The billionaire's sweet editor
Chapter 56: Iris: I’ll kill him

Chapter 56: Iris: I’ll kill him

IT’S THE weekend baby and I’m feeling refreshed. I just came from a therapy session with Williams. Today, we had a deeper discussion than we had for two weeks now.

The main agenda focused on my childhood, and how I developed into the trust issues girlie I am now. I had to talk about my parents all over again, and how my mother left me at my grandparent’s front gate alone at night. It was like reopening old wounds and making them fresh again.

However, when Williams started assisting me, I relaxed. He used guided imagery on me, at least that’s what Google said on the search engine.

Doctor Williams told me to imagine myself in a safe place, somewhere where I feel completely protected and safe. For the first time in my life, I had more than two options in my head when I closed my eyes.

There was my house, the Adams residence, and Lucas’ mansion. When he asked me to tell him what I saw, I told him everything, except for Lucas’ mansion. I wasn’t ready to get drilled on that topic yet.

"Now, I want you to imagine that someone you trust is with you in this safe space. Who is it?" Williams asked in that soothing voice of his. It’s like he accessed my mind and discovered to tease me so I could spill all my secrets to him because, after his question, Lucas appeared in my head with this huge grin on his face.

I shook my head a little, resetting it until my grandparents and the siblings popped up. Then I told him they were the ones I’d pictured and how they’d been so kind to me since day one.

Williams gave me one eye that could only qualify as him knowing I was lying, but I put on a smile as if I didn’t just picture the guy I have a crush on and hide it from him. In the end, the therapy session went well, and when we were done, I felt more calm and more closer to my therapist than ever before.

Although, he had a surprise for me before I left. I was packing my bag and about to open the door when he called my name. "Yes?" I replied, turning to face him.

Clasping his hands together, he looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Keeping secretive stuff to yourself is good for your social life once in a while but I’m your therapist and your mental health is of utmost importance to me. Don’t hesitate to tell me anything. That way, I’ll be able to assist you in the best way possible."

That’s how I knew he knew I was keeping a tiny secret from him. Namely, my love for Lucas and my fucking Kilimanjaro-sized doubt for my judgmental abilities that’s holding me back from confessing to him.

Even now as I’m scrubbing the floors and kitchen cabinets with the help of the Adams family members, I can’t rub off the shame I felt as I left William’s office and disappeared from his presence. I was so embarrassed that when I got into my car, I laughed at myself.

Thank God I have spring cleaning to keep me busy or else, I’d be kicking my feet in the air every chance I got in my room right now. Going down the ladder I’ve been using to wipe the upper kitchen cabinets, I make my way to the sink to help Mary with the dishes she soaked early morning for a thorough wash this afternoon.

She scoots away from the rinsing sink before I even tell her to. "Done with wiping the cabinets?"

I nod, taking a pot and dipping it in the warm water. "Yes, they smell like lavender now."

"Your boyfriend’s favorite scent."

I smile. "Yeah. Lavender and roses are his favorite scents in the world."

"Okay, Bridgeton, stop daydreaming and get on with your cleaning, or else your grandparents will come back to a dusty house on Monday," Mary jokes, splashing bits of cold water on my face, and making me flinch.

"Jokes on you, we’re done wiping every floor and cabinet in the house," her mother replies to her, opening the oven to check on the macaroni and cheese paired with the chicken she’s baking. "Oh goody, they’re almost ready. Lunch is in thirty minutes!"

"Whooo," Jerald screams from upstairs just as a knock comes on the front door along with the intercom ringing.

"I’ll get it," I say, wiping my hands on my shirt and making my way to our humble guest.

Humble guest my ass. When I open the door, I’m graced with my mother’s presence. I immediately regret making a rash decision.

"Afternoon, how may I help you? I ask in a flat voice, not about to be a fool twice. My laptop was the last score she would ever have on me. From now on, I am going to keep tabs on her and make sure no mistake like the one from last time is ever repeated.

