Anya watched Alvin leaving. Although he appeared angry, she could feel he was not comfortable about the topic that evokes bad memories. All she knew when they were studying together was he didn't have a good relationship with his family, so why didn't she think it was probably something worse?

Probably he wasn't acting cool and stayed comfortable around her because she never bothered to ask about his family and personal life,

Numerous thoughts ran in her mind on how the Matthews family might have treated him, why his mother Janet Collins didn't care for him and chose her career, whether his stepmother and stepbrother treated him well, does his father detest him, and so on.

She always thought he might be aloof from birth but didn't expect it was just a shield he was forced to use. That shield was protecting his mother's career and his father's name rather than giving him any happiness.

She heard the old man mumble, "Argh, I shouldn't have asked him." He was regretting his actions.

Clenching her teeth, Anya looked at the old man. If he knew it was a sensitive topic, why did have to ask it? Anya had to control herself from snapping at the old man.historical

Initially, she was considering explaining to him briefly about the situation but changed her decision. She stood up and plainly uttered, "Mr. Wright, The secret missions are secret for a reason." She took her sling bag as she wished, "Have a good meal." She flashed him a smile and ran behind Alvin.

Wright: "..."

'Did she just ridicule me?' Her smile and wish were filled with contempt. He looked at Anya who was jogging to catch up with the man.

Weren't they just working on the same case?

Why was she infuriated? Her concern for Alvin was much more than a teammate or acquaintance worried about another teammate.

He returned to his table to eat. Holding the spook, he realized he had lost appetite for ruining the couple's mood. He let out a sigh, placing the fork back on the plate.

"Mr. Wright, aren't they collins?" A man asked and many ears etched towards them for some heated news.

The old man looked towards where Alvin and Anya went. They weren't in sight. He laughed gently that brought a crow's feet at the corners of his eyes, "He is the general's most treasured grandson." The General was Alvin's maternal grandfather.

Whoever heard him sighed in disappointment. They were expecting some juicy information. They shifted their focus to different things.

The man who was next to the old man, shook his head as got back to eating, "You gave quite a shock to all, Mr. Wright."

—---

On the other side, Anya was trained to run and fight on heels too. So it was a piece of cake to catch up with Alvin. By the time he could leave the deck, Anya reached him and held his swinging arm.

Then she complained like a spoiled wife, "How could you leave me alone?"

Alvin clenched his teeth and stopped his urge to shrug her off. He again avoided looking at her. After all these years, he had stopped caring about others' reactions and feelings. But he just couldn't stop himself from contemplating her reaction. And it annoyed him more.

Why was he bothered so much about her opinion?

Was he getting so affected?

Yet, he unawarely slowed his speed and tried to shoo her away, pressing down his emotions bursting out as anger, "Go and eat."

Anya looked at his side profile. She could easily make a guess he always stayed alone whenever he had to face his birth history and he was doing the same. She went against his wish, "Did you forget? You asked me to stick with you." She wasn't the same Anya Owen who would listen to every word silently.

Anya swallowed when his arm tightened under her palm. She didn't mean to anger him. She thought he might feel lonely if left alone like every time.

When he finally looked at her, she could see the casual Alvin who went to dinner with her was cold to the bones. Anyhow she shrugged her shoulders, simply stating she was following his words. So that he could let her be around him until he could calm down. Well, she expected too much.

Alvin suddenly turned, pinning her against the railing. He stared into her eyes as if digging up answers to his unsaid questions. He asked through his teeth, "Are you so obedient?" His voice was low and dark.

Anya couldn't understand why he was trying to scare her and what he was trying to do. She tried to speak but felt her throat dry. Angry Alvin wasn't easy to handle, she was afraid of saying something wrong. Nevertheless, she promptly shook her head in response. She couldn't willingly comply with all his orders.

He immediately bellowed at her, "Then stop behaving like one."

Anya involuntarily cringed, her eyes shut involuntarily. Her shoulders jumped and her heart shuddered in the chest. Before she could compose, he held her arm, swung her towards the deck. Then he walked away.

It would be a lie if she says he didn't frighten her, but she was weak enough to be reduced into tears. Anya patted her chest feeling her heart trying to leap out. She looked behind and saw him strode away stretching his long legs.

Why did things turn so intense?

Why did the unpleasant things have to be dug up?

She looked towards the deck and gritted her teeth. She had thought the old man was sensible seeing him work by Bernard's side. But both the old men are stubborn and senseless. They don't think about how their actions affect others. Her brows tightened in annoyance, she stomped towards the deck.

Alvin walked away, gritting his teeth, clenching his fist when his mind continued to recollect his childhood memories. Images of his classmates laughing at him calling him a bastard. The maids pity him behind his back for not having both mother and father's love. Cast out in his so-called family.

