His Devious Rule

At hospital,

Anya looked at the six men around the car, wearing uniform suits with the Skylark logo on them. She has confirmed that there was nothing shady in and around the hospital. Anyway, she didn't stop them to avoid worrying Alvin.

Anyway, she also needs an image of a spoiled wife of a rich husband. It would be perfect if somebody took her picture and wrote a post online.

Zane was excited about the shopping date with his mother and godmother. He let his mother put the beanie and face mask on him. He took the chance and secured earmuffs over her head. "Don't catch a cold, Momma."

Anya, who was getting serious, smiled when his little fingers ran through her hair and tidied them. Father and son are definitely obsessed with tidying her hair.

After Anya, Zane jumped down from the car and asked, "Momma, why are we at the hospital?" None of them were ill.

Anya didn't want Zane to meet Cordelia or Casper. She won't be able to explain later if Casper was faking his heart attack. Anyway, leaving Zane in the parking lot wasn't a good option. "Baby, a person I know is hospitalized."

Zane walked next to her as his questions continued, "Then did Momma forget to bring flowers to your acquaintance?" He reminded her if she had forgotten.

Anya glanced at her son. His bubbly voice keeps her heart warm even on the coldest days of the year.  She flashed him a sweet smile, "Baby, he doesn't like flowers." She had to lie.

Looking towards the entrance, her expression hardened when she saw Liam pause at the entrance of the hospital.

Should she call him gullible or pity him for having such parents?

Zane took a few seconds to identify the masked man who was looking at them, "Momma, is that Mr. Liam Matthews?"

Anya hummed in response to Zane. The latter happily greeted the man, considering their previous lively conversation, "Mr. Matthews, we hope you are having a good morning."

The dull eyes brightened hearing Zane. The mask hid the surprised smile due to those lovely words. Liam wished the little man, "Good morning, Zane." He sounded much more relaxed as if heaviness was lifted off his heart.

Zane asked as they proceeded inside the hospital, "Mr. Matthews, are you also here to visit somebody?"

'Somebody?' Liam glanced at the stoic face of Anya. He didn't expect her to keep the news away from Zane even after reaching the hospital. He kept it the same, respecting her choice, and responded, "Yes."

He wanted to ask about Alvin but guilt didn't let him ask or say anything to Anya.

Once they reached the VIP ward, Anya left Zane with Mark and entered the ward after Liam. Her eyes brushed over the butler and settled on Casper and his dark eye bags.

Anya caught the lie at first scrutinizing glance.

Casper wasn't in the ICU to need an oxygen mask. If his condition was so serious, Casper would have been in the ICU or a nurse would have been stationed in the ward to take care of the patient.

Her eyes brushed over the monitors. The machines weren't showing the reading of Casper but were manually altered. The team Ace was well aware of these basics, unlike cops.

"Second Young Madam…" The butler greeted Anya and reported to Liam who had asked about Casper's condition. "Master was in pain and awake half of the night. He was able to sleep just some time ago." He was indirectly asking them to silently leave without disturbing Casper.

Whereas Anya could guess Casper won't be able to act as a patient. So the butler was putting on a show.

Should she make the butler nervous? Anya hid her cold smile.

Whereas Liam nodded in response to the butler, "I will meet the doctor." Then he sighed. "Ask Dad to take a rest without worrying about anything. I will handle the meeting with Secretary Harrison."

He had heard from Harrison that Casper was giving all the powers the CEO of the company deserved. He hoped it could appease Alvin.

Anya pretended to be checking the monitor devices and loudly sighed, "Chairman Matthews's conditions don't seem to be good. Is his heart rate the same as the previous night?"

The Butler swallowed hard. Casper had told him that Anya was an expert in catching criminals with small hints. She might have some medical knowledge too. If the question gets tricky, he should divert her to the doctor.

But the question was an easier one. So he smoothly answered, "No, Second young Madam. Master was recovering but the sudden pain and discomfort caused a bit of complication."

Anya gasped dramatically, and her hand flew to her mouth, grabbing Liam's attention. While the man pretending to be asleep knew Anya was acting, the other two men failed to notice it.

"Wasn't the operation said to be a success? If this continues, Chairman Matthews's heart will fail to operate." She looked at Liam and asked, "Didn't the doctor inform you, Mr. Matthews?"

"What!?" Liam was shocked. Anya's words made him realize that complications could occur when the operation is not completely successful or if Casper's heart wasn't responding to the treatment.

In that case, shouldn't the doctor inform him right away?

Shouldn't the butler update him regarding it?

After hearing about the success of the operation, they didn't bother to look for the best cardiologist. What could he say to the butler? He rushed out to meet the doctor.

The butler, who was left alone, started shaking in the presence of Anya. He was just a butler who took care of the mansion. How could he face a former officer?

He awkwardly smiled, "I- I will get you a cup of coffee, Second Young Madam." He was ready to flee from her piercing steely gray eyes.

Anya watched the butler in a cold sweat.  She lifted her hand and stopped the man, "Don't bother." She tried her best acting skills to sound careless and a bit arrogant.

She sauntered around the bed, watching Casper and possible changes on his face by her words, "I just came here to pass a message -" She smirked, looking smug, "Ask your Master to keep resting on the bed. It's time for my husband to reign." She meant Alvin would take over the company but she had no idea what Alvin's plan was.

Anya scoffed, noticing Casper's jaws clench. Criminals are smart. They have to outsmart such criminals. These little games were a cup of coffee for her to handle.

She went to the door, announcing loudly, "Mr. Butler, you will be serving the new patriarch and matriarch of the Matthews family after today. Don't disappoint us." She exited the VIP ward by the end of her words.

After igniting the fire, Anya's next stop was the doctor. She wants to see how brave these people were before she decides to take any action.

Meeting her son's bright eyes, Anya pecked her son's cheek when he ran over to her, "Just five more minutes, Baby."

Zane displayed his iPad to show his chat with Alvin, "Chipmunk Monster said only two minutes."

Anya: "..."

She couldn't believe Alvin was using Zane as his informant and her bodyguard. Nevertheless, her baby loves her. She pretended to be whispering, "Will my baby sell me off?"

Zane gave it a thought and pretended to check the time on his wristwatch, "Mommy, has it been two minutes already? I guess my smartwatch has stopped working." His mischievous voice ended with a naughty smirk on his face.

Mind blown, Anya burst into laughter while the men around them were speechless to the bones. She couldn't believe he was becoming so good with his words. She will give that credit to Alvin for being such a smooth talker.

….

Meanwhile inside the VIP ward, Casper jerked up at Anya's words. She left by the time he removed the oxygen mask. He growled, unable to bury the growing rage, "How dare she!?"

He believed Anya and Alvin aimed for the Matthews family but they hid it and played till the end. "I'm still alive. I won't let that bastard and this vixen ruin my family and my company." He pulled out all the wires clipped to him and tried to get off the bed.

The butler who was in shock was startled by Casper. He tried to calm down Casper and stopped him from getting off the bed, in case Anya returns inside. "Master… Master, please calm down. Master…"

Casper breathed heavily, pushing the butler away. Do they want Matthews's wealth and power? Casper sneered. "Get that emancipation paper. I will have no relation with that bastard from today." He declared.