Standing in the living hall, looking at the disarrayed house, it was hard to say if Anya was upset or angry, or exhausted as soon as their battle started. She was probably heartbroken. She couldn''t bring herself to even think of extreme consequences.


    Taking a shaky breath through her mouth, she dried the moisture back into her eyes. She knew this action couldn''t be because somebody was envious of her. The Daltons had no power, and Anya doesn''t have enemies other than the Matthews, does she have anybody else?


    ''Ring… Ring…''


    Her mobile went off showing Senon''s number. Chief Fulker had reached out to Jason to apologize on behalf of his team. Jason, who was busy in a different city, instructed Senon to look into it.


    Anya answered the call to hear, "Skye, I found the informer who reported about you." He paused, a bit hesitant before adding, "I have sent the details to you."


    Anya could read his uneasiness. She didn''t need proof to believe Senon. Her cold, distant voice was low and frightening. "Senon, Is it Casper Matthews?"


    Because Gianna was hardly having contact with the outer world and Gianna would do something to get Anya away from Alvin. Creating problems for Anya will bring her close to Alvin. Gianna would never do that.


    Senon, who had enjoyed his previous evening in the vi, couldn''t even bring himself to think what the warm, cozy vi would be looking like. He was angered, so he could guess how hard it was for Anya.


    "Err… You are right, Skye. Casper Matthews had meticulously taken action yesterday. However, to avoid leaving any evidence such as the calls, messages, or mail, he tried to use informers. No officers are involved with Casper." If any officer was included, he would have been suspended by now. Jason wouldn''t let anybody off for troubling his team.


    Senon sighed, finding the Matthews horrible. "Yeah, a man was keeping an eye on your home. He left as soon as Chief Fulker departed."


    Anya swallowed hard. "Thank you, Senon…."


    Senon cut her off before she could finish, "Skye, shall I deal with the Matthews?" They do protect and do their duty. If they need to use their skills, then their attack would be disastrous.


    Anya breathed out slowly trying to rx, "No." It was their battle, she had to face it. It was time, she gave them a real taste of her skills.


    "Get back to work, let me know if there is anything." Anya ended the call after hearing him repeat her line.


    Grabbing the files, handgun, and a bullet magazine, she kept them safe and sat in front of herptop. Her expression was bone-chillingly cold while her fingers moved at a speed it was untraceable.


    ''The Matthews,'' Considering them as Alvin''s family, Anya had thought Alvin could be reconciled with his father. But she had forgotten there was never a rtionship between them to reunite.


    After Zane was born, she was always on her toes, afraid of missing out on something. She did find sce with Alvin but it also began the battle she had tried to avoid in the past years.


    She didn''t know when these will beplete, but she wanted to fight till the end of the war. There was no option of losing. She will fight for herself, Zane, and Alvin


    —––––––


    At Matthews Industries,


    Casper tried to focus on his work but he was often distracted by his thoughts of Anya. Thedy who had ripped off his patience, and peace from his life. The ludicrous thing was she was just defending herself so far.


    If she attacks?


    The tel on his desk rang. He pressed a button and answered the call on speaker. "Casper Matthews." A voice that was soft but it didn''t hold any warmth.


    How could Casper forget that voice?


    Casper''s throat ran dry hearing her. Nevertheless, he didn''t show his anxious state. He hissed as if he was irritated by her unwanted call, "Why did you call me?" A part of him hoped she didn''t deduce anything.


    Suddenly the screen on his system went nk and then changed. He saw Anya sitting on a leather swivel chair and crossing her legs as she leaned back. Her head tilted as her lips curled up into a sly smile looking at Casper staggered at what happened.


    "Shocked!?" Anya mused, "You should be." She sounded satisfied with the result.


    How couldn''t he be shocked? Her expression said she could see him too. But how did she do all these?


    As soon as he discerned, he growled at her, "How dare you hack into my system?"


    Was hispanywork highly secured? How could she break into his system directly?


    Anya sighed, shaking her head, "Wrong response." She typed something on herptop and Casper''s attention shifted to hisptop that went dark.


