his son?

Was he being generous?

Was he taking credit for Linus's hard work?

Nevertheless, Linus' lifestyle and all the expenses were taken care of by Alvin as Linus doesn't take a penny from his social work.

Alvin hummed and resumed his workout. Linus was leaving the gym when he saw Rob enter inside knocking on the open door. "Boss, Harper Johnson has prepared his escape."

Linus had no idea about Anya's profession. So he assumed his brother was checking on Harper as the hard disk case might fall on Anya if Harper flees.

Alvin dropped the weights on the mat floor and looked at Linus, "Aren't you late?"

Linus waved his hand and ran out. He has to meet Hotheaded and thank her for driving him home in the night.

Rob waited until he made sure Linus went downstairs when he understood Alvin wasn't involving Linus in the case. "Boss, should we stop him or inform the cops?" He mentioned cops as Anya was in the Capital city.

Alvin became thoughtful for a moment. Rob had fathomed when it was about Anya, Alvin double-checks his plans so he patiently waited.

Alvin merely said, "Keep the information handy." He was confident Anya wasn't naive enough to let Harper escape so smoothly.

Rob didn't think too much. He chose to blindly follow the orders as Alvin was becoming more and more mysterious with his way of handling due to Anya.

Rob contemplated before adding, "We failed to obtain any information regarding Zane's biological father." He was still baffled because Anya's every piece of data was erased thoroughly.

'Zane!?' Alvin looked at his subordinate. He couldn't believe after playing with the little man, Rob was already on a first-name basis with Zane.

And he wasn't surprised everything was erased as it concerned Anya and Zane's safety during this period. He grunted in response, in contrast to a serious admonishment that Rob had expected.

——————

At the breakfast table, near the pool,

Krystle rubbed her eyes, stifling her yawn while Zane took her out, holding her hand. Zane had gotten fresh after the call with his mother. Then he woke up Krystle, pushed her to the bathroom, and took her out. She felt her head spin without following how they exited the mansion and reached the pool.

"Krystle."

Krystle's face glowed when she heard Catalina's voice. She hugged Catalina. Both were like best friends when scolding Anya Owen. "Aunt Lina, I feel like I have missed you for years." She whined a bit over-dramatically.

Catalina chuckled as they broke the hug. Krystle then noticed Linus and Alvin were at the table. Alvin was serious while having his breakfast and looking at his tab. Linus waved his hand in a silent hello. Krystle greeted Dennis and saw the little man had sat down already.

Her brows twitched witnessing Alvin rubbing Zane's head in response to good morning. Her jaws dropped when she saw Alvin serve Zane who wasn't able to reach the dishes.

Dennis sensed Alvin wasn't upset anymore and Catalina had a sweet smile watching her grandson make everyone treat him well.

Krystle felt a shiver run down her spine. It was hard to accept Alvin being so attentive and considerate. She was taking Anya out for early dinner whenever Anya was returning from the library, crying out that she was famished.

Did Alvin perhaps get to know Zane is his son? Krystle shook her head to get rid of her thoughts.

She sat next to Linus and whispered, "When did your brother become a gentleman?" Both had no discomfort from the previous day.

Linus wasn't new to changes in Alvin after Anya came back to his life. At the same time, he was aware Krystle doesn't like his brother. More like she loathed Alvin. So Linus didn't lose the chance to leave a good impression of his brother. "A man will become a gentleman when he tries to break his mold for his woman."

Krystle: "…"

Rather than changing her view of Alvin, she was impressed by Linus. Thus she ended up following him to the countryside in the name of helping him.

Of course, she hasn't forgotten her motive to approach Linus.

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