His Devious Rule

Alvin had first taken Anya to the terrace where the different thrilling rides, water games were present. Then he took her to the shopping arena. There were lots of major brand outlets with the latest collections. Not just that, she even spotted fast food joints, gaming arcades, cinemas, indoor games. The ship looked like a mini town with all the facilities. 

Their actual aim wasn't to enjoy their time on the ship, they were eventually going downstairs where Anya was planning to take a look. While looking around, they thought to grab some coffee and went towards the cafe when a man bumped into Anya.

Although Anya sent the bumped man away, she still doubted if that man rammed into her on purpose. She might be strong enough to defend herself but her body had its limits. She felt her right side shoulder and arm numb in pain.

Clenching and unclenching her fist, she tried to flex her arm when she saw a football going towards them at high speed and force. Having no time, she pulled Alvin aside trying to alert him, "Watch out."

She tried to balance his weight but her right arm didn't support her causing her to trip. Alvin stumbled at her abrupt force and managed to hold her in his embrace and balance both.

'Crash.' The ball broke the glass wall of the cafe. 

Instead of fearing, Anya guarded up in front of Alvin immediately. She saw the seamless glass wall about twelve feet tall broken into pieces. "How is that possible?" Anya voiced her thoughts in disbelief.

A football can't break a hard glass wall so easily. At maximum effect, it could scratch or crack it.

Anya fixed her shoulder with a hard twist and scanned their surroundings. There were no families or female guests around other than cafe staff. There were only men and they didn't look like wealthy political family sons. They appeared rugged, tan and their dressing was like local thugs. 

"We are surrounded." She alerted Alvin in a low voice.

Alvin, who was a head taller than her, easily watched the area. The ball didn't bounce on the floor so he was sure instead of air, the ball was filled with something hard.

His eyes skimmed around. He saw the men stealing their eyes from him or faking to be in shock. Some even walked as they didn't hear the glass break.

He heard unvarying steps of the boots coming towards them. So he concluded that the security of the ship was coming there due to the noise.

When he heard the clicking sound of bones, he saw Anya flex her arm and be ready to protect herself and him without a fear or care about the pain.

He held her shoulders, twirled her, and hugged her. This woman doesn't know how to seek his help when he was right there.

"Are you crazy?" She muttered trying to get off his arms. Those men were waiting to take them under control and he was hugging her.

"Shhh…" He shushed her, gently rubbing her head while looking at the security reach the area. "They won't attack us." He told her.

"They don't need an invitation." She snapped at him immediately.

Alvin was cool, so calm that it was frightening. He was patient with her as he discerned the plan of those men, "Little Donut, they wanted to take us on our will."

Anya stopped pushing him. She tried to assess what he said. In no way those men could take them away at her will. With her hands between him and her, she lifted her head and saw his murderous gaze at somebody. She swallowed hard. She had almost forgotten how scary he could be despite his handsome face. 

Alvin's eyes were still colder when he glanced down at her, "Do you think other women could withstand that bump and still walk?"

Anya tilted her head. If she was wearing high heels, she would have twisted her ankle and fallen on the floor before Alvin could help her stand. The pain of her shoulder? Due to regular training, her endurance of pain was high, whereas other women would have definitely burst into tears.

Still, how would that make her willingly go with those men?

Alvin added, "What would have happened if that ball had hit me or if we had kicked it?"

If that weird ball had hit Alvin's head, he would have bled and even fainted. If she had used her hand or leg, she would have broken a bone.

Her eyes widened and Alvin smiled but it was devoid of warmth. Those men wanted to take them away from the shopping arena as if taking them to the infirmary, but those men would take them somewhere else or a secret hideout.

Nevertheless, her eyes glinted darkly, "I have a plan." She informed him. 

Alvin was impressed how her little brain stays active without fretting over what just happened. He merely nodded, guessing what could be her plan.

Alright, it is settled now. However, she didn't fathom another thing. "Why are you hugging me then?"

Alvin didn't respond. A security man reached them after the initial inspection. He got to know that the couple missed that weird heavy ball just in a split second. Hence he asked, "Excuse me, are you two alright? If you are hurt, please let us guide you to the infirmary."

Alvin snickered looking at her. If they depart, those men will plan more and attack them again immediately. If the security is around, those men wouldn't carelessly follow them. "My wife is scared. She also needs a check."

Anya: "..."

He scooped her to his arms and walked with two security guards who guided them along the path after asking if they needed a stretcher.

