Alvin could see something was bothering Dennis. When it''s about Anya, he was ready to solve whatever it was. They should talk directly instead of pressuring Anya differently.


    "Mr. Owen, feel free to voice anything that''s on your mind." Alvin sounded more like he was negotiating a business deal. He was neither nervous nor amiable but focused.


    <o>,m Dennis sighed faintly and nodded. When Anya was born, he knew one day he would have to meet her boyfriend. Dennis had thought he would make things difficult for her boyfriend to make sure that boyfriend was sincere to his daughter.</o>


    Looking at Alvin''s seriousness and their situation, Dennis just focused on his worries. He just wished for his daughter to get the man she likes. The man who could love her unconditionally and take care of her.


    "Mr. Matthews I am not sure how resolute you are with your decision but I trust my daughter has considered everything before taking a step forward. However, I couldn''t just wait in the thoughts of something awful might happen."


    ''Awful!?'' Alvin just heard the man without understanding where this was going.


    Dennis''s first worry, "Expecting everyone to ept my grandson is foolishness. You might embrace Zane as your son but we can''t expect the same from your family. I neither want my daughter to live in a fear of somebody hurting her son nor your family members constantly picking on her and Zane. Are you sure they will ept my daughter and my grandson?"


    Although Dennis felt it was too early to speak about the families, it was inevitable Alvin''s family would know about Anya and they might try to seek her out.


    For Alvin, family and family members were always an irksome topic. However, Dennis'' worry was valid for his daughter and grandson.


    ''His family members!?'' Does that mean the Matthews family?


    Alvin doesn''t even remember calling anybody Mom or Dad. So which family should he talk about?


    Although Linus said J Collins didn''t have a good image of Anya, Alvin was certain J would like Anya.


    However, what right does J have to interfere in his life? Other than giving birth to him, J did nothing to him as a mother. He never regarded Casper as his father anyway.


    Siblings? He has step-brothers and step-sisters. He never let them interfere with his life.


    So does their opinion matter?


    Linus and Elder Collins are the only people, Alvin could regard as the family. They seem to ept Anya and Zane wholeheartedly. Bernard always treated Alvin like his son but Alvin wasn''t sure how things would turn out between Bernard and Anya.


    Alvin couldn''t only respond to Dennis as, "I won''t let anyone bully them." His firm, resolute voice sounded.


    Alvin expected Dennis to be displeased but Dennis chuckled, shaking his head. "My daughter isn''t the same. She won''t let anybody bully her or her son."


    His intention was to know if his family members will let her live peacefully. Thinking of it, Dennis realized every rtionship has to face struggles, it couldn''t be smooth sailing. Anyway, it felt good to hear Alvin who didn''t lie.


    Alvin agreed with Dennis''s words. If Anya was the old naive, innocent girl, she would have given chances for people to bully her. Now, she will be the badass.


    The silence enveloped the room. Dennis wasn''t sure if he should voice his next worry. He was aware that couples date, live together, and spend a lot of time before getting married. During this period, anything could happen and they could break up too.


    He didn''t want to bring up Anya''s psychological struggles so he mentioned tactfully, "Then I hope Mr. Matthews could have some patience with my daughter."


    Dennis tried his best not to appear like a restrictive father who is controlling his daughter. Probably he would have been more stern if Anya didn''t have a baby and didn''t go through her own set of difficulties. His daughter has grown mature in the past years and is capable of making her own decisions.


    Alvin discerned what was truly bugging Dennis. Anya never had an intimate rtionship with anybody. By her reactions, he was aware she needs to get over her unpleasant experiences. And Dennis was worried he might force Anya or he might hurt her by abruptly breaking up with her.


    Alvin confidently assured the man, "Rest assured. I will take care of Anya… and Zane."


    What if Zane is his enemy? He will take care of the brat for his Little Donut.


    Dennis was satisfied with their conversation. He will have to calm down his wife. He stood up as he invited Alvin, "Make some time and drop at our home with Anya and Zane."


    Alvin took a few seconds before he stood up. With a straight face, he nodded and said, "Sure."


    Dennis felt like Alvin was back to his one-word or one-sentence response. He contemted how Anya could fancy a man who keeps a stoic face all the time and hardly speaks if there is nothing important.


    Anyway, Dennis shed a faint smile and went out back to his room.


    —————


    At Daltonpanies,


    President Dalton was busy dealing with things when his secretary rushed to the office room with hisptop. "President Dalton, you need to check this."


    Keeping the file aside, he received theptop and read the document while hearing his secretary, "The xxxpany belongs to the Matthews Industries. Alvin Matthew''s subordinate just mailed us this without anything else."


