Chereads / Watch me tame the future mafia King! / Chapter 2 - 2: Toxic Household

Chapter 2 - 2: Toxic Household

"Dad, since I was born, you always treated me like a bastard daughter. Aren't I also your child? Why do you so hate me…." Irish continued, choking up by her own words as she tried not to be emotional, especially in front of his so-called family.

The hall suddenly became dead silent as Iris' deep breaths could be heard. She wanted to cry. She tried to shout and make a scene, but she knew that it would only make her look bad. Especially in the eyes of other people. But at that moment, Iris only wanted to voice her thoughts. She was always afraid to question her father. But on this particular night, something pushed her to ask this inevitable question that she always wanted to ask when she was just a child. And it was this.

"Is it because my mother died when I was born?"

It looked like it hit a nerve with the older man after mentioning her mother. His face darkened as he shot daggers at Iris' face. With gritted teeth and a clenched jaw, he stopped Iris from further talking by stepping closer to her and screaming.

"SHUT YOUR MOUTH!!"

The older man roared as his eyes widened in rage. But for some reason, the older man couldn't bring himself to hurt Iris upon mentioning her mother physically. Instead, he walked away with the same enraged expression as he climbed the stairs, clearly agitated with everything.

Upon seeing the head of the family walk away from the scene, Iris was left alone with her evil step-mother as Charlotte chased after their father to lessen his anger, like the perfect daughter she is. With that, it seemed like the drama was done. Iris was about to go to her room when her step-mother blocked her with an annoying grin on her face

"Aww, poor Iris. It would be best if you had kept your mouth shut. You won't be heard anyway. Why don't you stop struggling and let everything go into place?" She taunted as she looked at Iris as if she was a pest in their household. She then chuckled afterward with a hand gracefully covering her mouth.

It looked like she was not done with Iris. Like mother, like daughter they say. How much it fits the two of them. Iris glared at the woman with a blank expression as she rebutted shortly and firmly.

"Old hag."

Irish uttered loud enough for the woman to hear, causing her to raise a brow. With that, the delighted look on her face changed into an irritated one. She then signaled her man as she waved a finger. A mature older woman then walked closer to her while lowering her head.

"Tch. From now on, she will be locked inside her room. Also, cut down her meals by giving her one meal a day for the entire week. With that, she may sense her place in this household. Ho Ho Ho" She laughed with satisfaction in her tone of voice.

Ever since Iris was brought to this manor when she was just seven, she instantly knew that she was the black sheep in her new found family. Her mother and step-sisters constantly harassed her and her father despised her. But still, she was grateful for having a roof above her head and a cold meal to eat. But one thing that she hated the most is being locked up in a place. Iris hated being restricted into doing anything. That is why she usually has a few tricks when sneaking out after being locked in her room.

Still standing on the ledge outside the window, Iris took a deep breath with her eyes closed as a cold breeze blew past her face. It's as if she was not outside just 40 minutes ago. Upon opening her eyes, Iris glanced at the ground with a relaxed look on her face. It's more than ten feet from the ground. With that, Iris could only smile upon seeing the height she was at. But Iris is not one to back out.

"Fuck them," Iris whispered as she jumped without hesitation.

But she did not land directly on the ground floor. Iris is reckless but not stupid. That kind of jump would surely injure her. Instead, Iris jumped on a big sturdy tree just 5 feet far from her window.

She successfully landed on one of its branches causing it to shake uncontrollably, some leaving it falling to the green grass. Afterward, Iris just jumped one one branch to another as she slowly descended the ground with a satisfied expression.

"Easy peasy." She said to herself with a smug look on her face as she looked up at the window she just jumped on.

Though she doesn't usually show it, Iris is a pretty athletic person. With the miserable years she suffered from, she learned to toughen up. Most of the time, Iris would wonder what would happen if she did not leave the orphanage she grew up in. Her mother must have left Iris there, away from her father, for a reason. But young Iris, after knowing that she has a father, instantly held his hand with hopeful eyes. Her father is not that hard on her. But ever since Iris set foot on the manor, her father slowly changed.

Still being cautious of the surroundings, Iris sneakily walked through that backyard. Their backyard is not that big but it has a fair share of hindrance. Sometimes she would roll and hide in the bushes as some night guards would wander and would suddenly flash their flashlights in her direction.

After what felt like a long hide and seek game, Iris finally arrived at her exit route where no one except her knew. With her hands placed on her hips, Iris then stared down at the big bush pressed on the brick wall that surrounds the manor.

"Ugh, my white pants are gonna get stained by this. But…oh well." Iris said to herself with an unbothered look on her face. She then started to crouch down and parted the bush to again get proper access to the hole on the wall, big enough for her to crawl into. Iris accidentally found this place when she was chasing a stray puppy that snuck in their yard. Since then, Iris has been using this secret hole to get in and out secretly of that house.

But before she could even crawl out, a dog suddenly emerged somewhere and upon detecting Iris, it suddenly barked uncontrollably causing Iris to freeze in her tracks. She swiftly looked at the guard dog with wide eyes as panic creeped to her face.

'Damn dog. You're gonna compromise my position!' Iris thought to herself as she stared at the dog who was clearly on its guard seeing that it was still barking at her.

She then put a finger on her lips as she signaled the dog to stop making noises. "Shh! Why the heck are you here!?" Iris exclaimed with a low voice, wary that the dog would wake those sleeping people in the manor. But since the dog is not stopping, Iris has no choice but to grab the squeaky ball that was stored in her pant's front pocket and throw it in the dog's direction.

"Here! Catch boy!"She commanded as she threw the soft ball far enough for her to give time to crawl out the hole. It is a good thing that she always brought that ball in case she would encounter that dog. Just to be careful.

Upon seeing the giddy dog instantly run away as it fetched the ball, Iris went back with her business as she swiftly crawled out without difficulty out of the hole. She then started to walk away from the wall, fearing that the dog might follow her out. As she walked deeper in the deserted forest on the back of the manor, Iris walked through its dense path as if she knew the area like the back of her hand. After a few minutes of walking, Iris finally arrived at the place she was meaning to go.

After saying that, she turned her back at Iris with a smirk tugged on the corner of her lips. The old maid nodded in response to seeing her employer climb the stairs, following her husband to their room.

With that, Iris was finally left alone in the foyer. But even if she was alone, Iris felt like she was restricted and suffocated just being in that house. And upon hearing what her stepmother said to the head maid, Iris was even more determined to rebel.

"As if I care. You can't lock me here; I refuse to be controlled. I'll do what I please!" Iris whispered to herself. Iris walked up the stairs to her small room on the corner of the floor. Upon entering her humble room, Iris immediately tossed her bag on the bed as she changed into a comfortable sweatshirt and pajama.