Anya clenched her teeth and demanded in a low voice, "Put me down." Then she went close to his ear and questioned in disbelief, "And who the hell is scared?"

Alvin turned to her, causing her to take her head away, "You can't act scared, can't you act weak?" 

Why should she act weak?

"I don't have spare cents for your service." She tried to irritate him to get off his arms.

"Sweetheart, my services are very expensive." His alluring voice reached others' ears too.

Why was he flirting with her now? She tried to pour cold water. "I am poor." She couldn't afford him or his services.

They fell silent in the elevator due to the two security men. Alvin responded when they got out, "I guess, I will have to keep you as a monetary value."

Anya: "..."

Although he was just teasing her, she didn't like how he used his words, "I am not an artifact."

Alvin briefly paused before resuming his steps. He couldn't understand why everyone was thinking he treats her as a rare artifact. He had filled his life with things. More than anybody, he knows that the artifacts and antiques he had are lifeless. He could name a price to those items, use them as decorators or throw them aside but those don't make him feel alive.

He is well aware of how important a person could be in life and how hard it is to have somebody who he could blindly trust.

She is the only one he trusts unquestioningly despite seeing the mystery around her.

How is she an artifact to him? 

The security members left once Alvin entered the infirmary. Alvin laid her on the bed looking at her pursed lips and grumpy eyes. 

He held her chin and looked into her stubborn eyes. "You are my wife."

Anya didn't take him seriously, "I am not." She said the fact in a low voice.

Alvin nodded and looked at the doctor who entered the small cabin as he asked, "What happened to the patient?"

Alvin spoke first, "My wife has forgotten that I am her husband."

Anya: "..."

The doctor believed it and became serious, "Does your wife have any psychological trauma? Or is it the first time? Any episodes of forgetting memories?..."

Hearing the doctor continue taking her as a psychologically ill patient, Anya sat up hurriedly and punched Alvin. She cut in, "Doctor, he is making fun of me. I haven't forgotten anything."

"Really?" Alvin asked with a straight face, "Then who is my wife?"

Anya flushed bright red in embarrassment. She couldn't believe Alvin was capable of playing around. Looking at the Doctor eagerly waiting for her response, she murmured, "Me…"

"I didn't hear you, Sweetheart." He sounded like an indulgent husband while maintaining his stoic face looking at her clenched fist. He was sure she wanted to beat him to a pulp. 

Another punch on his arm and she snapped at him, "I am your wife! Now get out." 

The doctor realized as the husband was teasing his angry wife and laughed. Alvin lifted his eyebrow at her with a satisfied smirk at the corner of his lips. He shoved his hands to his pockets, and leisurely went out, completely ignoring the swooning nurse. 

Aarvi relaxed first, then explained why she was at the infirmary. She got painkillers medicine and a suggestion for her to use an ice pack when the doctor checked her red and slightly swollen shoulder. 

She was leaving the infirmary when she saw nurses and another doctor asleep on patient beds.  The doctor spoke with a sigh, "First shift was too tiresome today." 

"What happened?" Anya asked, thinking they might not be the only ones who are being attacked.

The doctor responded as he went to his desk, "Whoever ate a lot or high on alcohol the previous night, they threw up in the night or as soon as they woke up."

Anya recalled Alvin asking her to eat less and the rough sailing of the ship in the night. This man showed his care in an overbearing attitude and she had thought he was trying to control her.

"Thank you for your hard work." She said a few polite words that brought a smile to the doctor and nurse's face. 

Alvin: "..."

Though he didn't hear her, he couldn't believe she was so good to those strangers. As soon as their eyes met, her sweet smile vanished and marched towards him.

'My feisty wife…' He had to quickly hold her hands before she could hit him and took her to their cabin as wandering on the ship wasn't safe.

Sitting behind her on the bed, Alvin helped her cold compress her shoulder. After a few minutes, he nonchalantly probed her, "Little Leopard, could you check where those men are staying on the ship?"

Anya took the work without doubting anything. She started working on the laptop at the desk when Alvin waited for her to get absorbed in the work. 

Once he made sure her attention wasn't on him, he silently left the room. He didn't discuss her plan because he didn't want to include her in any fights and see her injured. So he was going to handle those men alone and return to the room quickly.

He missed listening to her words, "Alvin, those men are in large numbers. They are disguised on the ship as cleaning staff. We better avoid them one more day.." Her voice filled with concern and caution as she continued to work to fetch more details.