Chapter 9:

"What do you mean? What do I mean? It's written all over your face! You admit it's your business, but I don't acknowledge it! Who dares to accept a child born to a mother but without a father to claim it?"

Eubola's voice was bitter and piercing, deliberately sharp and provoking as she continued into the kitchen, "At a young age, without a husband yet already with a child, not even graduated from university but already a single mother. Even the father of your child doesn't know who he is! There's a biological father, but no one to claim fatherhood!"

Sonya's face turned pale, and she listened as Eubola continued ruthlessly, "Furthermore, the company shutting down was also because of someone. Yet, in recent years, the Richart family's life has been unsettled, and someone still shamelessly brings their illegitimate child home to the Richart family for dinner. It's shameless!"

In the kitchen, Sonya heard the shocking words from the living room, her hands trembling, her movements paused, then suddenly she turned around and said, "You... one at a time is enough!"

"Eubola, have you said enough?! How can you be so cruel? In the past, if it weren't for Sonya, the Richart family..." Mr. Richart suddenly fell silent, saying nothing more.

Regarding Sonya's financial situation, he kept it secret from her from beginning to end. If this matter were to spread, it wouldn't be good for Sonya's reputation. So Eubola only knew that the debt repayment came from the Richart family's assets.

"How? Why don't you speak up? Without her, then what?" Eubola's anger turned into embarrassment, her eyes reddening with fury, "Well done. Today you're siding with outsiders to pressure your own family, aren't you?! How dare you scold me, Mr. Richart! What am I? Isn't it for the Richart family! When the company went bankrupt, I had to go home and borrow money from my mother, and I haven't paid it back yet, haha! And now you're scolding me for outsiders? Tomorrow, you'll kick me and Nora out because of them!"

Mr. Richart was enraged, his face turning green, his voice rising even louder, "You're causing trouble for no reason!"

Eubola shouted, "Where am I causing trouble for no reason?!"

Seeing this, Iris hurriedly jumped down from the chair, walked over to Eubola, and grabbed the corner of her shirt with her small hand, "Grandma, don't be angry! Iris isn't an illegitimate child! Iris has a father..." Eubola coldly lowered her head to look at the child, becoming more irritated as she looked, feeling more and more resentful in her heart. She furrowed her brows, raised her hand to slap the child, saying, "You illegitimate child! You even know how to pretend to be a good person! What do you want to do! Get out of my sight! It's all because of you!"

Iris was slapped so hard that it hurt, he bowed his head, raised his hand to touch the place where he had just been hit, his bangs covering his eyes, so no one could see his expression, only seeing him purse his lips tightly. Sonya, in the kitchen, heard the commotion and immediately ran out, seeing Iris being slapped. She was extremely angry and sorrowful; she ran to hug the child, then lifted her head to look coldly at Eubola. Mr. Richart saw this and became even angrier. He stood up and ran to Eubola, raising his hand to slap her, but suddenly someone clutched his sleeve. He was stunned, lowered his head to see Iris looking up at him. One side of the child's cheek was swollen from being slapped, but he still politely smiled at him. "Grandpa, don't argue! Today, Iris learned a proverb in school: harmony in the family leads to prosperity*!"

*Harmony in the family leads to prosperity: This phrase is like "if the family lives in harmony, all affairs will prosper," but it carries a broader meaning because it not only emphasizes harmony between husband and wife but also the relationship between parents and children, grandparents, and grandchildren. Mr. Richart's raised hand froze in midair, hesitating for a moment, before he put his hand down, a complex expression of bitterness and sorrow appearing in his eyes. Eubola was obviously intimidated by Mr. Richart's anger just now, but then she saw him turn around. His anger subsided because of Iris's words.

The child understood things like that. For a moment, Mr. Richart felt that having a wife like Eubola was a misfortune for his family! He had previously considered divorce, but Eubola deliberately played tricks, either crying or causing trouble, making a scene until even their relatives felt uncomfortable knowing about it.

Sonya looked at the handprint on Iris's face. Still feeling scared in her heart, she raised her head to look at Eubola, then stood up and pulled Iris into the kitchen.

This evening's dinner was ruined because of what had just happened.

When Nora returned, the atmosphere in the house became even heavier. Since she was young, Nora had always disliked Sonya, but this was understandable. From childhood to adulthood, she had been pampered and protected like a little princess by Mr. Richart and Eubola, all the love and attention of the two focused on her.

But on that day, another "daughter" intruded into her cozy little family of three, taking away half of the affection her father used to give her. Mr. Richart was no longer the same as he used to be in her eyes. Anything good that happened. He wouldn't just remember her anymore, nor would he pay attention to her regardless of what happened, whether it was much or little.

Sonya was very perfect, diligent, studious, and very accommodating to her, but precisely because Sonya was too good, Mr. Richart loved her even more. That's why Nora didn't like Sonya's presence, and why she detested her even more.

By that time, Nora had reached a rebellious age and resented the "outsider," Sonya, let alone Iris? She didn't even consider the boy! In her heart, Iris was just a bastard child, born to a father who didn't acknowledge him!

The atmosphere at the dinner table was heavy.

Occasionally, Iris served food to Mr. Richart while Sonya was by her side, telling some interesting stories about work, which slightly eased the atmosphere. Although Eubola and Nora didn't like Iris, with Mr. Richart present, they didn't dare to do anything too excessive.

After finishing dinner, Mr. Richart received a phone call, and he had to go out for a while. He gave Sonya a few instructions before fleeing.

Sonya also didn't want to stay long. She quickly cleared the tableware, intending to leave after cleaning up.

Iris obediently helped her tidy up, her small hands helping Sonya carry the dishes, following her into the kitchen to wash them. In the child's heart, there was some fear of Eubola and Nora, so after Mr. Richart left, she refused to leave Sonya's side.

In the living room, Nora glared resentfully at the two adults, one tall and one small, in the kitchen, feeling uncomfortable as she said to Eubola:

"Mom! Why did you let that bastard into our house! It's really unlucky! At first, my mood was still very unsettled!" Eubola sat on the sofa, her face not much better than before. "Huh! Who knows, ask his father about this!"

"One troublemaker, one bastard, why did our family have to encounter such disasters like this!" "Nora, don't let your father hear such words, or else he'll help those outsiders teach us a lesson. He's furious today because he didn't get to see them, and that's really scary!"

Hearing this, Nora became even more angry, "So why did you say you'd help those two?"

Eubola became even more angry, "Isn't that obvious?"