    Casper''s eyes widened in disbelief. He looked at hisptop and the system repeatedly. On both the screen, Anya was looking at him in disdain. He could get it if she hacked one system but she had both of his devices under her control. Hispany information was at risk.


    The anger swelled in his chest, he fumed looking at her on the screen, "Anya Owen!!" The more he tried to inflict fear on her, the steeling gray eyes were glinting darkly.


    "Tsk… Tsk.." Anya clicked her tongue, shaking her head, "It''s indeed hard to make you nervous. Your experience is admirable."


    If she had done this much, the person would have freaked out. She was impressed Casper was able to hold his horses. She typed something and before Casper could utter a word.


    Casper sensed therge smart television turn on by itself. He saw Anya unperturbed on the screen while his back was filled with cold sweat. She hacked into hiswork as if ying a mobile game.


    His hand shook which he didn''t realize. He picked up his mobile to record her. A proof against her actions. Unfortunately, his mobile screen changed to Anya''s video and no button was working. Casper felt like he was sitting in a broadcasting room where every screen shows the same scene.


    Anya spoke when he fell silent as a grave. She wasn''t going to give him time to think, "Casper Matthews, what do you think will happen if I destroy yourpany data?"


    Casper glowered at her without uttering a word. What Alvin did was considered as empatheticpared to her actions. Thepany''s future was in her hands.


    Anya wasn''t dark-hearted to get all the employees on the road. She continued to ingrain fear in him, "The first rule of war is to know your enemy." She shrugged, "And you failed."


    Casper didn''t need her to remind him of that. He knew he failed the moment he got to know Chief Fulker personally chose to abort the raid leaving all his other work behind.


    "There is a saying." Anya had to speak seeing him stare at her. Casper doesn''t talk but acts. He proved yet again. She continued, "Eliminate the threat before it eliminates us. But you weed your bad days." She had warned him to stay away but he didn''t take her seriously.


    Casper knew she wasn''t just talking, she would do what she said. Clenching his teeth, he tried to strike the same deal with her, "I will make you the dean."


    <o>,m Anya wanted tough at him. Did he really think she would fall for that and forget what he did? Then there was no other fool like him.</o>


    The war would have been between them. Casper brought others and she was going to make him regret it.


    "Dean?" She asked pretending to give it a thought, "That I will be. What you have to do right now is choose a finger."


    Casper assumed she will put in more demands. Whatever it was, he thought to do it and get rid of the problem at hand.


    Anya spread three fingers and pointed at first. "I should y with you." She pointed at the second finger, "I should let Alvin take good care of you." She pointed atst, "I and Alvin will return your favor."


    Casper: "…"


    Without letting him respond, Anya continued, "I am enticed by thest choice, what do you think?" She had no ns to hide these from Alvin.


    Casper gritted his teeth. The nerves bulged on his backhand by clenching hard. Choosing any of it was harmful. "What do you want?" He sneered.


    Anya pitied the wealthy people. They think everything could be solved, either with money or by fooling or doing something.


    Since he was asking her, Anya gave him the response, "I want you to go to the hospital, make sure you have a strong heart to endure everything that''sing your way." She smirked.


    All the screens went nk after it as if nothing ever happened in the office room. Casper indeed f**ked up a big time.


    ———————


    At the Nest,


    After the call, Anya returned downstairs. Looking at the disarranged house, her heart dropped to her stomach. She felt exhausted to do the clean-up once again. She curled up on the couch trying to keep her mind free.


    ''Ring… Ring…''


    Answering the call from Alvin, she heard his calm deep voice that oddly rxed her, "Little Donut, do you want to check out my office? Then we will have lunch." He intended to have lunch together without his little enemy disturbing them.


    Anya was happy for him, that he got his office building but she couldn''t bring herself to even smile. She was drained to go anywhere. She felt like her home wouldn''t look the same if she left anywhere.


    She had the urge to call him home. "Could you—" She immediately hesitated to ask him.


    She didn''t want to trouble him while he was busy with his work. She had already dealt with everything, ''I shouldn''t bother him.''


    Deciding to speak with him in the evening, "Next time. I am tired today."