To the world he was a spoiled son of Matthews family, he lived in luxury with nothing shortage. Only he knew how he had lived.

He couldn't call his mother as mother, the father had no time to glance at him, a stepmother never failed to remind him he was a bastard and unwanted to his parents and everyone. The maternal family said they loved him but couldn't tell it to the world. Paternal grandparents were thinking ten times just to pat on his head.

A word kept repeating in his mind. 'A bastard.'

A pang of guilt slapped him when Anya suddenly came to his mind, erasing his other thoughts. His steps ceased and pinched between his brows. She wasn't responsible for anything, she could have ignored him and sat with the old man focusing on the new issue that arose. He felt bad for releasing his anger on her.

A faint sigh left his lips as turned around to look at her. He met with disappointment looking at her lissom figure at the end of the passageway, going to the dinner venue.

What was he hoping for?

Expecting her to stand by his side after pushing her away?

His stepmother was right, he doesn't deserve anybody by his side. He pushes and hurts one who goes closer to him. But this was the first time he looked behind and he was unwilling to let her go.

Wasn't he the one who wanted her in his life? Shouldn't he be the one who puts effort to keep her in his life?

He didn't hesitate to take a step towards her and stopped dwelling in something that he couldn't change.

He had just taken a few steps when he saw Anya at the end of the passageway. Though she was far away, he could say she smiled when her eyes fell on him. She held her hands up, smiling wildly. She was holding two flutes and a wine bottle.

His lips curled seeing her jogging towards him. She was only the one who didn't run away fearing him. She ignored her fear and chose to stay by his side.

Nevertheless, his face darkened when his eyes landed on her heels by hearing the clack of her high heels. She was really a goofball. Wasn't she scared of twisting her ankle again?

He covered some distance in long strides and held her arm to stop her. He was about to scold her, she pointed to the wine bottle, "I picked the expensive wine in the rack." And smiled triumphantly.

Alvin: "..."

He could guess she definitely won against somebody while picking the bottle. And he doubted something else, "Is that how you pick wine?"

Anya awkwardly smiled, "I don't know much about wine." She rarely tries wine at her parents' place or for formality in any office party. She looked at the fancy-looking bottle, "Isn't it pricey because it tastes good?" She asked in a dilemma.

Alvin: "..."

Anya tilted her head. She was curious how his mood was fine so soon. Although he appeared cold, it wasn't the same. She had expected a whole bottle of wine wouldn't be enough for him until he could relax.

Alvin coughed gently and clear his thoughts, accurately knowing what was going on in her mind. He asked as he took the bottle and flutes from her hand, "Why are you coming in this way? Don't you want to watch the sunset?"

Anya glanced behind once before shaking her head, "It's so noisy there." Although it was a fact, her main intention was to relax him in a better place without those noises and eyes.

He had seen her eyes sparkle looking at the sunset. He considered taking her back but recalling the old man, he turned around and went in the opposite direction. Anya followed him as she heard, "Did you bring an opener?"

She skipped steps ahead and looked at the bottle, "Isn't it a screw cap?" She innocently asked.

Alvin: "..."

Alvin removed the wrap and at the bottleneck for her to show that it was cork and saw her face turn red in embarrassment.

'Where the hell did I throw my brain? Why am I behaving like an idiot?' To reach him quickly, she didn't think anything and made a fool of herself.

Forcing an awkward smile, She pointed to the deck, "I will get the opener."

Alvin caught her hand before she could take a step. Holding wine bottle and flutes in a hand, he didn't leave her hand and walked, laughing at her pouty grumbling face.

She was happy seeing him relaxed but he was laughing at her foolishness. Could she dig a hole and bury herself?

Both sat by the swimming pool, Anya watched him use his loafer to keep the wine bottle base inside. Then he hit the shoe on the floor a few times as the cork moved up. He flicked the cork looking at her admiring gaze. He poured wine into a flute and passed it to her.

The waiter served their food to their place as she had asked and they had a light dinner. With their whole attention on each other, the duo didn't sense the eyes on them from upstairs.

The three men smoked in a room, watching the couple enjoying themselves in their world. Their eyes mainly stayed on Anya whose cheeks were flushed just by a glass of wine.

A man smoked a ring out and said. "We had a good chance to capture her. And put our plan in action."

"Tomorrow." Another man scratched the corner of his lips.

The third man who took the cigarette from the first one drew the smoke last time and stubbed the cigarette to the ashtray. He blew his breath out and added, "We should separate them first."

After all, they had heard their skills. "Young Master Collins will surrender seeing his pretty wife in our hands."

The three men snickered and went away from the one-way see-through glass.