"Iris, who is it?"

"Nobody," I shout back to Miss Adams, blocking the door so my mother won’t enter and steal again. If she tries any funny business today, I’m calling the police on her I swear.

"Don’t worry, I’m not coming in," she says in a laid-back voice, doing that perfect mother shit again. Too bad for her I’m not going to fall for that again.

"State your business or leave," I hiss.

Producing a middle-sized gift bag from behind her, she hands it over to me. I slowly accept it, opening it so I can check the contents. The way my jaw drops at the sight before me.

Inside the bag is everything she stole during her last visit. My laptop, my favorite blouses, and grandma’s bag. Everything is stacked in there like some pile of shit she’s used to her heart’s content and finally decided it’s no longer of use to her.

At least Grandma’s bag still looks new.

"What, you got yourself a new rich boyfriend," I quip at her. She frowns but doesn’t reply to my taunt. "Look, if you think I’m going to applaud you for bringing back the stuff that belongs to me then you’ve got it all wrong. You’re not doing a good deed by bringing back something you stole. It is me who did a good deed by not calling the police on you."

Silence again and a little frowning. If she came here to annoy me then she’s doing a good job because in not loving this new her in any way. Isn’t she supposed to be apologizing not standing there silent like a freaking mannequin?

"Iris, food is ready," Mrs Adams calls out from the kitchen.

"Coming," I shout back.

"If you’ve got nothing else to say, I’m leaving." Pulling the door and taking a step back so I can close it to her face, she moves and stops me.

"Wait."

"What!" I snap.

"Your dad..."

"My what?" I snap again, my voice getting louder and annoyed by the second.

"If you ever meet your dad again, how will you react?"

Time seems to still as if she just cut the system with her spell the moment she mentioned him. Dad. That fucking coward who ran away from his family. I still remember his face in detail. Blonde hair, hairy arms and legs that looked beefy and well-kept, and those ugly eyes of his that haunt me every time I’m in the dark. I can’t believe I inherited them.

He used them to peek at me at night every time he switched off the electricity in an attempt to steal me. I didn’t see them in the dark back then, but somehow, I can see them every time I close my eyes when the nyctophobia hits.

He ruined my childhood, ruined the family when he decided to leave, and maybe—since the probabilities are high—he ruined my mother and turned her into this... selfish bitch who doesn’t give a fuck about anything or anyone, even her daughter.

She has some guts asking me about him after handing me the stuff she stole from us, that I’ll give her. Channeling all my rage toward her, I glare at her so fiercely, that my eyes hurt from all the frowning. Mom backs away a little, giving me the space I need to take one intimidating step toward her.

"If I ever meet him, I’ll kill him."

With words. I’ll ask him questions, tell him just how much of an asshole and coward he is, and if all goes well, I’ll land a slap or two on his face.

"Even if he promises he’s changed and has collected himself and become a businessman?"

I grit my teeth. "Even if he was as rich as Elon fucking Musk, I’d still loathe him." The words roll down my tongue with hate slithered in there.

Mom slowly nods at me, not having the guts to look me in the eyes. I can’t tell what she’s thinking, and I can’t judge since I can’t see her face.

"I didn’t know you hated him this much," she says under her breath.

I let out a cackle. "Keep annoying me and you’ll be next to him on the list."

This time, her head flips up to look at me, immediately stopping me from grinning like a witch. For crying out loud, why would my heart clench at seeing her sad pale face dropping like this? I already regret everything I just said in a fit of rage.

I’m about to apologize to her when a hand grips my shoulder as Nicole appears next to me by the door. "Vanessa!" She cries, tugging at my shoulder and whispering in my ear for me to go and eat.

I can’t believe my mother still has control over me even though I loathe her. I was about to fucking apologize damnit. For someone who goes around preaching she has trust issues, that was very stupid of me.

Ugh. I’msuchasimp.

★★★★★