His Devious Rule

'Caretaker!?'

Cordelia was taken aback for a moment. Although she disliked what Gianna did for Zane, Gianna was the one Cordelia selected for Casper. Gianna let Alvin stay in the mansion on Cordelia's terms. So she was proud of Gianna.

Cordelia was displeased hearing Zane call Gianna, the next matriarch as a caretaker. Anyway, it was her mistake to forget to introduce Gianna to the kid.

Holding her patience, she shook her head, caressing his head, "No, Zane. She is your grandmother, Gianna Sallow." Giving a hard stare at Gianna to behave, she encouraged Zane, "Say hello to your grandmother."

Zane knew Gianna wasn't Alvin's mother. Alvin was living with his father and stepmom and the stepmom hates them.

Watching Gianna, today or on the day before, Zane could feel Gianna despises them so he refused to call her grandmother. "I have met my grandmother… Janet Collins."

"Err…" Cordelia hadn't expected that. She glanced at Anya who was taken away by Alvin. Since she failed to hide the dirty secret, she told him the truth, "Gianna is Grandfather Casper's wife." And she added a lie, "She took care of Alvin like a mother."

Gianna both wanted to cough up a mouth full of blood upon hearing Cordelia. Neither Alvin wanted a mother like Gianna and She would rather die than take care of a bastard.

Zane sat next to Cordelia, watching Casper and Gianna. Anya and Alvin didn't tell much about Alvin and why he living with his stepmom instead of his mother.

His mother says that he was a priceless treasure, so shouldn't Alvin be dear to his mother? If Alvin lived with Casper, shouldn't Casper treat Alvin well?

Zane was confused. He asked to know the situation, "Why didn't Mr. Matthews marry Grandmother Janet?"

The three faces: "…"

Cordelia cleared her throat and tried to distract Zane, "Zane, What kind of dessert do you like? I will ask in the kitchen to make it."

Zane seriously looked at the old lady who didn't answer her. So he tried to deduce it on his own. Liam Matthews in the magazine seemed older than Alvin. If Liam is Gianna's son, Gianna is the wife of Casper, then?

Zane's head titled without hearing Cordelia calling his name. He imagined Janet next to Casper and furrowed. 'Mr. Matthews has two wives?'

He shook his head to remove that thought. The two didn't need to get married for having a baby. His eyes brightened when he concluded. He was proud of himself.

Zane cheered, smiling brightly, "I understood, Great-grandma."

Gianna was glaring at the brat so she knew he was going to say something she would hate. Where Casper was musing about how the little guy was as serious as Alvin in his childhood.

Whereas Cordelia was confused. So she asked without knowing she was going to regret it soon, "What did you understand, Zane?"

Zane tried to think how he could irritate Gianna. With a smile of victory, "Great-grandma, Mr. Matthews cheated his wife." It had taken all the cells of his little brain to conclude.

The three: "…"

Zane continued in his adorable voice, "Madam Matthews is living with her cheating husband." He gasped dramatically after saying it. "Oh, I am sorry, I shouldn't have said it aloud."

Well, he didn't mean it. How dare they look down on him and her parents when they had much more dirtiness to hide?

The two women's expressions changed drastically after hearing the accurate analysis of the kid. His words were like a slap on their faces to wake them to reality.

The reality was that Casper sinned but they despised Alvin.

Casper's face was dark, he barely frowned. It was the truth and he can't change that. All he cared about was keeping this secret in the family.

Zane got off the couch and stood in front of the couple near the stairs, "Madam Matthews, you are magnanimous!" He exclaimed, "If my mommy or god-mom was at your place, they wouldn't have forgiven their husband."

Was it a compliment? Absolutely not.

Gianna grounded her teeth being humiliated by a kid who hadn't even lived ten percent of her age. She itched to slap that innocent-looking face.

Would that change the reality?

NO!! A big no.

She shrugged Casper's hold on her arm, her eyes filled with rage and hatred landed on the old lady before she stomped upstairs.

She did think of leaving Matthews. Who would like to live with a cheated husband who wasn't even sorry for his action or regretful?

She had broken down the house, scolded him, asked for a divorce, and went to the Sallow family with little Liam. Casper didn't bother even once to put any effort to get her back. His secretary and lawyer had met her.

The reality had struck her too hard. She had no idea of signing a prenuptial agreement which said she won't have right over Matthews if they separate with divorce and she should leave the child back with the Matthews. That's when she got to know how sly these people were.

Her family who were ready to support her for the divorce suddenly started coaxing her to return to the Matthews. Then Cordelia convinced her saying it was just a one-time thing and Casper doesn't like any woman.

Cordelia was right, it was indeed a one-time thing. Casper was never interested in any woman, including his wife.

Unable to leave her son away from her, unable to bear her parents' and brothers' continuous nags, she did return to the Matthews. When she returned, she had become a true Matthews, scheming, poisonous, manipulative, heartless, and possessive.

She never forgave Casper. Keeping her promise to the old lady that she wouldn't hurt the Matthews family, she needed somebody to remove her frustration that every time rolled in her nerves looking at Casper.

Her easy target was Alvin, who was living proof of Casper's actions. If Alvin hadn't been born, she wouldn't have known the truth and lived hoping every day that Casper would spend time with her or Casper would be proud of her hard work at work.

….

While Zane managed to convince Cordelia to change the interior of the Matthews mansion, Gianna halted looking at the couple. As if what their son did wasn't enough to annoy her, her blood rolled in rage watching them.

Casper was living the life he wanted, Janet was the queen of the entertainment industry. The result of their affair is Alvin who got the one to love him without fear.

What was her sin?

Why couldn't she live the life she wants?

The hatred was so deep in her blood that, Gianna has walked too far, she forgot how she used to be. She found no return.

Really? Is there no chance for her redemption?

Gianna scoffed looking at Anya who was wrapped in the arms of Alvin and giggling, pointing at a picture on the wall. "Don't bring your disgusting behavior here."

Anya glanced at Gianna. What was Gianna expecting? Ruin their mood and get angry at Gianna? But Anya pouted her lips and strained her neck to look at Alvin behind her.

Alvin was indeed hugging Anya. He could have held her most sinfully but he was holding her in a modest yet warm way possible.

He kissed the side of her forehead without unwrapping his arms, "Ignore…" Their son must have lit the fire, Gianna was shooting the fireballs at them.

Anya hummed and pointed back at the picture on the wall. Little Alvin was sitting grimly with a cold stare in the family picture. "You look like the cameraman owes you money." She giggled.

Gianna: "…"