¹⁵AN ENIGMA CREATED ARTIFICIALLY

¹⁵

AN ENIGMA CREATED ARTIFICIALLY

Iro was tired of talking anyway, and when they thought the day was over, they were wrong.

Nigel, who had just chosen a good candidate to be an unnoticed bodyguard, stopped when the phone rang more than twice.

Nobody answered it until it stopped ringing but vibrated, signaling a text had just been received, and that's when Nigel picked it up and read the content.

Making Iro's bored face darkened.

"Damn this eventful day," Iro said, brushing his hair harshly and wearing a black wig to cover his long silver hair.

"So? I guess you made a decision?"

Nigel asked, waiting for more instructions.

"Turn the car, of course, I need to go home. I might as well see what my grandfather had prepared for me."

The driver did not need to be told twice and made a perfect U-turn with ease.

"Should we wait for you?"

Nigel asked.

"No, just go back, and I'll find myself a way."

A short distance into a gate that almost reached the sky, another car was waiting; Iro got in and drove inside the slightly open gate.

The car, compared to where he was, was too shabby, loud, smoky, and old, as if one breath from the wind and it would break.

Iro parked the car and walked directly towards the door with his hands inside his pockets. Servants didn't bow or greet him like a real young master; to everyone inside that house, he was just a nobody.

But they dare not disrespect Iro if the old master was home, and seeing how arrogant they act towards him, Iro knew the old man wasn't home, it's just his father showing face to carry favor.

If only they knew how the old man treated him, would they still think he could say a few good words for them?

Nothing matters anyway, because Iro is already a king manipulating the game, he just needs the right time to get those two important people away, and it's anytime soon.

And he didn't have to ask where everyone was, because the scent of the food guided him in, and welcome or not, he pulled the chair as loudly as he could.

Making the soundless dinner like a horror movie, he doesn't have to count to three, and dang.

"Where are your manners! You didn't even greet your elders!"

In Y City, there's a culture called Poo Nam, where the younger generation will hold the hand of their elder and tap it to their forehead as a sign of respect, but Iro never does anything like that.

Not even when he started schooling; it was the same until he grew into adulthood.

"Leave my brother alone."

A soft angelic voice echoed in contrast to Iro's table.

Making Iro soft inside, leaning his face to his palm, adoring his little mini version.

"You ---

Devi's words were cut off by a hand tapping the table, not loud but enough to tell you to shut up.

The shame was eaten with no refute.

Iro smirked at the side and ignored its glaring eyes, mouth full of mockery, because he knew his father would take his side no matter what because of the old man.

A cake in the middle sparked Iro's inner child. He took the icing with his finger and got up from his seat to tease his blood brother, a thirteen-year-old boy. Not yet manifesting in their circle.

"Papa, Brother is bullying my face again. Ahhhhhh!"

To how stern he was while defending his big brother, instantly he asked for rescue like a bullied lamb.

"Iro," Rowan called him, but laughter echoed in the four corners of the dining area, together with a soft squealing.

"Okay, enough teasing your little brother. You two can go upstairs together, and I'll ask a servant to bring the dinner."

"Papa---

Iko was lifted up like a sack hanging from Iro's shoulder, spanking his little butt.

"No, Papa tonight, he can't save you at my mercy," Iro said and spanked Iko again.

While on the stairs, he turned around and shouted at the people left at the table.

"I'm going up with my brother, enjoy the rest of the dinner."

"Hmm." Rowan just nodded his head and continued eating, not minding how the fuming face of Devi was flaming red.

"Papa!"

Iko keeps screaming for help, which echoes through the whole mansion, only to be chased by Iro's laughter.

The table, which was full of Rowan's favorite dish, was where Devi poured it all, only to be left cold and dry in the middle of nowhere, in the wilderness.

He was so furious at how his efforts were put to waste when the chair of his husband screeched, signaling that he was leaving, that he stiffened.

While Carlson was just minding his meal beside him.

Servants don't know what to do, Devi was already feeling gloomy and stood up after Rowan, not even touching his portion of food.

"Throw everything away, not a single thing left behind."

Carlson's meal was taken in front of him, leaving only the spoon in his hands.

"What? I am still eating!"

Helpless, he stood up and went on his way after Devi left the dining room running after his husband.

Iro playfully threw his little brother on the bed, gladly welcomed the food coming after them, and shut the door with a bang at the servant's grim face.

"Ok, enough with the acting; here you go."

Iko accepted the cake from Iro's hand and ate it to his heart's content.

"How's Mother doing?"

Iro meets Iko's eyes, and their innocent face turns dark, the playfulness is gone, and the act is truly gone.

"You're right. Someone's purposely making our mother crazy and out of control, so I managed to block a few, but if I'm at school, I can't supervise his meals."

"And when I missed a day, Mother couldn't recognize me again."

Iro pulled him into a hug, resting his head on his shoulder, caressing his back.

"I know; thank you for blocking some, it's already a big help. Thanks for looking after our mother. Did you manage to have a conversation with him?"

"Yes, and gradually I can approach him without him going berserk."

They exchanged meaningful smiles with each other and brought back their harmless appearances, Iro wiped the tiny tears away from Iko's eyes. Both silver hairs are hidden in black.

Ivi was their Enigma mother who was forced to submit to Rowan, their father, an Enigma created artificially in the lab.