His Devious Rule

When Anya got ready for the day, she met Krystle who was sweating in the gym. Anya morphed her expression into aloof looking at Krystle's lips curling into a mischievous smile. "Hello, hello… Look who is glowing." She didn't lie. Her friend's afterglow was telling that Anya had a pleasurable night.

Anya: "..."

Was she?

Watching Anya's serious look, Krystle's smile flattered. She was aware of Anya's fear of intimacy. Since Anya was planning to seduce Alvin, she just wanted to help her.

She hadn't thought of Anya's fear could worsen or that Anya might panic. "Err… Annie, how did it go?" She would blame herself if Anya was terrified because Alvin was patient with Anya. She could only hope Alvin helped Anya instead of being frustrated.

Anya had expected Krystle to tease her and boast about herself for forcing her to change into nightwear. Seeing Krystle's face falling dull, Anya quickly remarked, "You were wrong."

"Huh?" Krystle let out a confused hum looking at soft blush creeping up Anya's face.

"He didn't rip the nightdress." Anya completed her words and pursed her lips.

Krystle needed a few seconds to discern Alvin didn't tear the dress but instead got rid of it. A bright smile lit her face as she jumped and embraced her friend, "Ahh… I was so right." She sounded happier because Anya was able to get over her fear.

Before Anya could wrap her arms around her friend, Krystle held her hand and tugged her out of the gym as she announced, "We need to shop for more sexy nightgowns."

Anya: "..."

She really wanted to ask if there was a need for such gowns. Because Alvin would get rid of it in less than five minutes and she had no plans to seduce him again.

Krystle suddenly paused and grinned devilishly, "Should we get some toys?" She wasn't talking about pleasuring tools but some games that could add excitement to her friend's life.

'Toys!?' Anya was confused for a moment before she discerned what she was talking about. She blurted out hurriedly, "Krystie, those aren't required."

What was she going to tell Alvin? She will die of embarrassment.

Krystle was aware Anya would say that. She didn't bother about any games for the couple. Anya will soon get busy with her work life. Since Anya had jumped straight into marriage without dating, Krystle felt the responsibility to help her friend.

So she wanted to shop for some flirtatious nightgowns for Anya who would never get them. "Anya Owen, it's important to spice up things. Or it will become a boring routine."

Anya wanted to know why it would become boring but kept quiet as her friend had a lot of experience like her husband and she could stop Krystle from buying any stupid toys.

She couldn't believe they were talking and planning all this when she should have made sure Gianna would never step out of the prison.

Nevertheless, she didn't forget, "Krystie, I have to drop Zane at Jia's place."

Krystle quickly changed the plan, "Alright, drop Zane off and meet me at the mall. Bye." Then she ran away before Anya could turn down.

Anya: "..."

….

Meanwhile in court,

Lawyer Wales didn't get the chance to rebuff anywhere while Lawyer Abbot made Gianna blurt out the truth of contacting Mr. Stephen to kidnap Zane Owen.

Although the attempt to kidnap was a bailable offense, due to Anya's identity, the case was considered as a sensitive criminal case.

When Gianna didn't reveal the reason behind the kidnap, Lawyer Abbot started giving the closing statements, "Your Honor, we could have a lengthy discussion about how hatred of a stepmother must have treated my client all these years but let's focus on the issue of the case."

He gave a pause and continued solemnly in the pin-drop silence of the hall, "99 percent of Kidnapping is done to demand ransom in exchange for releasing the victim, or for other illegal purposes. Kidnapping can be accompanied by bodily injury and it would endanger a young boy's life."

He pointed at Gianna as he stated, "Mrs. Gianna Swallow doesn't lack in wealth as the wife of the Chairman of a conglomerate. So the illegal purposes."

He glanced at Lawyer Wales, "Mr. Wales was saying the suspect doesn't have a motive but there is more than one motive. A least aggravated situation would be stopping my client from inaugurating his company or getting the shares of Matthews Industries that my client bought."

Gianna gritted her teeth. She wanted to stop Alvin from settling in Narnia and leaving. She hated that he became the top 5 shareholders in the company.

Abbot continued with the most aggravating scenario, "Mr. Liam Matthews has a baby daughter whereas Alvin Matthews has a son.

The Matthews Industries is a family consortium thus it makes Zane Owen an heir of the company after Liam Matthews. The power over the company would hand down to an illegitimate son's son.

For this reason, the suspect could have killed the young boy to stop Alvin from entering the family business. Thus I would like to request the court to consider this case as an attempt to murder."  He bowed, "Thank you." He retreated and sat down confidently.

Since it was a trial and both sides gave their points, the judge made some points before he announced the result.

"Witnessing Gianna Sallow's aggressive and hateful reaction towards Alvin Matthews, considering her oblique agreement with the kidnapping, the court rejects the bail and handover the suspect to the investigation team for further interrogation. The next court session will be in a week."  He picked up the gavel and hammered the table as he concluded, "The court is adjourned."

Gianna had expected it as soon as she blurted out that she sent money to Mr. Stephan. Thus she was pinning her hope on Wales who failed her.

She looked at the defeated expression of Wales and her eyes fell on Liam who had become mute without any reaction.

While the cops took her away, her gaze didn't leave Liam's eyes. She really hoped Liam would find a way out for her instead of asking her to plead guilty.

If Gianna had pleaded guilty, Liam would have begged Alvin and Anya to lower the charges if not dropping the charges. He would have done anything to send Gianna away from the capital to stop her from harming anybody.

Unfortunately, Liam was afraid Abbot would make Gianna spill all the truth, and reveal all the evidence. The case would be complicated by then.

Secretary Harrison pitied Liam. Liam wasn't only losing his mother, his father was risking everything due to his ego. His grandmother either would end up in prison or lose her life if Alvin took action against her. Liam was going to be left with the cunning relatives who always wanted a part of the main Matthews family and the company.

The only one Liam could trust was Alvin but Alvin was tearing the Matthews family apart. Liam wouldn't be able to hate Alvin or be good to Alvin like before.

No, Secretary Harrison wasn't blaming Alvin or Anya for anything. He had seen them endure everything Casper and Gianna did to them over the years. Yet the couple was leading their life without bothering them. But neither Gianna nor Casper understood their limits and brought their destruction.

Secretary Harrison knew it was cruel to ask Liam to protect the company when his mother was sent to prison, yet he voiced his opinion going out of his professional ethics, "CEO Matthews, you are the only hope for hundreds of employees."

Liam: "..."