His Devious Rule

Ean's father rubbed his forehead in frustration. He could easily guess what was in Ean's mind. So he refused to tell Ean how he got to know.

He wasn't naive to misunderstand what Ean and Alvin would do after knowing the person. He wasn't there to increase the trouble but keep his son out of the trouble.

Ignoring Ean's question, he turned to Benson, "I am taking him home, Ben. Complete the discharge process." He paused as his expression hardened, "And I am, his father is still alive." He indirectly asked him to inform him about his son, not Alvin.

Benson: "..."

Ean frowned being dragged away by his father. He could take his mother's help to get the truth out. He signaled Benson to call Alvin to report to him whatever happened there.

Benson reluctantly agreed to become the messenger for his cousin.

––––––

At Oasis mansion,

After a bath and delicious lunch, Anya snuggled in the warm duvet. She watched Alvin and Zane playing a video game. Although it was Alvin's first time playing that game, he was quick to learn, after losing against Zane a few times.

Then he coped up and the duo challenged, teased, and passed sarcastic remarks on each other. If she supports Zane, Alvin would be grumpy and if she supports Alvin, Zane would sulk. So Anya just watched, silently giggled, and enjoyed their silly talks rather than the game.

It was amusing how Alvin, the cold, tyrannical man became game crazy and played with Zane.

'Ring… Ring…'

Alvin's mobile went off on the side table of the bed. Alvin asked without moving his eyes away from the screen, "Little Donut, check who it is."

Shifting to the edge of the bed, Anya peeked at his mobile screen. "Alvin, it's Dr. Benson."

Seeing Alvin play the game without dropping the controller, she was about to answer the call, her mobile went off displaying Captain David on the screen.

Passing Alvin's mobile to him, Anya went out to the balcony to answer the call. Zane paused the game like a good player when Alvin had to answer the call. Getting off the couch, he went to get warm water for them.

….

"Captain David!?" Anya wasn't expecting Benson to settle so soon and even get to the task she had asked him to do.

[Officer Owen… I mean Ms. Owen, I have sent you an email. There are fifteen Imperial university student missing complaints in the past seven years.

Most of these male students' cases are closed by the statements of their parents like working abroad or in abroad for further education.

Whereas the missing females' cases are closed saying they have eloped with their internet boyfriend. Suspiciously, there is no record or search of any of those boyfriends.

I looked into the database you sent. Excluding one, the others are top research and postgraduate students.]

That's indeed suspicious. The cops would close the case if their parents give statements. Since none of the cops were able to get to the bottom of it, there must be somebody who was misleading the parents in every case. Or else these missing cases would have been reported to the higher authority due to similarities.

Anya hummed in response to David, indicating she was listening to him.

David continued, [There is a key person involved in all these. Most of them received an excellence award from the dean, Gianna Sallow Matthews. Then they went missing within a short period.]

Anya denied his suspicions immediately, "The culprit might be choosing the top ones who are felicitated in front of a crowd." She agrees Gianna had turned into a poisonous snake but she holds no grudge against others.

Or is Gianna involved in all these?

If solving this case was so easy, it wouldn't have been assigned to Anya. So David didn't argue as they were still at the initial stage

[True. But the point is, Gianna Sallow Matthews refused to give any statement on this and never took this seriously. The same goes for their administration department.]

Anya hissed through her teeth. She hadn't thought Imperial University administration to be so neglectful. Looks like she needs to focus on the administration team when she joins Imperial University as a dean.

[I spoke to a retired cop who worked on three of these cases. He vaguely mentioned the dean saying, 'Why are poor high-scored students missing but rich top students? Because the poor are hungry to get rich and run away leaving their baggage called their poor family.' She wasn't ready to affect the university administration because of the missing students.]

As a dean of Imperial University, Gianna was responsible for answering the board and the media about the missing people. And she won't be able to arrogantly speak to the media by dividing rich and poor. According to Anya, Gianna was unaware of the racket.

But as a responsible dean, and citizen of Narnia, Gianna should have noticed the oddness and brought light to it a very long time back. That way, probably many geniuses would have been alive.

Anya wanted to question Gianna regarding this but it would leak the information. She wouldn't take the chance.

Deep in the thought about the case, it took a long moment of silence for Anya to notice the small white dots appearing in the air as if somebody swung the magical wound and caused the snowfall.

For a moment, she forgot the call and leaped, turning towards the room. Seeing Alvin's eyes on her through the glass floor-to-ceiling window, "Alvin, Alvin… Snowfall…" Her mellow, excited voice sounded.

Anya didn't like snow while growing up as her town used to have snow for more than three months with long winter winds.

However, she learned to cherish it as the Capital got far too little snowfall. And Zane liked snowball fights so he was eager for snow.

[Err… Officer… Ms. Owen, I will update you when there is any progress.] He ended the call without waiting for a response.

Alvin threatened Ean as he went out seeing her catching the snowflake. Anya tried to hold the snowflake that was melting as soon as it touched her body.

Anya pouted, seeing him unamused. "Boring," You couldn't enjoy the first snow with somebody who doesn't appreciate the view.

"Where is Zane?" She asked. Zane would be delighted to be with her for the first snow of the year. Thinking back, Zane was with her parents when it started snowing in her hometown.  "Baby, we…"

Before she could rush inside, finding the little brat, Alvin coiled his arm around her waist and spun her around. His thumb caressed her pink cheek, watching her calming her little heart.

Mother and son were excited about the first snow of the year. So he mused, "So what do husband and wife do on first snow?"

A smile bloomed on Anya's face hearing Alvin. She understood the first snow meant nothing to Alvin all these years. And it was pleasing to see him interested in it.

As per her knowledge from the movies, watching her parents or others, the first snow day is dedicated to love and childhood memories. People gather to witness the first snowfall together. She had also seen in the movies where people have a belief that if you make a wish during the first snowfall, it is going to become true.

Anya chose to answer the question later and curiously asked, "This is our first snow..."

"No" Alvin rebuffed, "We were in the library when it snowed." It wasn't once but twice. And he had cursed the couples that day as they would all get intimate in the parking lot.

Anya giggled recalling how Alvin had scolded the couple who was blocking his car and kissing in the parking lot of the library.

She repeated, "This is our first snow together. So you tell me, what do you want to do?"

Anya was expecting like, 'Get inside. I don't want my wife to enter the party with a runny nose.'

However, Alvin who gave a thought was curious why couples were kissing on the first day of the snow everywhere on the road. It was always the first snow, the other days no one would even like to touch the snow.

His thumb froze on her rosy cheek watching her eyes and anticipating his response. His hand slid behind as he caught her lips with his. He could feel her eyes wide open as if being kissed for the first time before she melted in his arms.