    The secretary didn''t stop there. He continued to bber his deduction, "If Chairman Matthews is willing to help us, why did he hide this crucial news from us?


    Is Chairman Matthews trying to help us secretly thinking Alvin Matthews might get to know it?


    Since Alvin Matthews already knows about it, will he attack us again?


    But you have broken the engagement, so why will Chairman Matthews help us?…"


    President Dalton''s face was dark as stormy clouds. He would have assumed as Alvin was threatening him to call off the deal but he knew Casper well.


    Casper enjoyed power and supremacy. He liked to rule the business world and be in everyone''s mouth like a legend. "Alvin Matthews is alerting us."


    Alerting them against the cunning businessman Casper Matthews who wasn''t ready to give up on the Dalton Companies.


    If Alvin marries Flora, the Daltonpany will eventually go under the Matthews. Because Flora wasn''t interested in business and she didn''t know how to run it either.


    Since the marriage wasn''t usible, Casper would definitely want to get Daltonpanies by different means.


    Through this deal, if Casper managed to get a massive share and get the majority of support from the board members, Daltons will lose control over theirpany.


    This meant Alvin was against Casper. The President''s eyes glinted, "Cancel my meeting with xxx." He called off the deal.


    He became thoughtful for a moment and instructed, "Fetch me contact details of Alvin Matthews." He needs to take every step cautiously thinking about the future of Flora and thepanies.


    The secretary paused typing his mail on hisptop, "Err… President Dalton, I tried to ask for an appointment to meet Alvin Matthews but I received no response"


    President Dalton stood up and grabbed his zer as he ordered, "I don''t care what you do. I want to meet Alvin Matthews." He exited the office room hurriedly.


    The secretary looked troubled. If Alvin was a native businessman, he could have found ways to make them meet. But Alvin''s whereabouts are never leaked. He didn''t even know if Alvin was in the country.


    Having no choice, he asked some men to reach Alvin''s mansion and find a way to meet Alvin. Then he started to dial Ean Watson''s number.


    ——————


    At Dalton vi,


    Flora was under house arrest without a mobile orptop. He broke things, screamed, cursed but nothing was useful.


    Her mother repeatedly tried to calm her down and exin the situation but it wasn''t working. She felt humiliated by the announcement and recent developments. It seemed like all her bad luck ensnared her at once.


    Till two days ago, she was unting as Soon-to-be daughter-inw of Matthews.


    How could she bear to step out of the house?


    How could she bear to face all her friends?


    What was she going to tell them?


    Just thinking of everyoneughing behind her back, infuriated her against her father. Well, her so-called friends were probably going tough at her face.


    She roared at that thought.


    ''Click.''


    She heard the door unlock and saw her father entering inside as he looked around the bedroom. Other than the bed, everything was torn down.


    "Princess…"


    Flora screamed at her father, "Don''t call me that. Get out of here. I don''t want to see your face." She red at her father.


    Anyway, President Dalton sat on the bed and rubbed her head as he tidied her hair. He tried to coax her, "Flora, I had no choice. If Alvin had attacked again we would have gone bankrupt."


    Flora pushed his hand away and snarled, "You are lying to me." She believed Alvin doesn''t care to even look at her so why would he go to the extent of attacking theirpany?


    Then why couldn''t she understand that Alvin who ignores her like a fly wouldn''t marry her either?


    Well, she knew that but she assumed Alvin would listen to his family atst. She thought once Alvin wants to settle down, he wille back.


    President Dalton stopped exining. He came to the topic he looked for her, "Okay, listen to me. Could you convince Alvin Matthews to marry you if I bring you to meet him?"


    Flora wasn''t intelligent enough to handle apany. Having no son to look after the business, he thought if he could bring a son-inw to his home using thepany.


    In the past, he made a deal with Casper for Flora. This time he will do it for thepany and Flora.


    Nevertheless, Flora''s twisted mind went wild. She nned to drug Alvin as soon as she gets the chance. This time she didn''t want to miss him. She will make sure to make it a big scandal so that Anya Owen bes a homewrecker.


    She turned to her father and confidently responded, "I will make him agree."


    President Dalton helplessly smiled. But he didn''t forget to notify her, "If he doesn''t agree to marry you, then you will have to move on and marry the person I will arrange."


    Flora was twenty-eight and she wasted her prime years in the obsession of Alvin Matthews. He wasn''t ready to waste more precious years of Flora.


    Flora was overconfident, "No worries, Dad. I will listen to you if I don''t seed."


    ''Seed?'' President Dalton ignored it thinking it must be the way the young generation speaks. All he cared about was hispany in the safe hands and his daughter marrying who she liked.