Alvin had ugly frowns looking at the old picture of a woman following him to the hotel suite. They could resolve it easily if they announced they were recently married.
However, why does he have to explain to random people?
Catalina and Dennis's faces were dark when they stood in the dining hall without knowing what to say. Alvin didn't know about Anya or Zane, so it was natural for a man to have another woman. However, they didn't like it seeing it affecting Anya and Zane.
Weren't they having enough on their plates?
They glanced at Zane who didn't know how to voice his thoughts or what to do after seeing his mother getting bullied.
They turned to Anya who was scrolling through the articles that were twisted to every word. They felt bad for their daughter who wasn't getting a chance to celebrate her marriage or her award.
Would they be wrong to think Alvin came into her life with both happiness and more difficulties?
Anya bit her lip looking at one article after the other. She knew Alvin had his fair share of experiences with other women. She would have even accepted if he was in a relationship before. She never asked him, respecting the past and his privacy.
But she felt horrible as if Alvin cheated on her. It was like somebody thrust a knife into her chest and slowly twisted it to test her emotional endurance.
Being a prominent person had a lot of disadvantages. She understood why Janet never dared to step out of her closet, why Casper and other businessmen put in so much effort to maintain their image, and why celebrities always get caught in scandals.
It's not about whether you are right or wrong, whether you choose to do good or bad. One action could be twisted in many ways. The netizens behind the screens wouldn't even think if it was true or not before putting their harsh opinion in the comments.
Anya resented the presidential award that gave her nothing but trouble. She prefers her peaceful private life. She understood why Alvin put so much effort to hide her pictures and identity from the media.
Her cold, distant voice sounded, "Miles Johnson." She deduced the person behind the leak of the picture. She left the iPad on the center table and went to the kitchen.
She can easily find out where Miles Johnson was present and make him regret it. But she couldn't do anything to Miles Johnson due to the department keeping an eye on her. What she hated the most was being helpless.
Becoming busy with the Matthews family and Skylark, Alvin hadn't got the time to handle Miles Johnson. Hearing Anya, he watched Anya who silently walked away without even looking at him.
He took a step behind her when Zane moved and blocked him. Meeting the accusing gaze, Alvin was guilty as his past actions were putting Anya in trouble.
'Selfish!?' Shouldn't people just target their malicious comments on him when he was the one cheated according to the picture?
"Zane!?" Dennis called him out to behave. He knew Zane was being protective of his mother, but that picture was from months or years ago when Alvin didn't even know Zane was there and they weren't in a relationship.
Although it was upsetting, Alvin made no mistake. As a family, they will have to support him instead of leaving him in the lurch.
Zane pursed his lips. He also believed in Alvin who ignores every other person like dust in the air, and just cares about Anya. So Alvin wouldn't wish to hurt Anya or implicate her, would he?
Zane was just angry that he didn't know what to do. He threatened, desperately looking at him, "Chipmunk Monster, solve this. Or else, I will have my momma for myself every night." Behind his threat, there was a plea for his father to take care of untruth over the internet.
Dennis breathed a sigh of relief while Catalina shook her head resignedly. Whatever the problems are going to knock on their door, she hoped they could be together and face them.
Rob was surprised and also glad that the Owen family wasn't blaming Alvin despite being uneasy, and sad about whatever was happening.
Miles Johnson! He went out of the house to make calls and take care of the situation as much as possible by letting Alvin focus on his family first.
Alvin had complex emotions when he went to the kitchen and saw Anya trying to complete the cooking. She grabbed the wrong jar and placed it on the counter with a deep frown on her forehead.
Closing her eyes, she was trying to breathe slowly and compose herself without voicing anything she was going through. "Little Donut."
He witnessed on the reflection of the glass panel how quickly she put on an unaffected face and plainly spoke without looking him in the eye.
"Give me five minutes, I will get the breakfast outside." Then she kept the jar away and picked up the coffee jar.
Was this how she was pretending to be fine all these years if something was happening?
Alvin went inside and pulled her into his arms. Alvin wouldn't have given a damn if people were talking rubbish about him. And Miles Johnson knew it well.
So they twisted the whole situation as if he was cheating on her because of her negligence. He never heard such an absurd reason for cheating.
He unawarely wondered if she would have lived a better life without him. Miles Johnson wouldn't have made her feel so pathetic. The Matthews family would have minded their business without troubling her.
Alvin tightened his arms around her frowning at his thoughts. He was selfish, she might not need him but he needed her, her warmth, her presence, her silly tantrums, everything about her. He was going to make everything better.
Anya sniffled softly, trying not to shed tears. The harder she tried to compose herself, her eyes were stinging. She truly didn't want to clarify anything.
If they try to clear Alvin's name, Zane's birth will be questioned. It will cause another mess that will give a chance for others to attack them.
Anya wrapped her arms around Alvin's waist and mewled, "I don't want to be famed." May it be for good or bad, she wanted to be away from the media and have her space.
Alvin gently rubbed her back. Some people like to be popular with a good image, some are just greedy to be famous. But for people who live a simple life, media was quite intimidating
Whether Anya will be invited to the national day or not, whether she accepts the award or rejects it, it was too late, next to impossible to erase her name from the internet.
All he could do was minimize the damage and let her name just be there as an awardee and as his wife. It was going to be a tough job, but he was willing to put in more effort to clear as much as possible.
However, any sudden action could trigger more attention. So they need to be careful.
He gently caressed her head. He had lived in a place where he was condemned for everything. So it was odd to hear nothing against him from the Owen parents and Anya. "Won't you ask anything about the picture?"
Anya sniffled as she stepped and wiped the wetness at the corner of her eyes, "Miles Johnson might have collected more pictures. It wouldn't be safe to lie. We will just stay silent. It will die down when there is a new thing over the internet."
People calling her selfish for her career and neglecting her family doesn't make her one. Alvin hadn't cheated on her and they were well aware of it. She was willing to ignore it and go on with their life if Alvin was fine with it.
Alvin silently heard her. She could get grumpy for silly reasons. When there was a reason to get angry at him, she was worrying about solving the situation.
"Trust me on this, alright?"
Anya didn't know what he was planning. She nodded, letting him take care of it as her every action will be monitored. She least wanted Zane to blame Alvin if she loses the award after its announcement.
Anya noticed Zane standing at the door. Seeing his eyes red in worry about her, "Momma is fine, baby." She tried to assure Zane.
He ran inside and hugged her, "No, Momma isn't fine."
Alvin sighed and went out to find Rob, who immediately reported to him, "That hotel's major shareholder is Johnson companies. He has deleted the footage."
Alvin and Miles never crossed paths until a few weeks ago due to the PSR case. So the probability of Miles Johnson having any other picture or video is low.
Nevertheless, Alvin had a different plan to divert the attention of both netizens and Miles Johnson who has underestimated him for being in the lesser-known business field.
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