Chapter 111 HYPNOTISM
Hazel's eyes darkened with rage, ready to explode if possible.
She pulled the trigger.
Nikita kicked her hand.
She pulled the trigger.
The bullet hit the roof, breaking some of the blocks.
Nikita snatched the gun from her and threw it to the side.
"What gave you the right to think you could kill her?"
"And what gave her the right to think she could talk to us like that? She should be begging at her life's mercy, not daring us!" Hazel said with a pant.
Ixora's smile broadened, showing off her bloodied teeth.
"What happened? The gun is right there. Pick it and shoot me."
"You," Hazel seethed and landed a hot slap on her cheeks.
Ixora's head fell to the other side.
Nikita grabbed Hazel's hand and faced her, her hand in the air, ready to slap her.
She breathed, calming herself down. "Control your temper," she warned, and faced Ixora.
"She's doing it to get on our nerves. Don't listen to her."
Ixora raised her head, flipping her hair to the side.
"Don't mistake your fears for smartness. Challenge me if you can, coward," Ixora smirked.
Nikita's eyes darkened as she left Hazel and grabbed her by the throat in a choking hold.
"What did you say?"
The door creaked open, interrupting her.
"He's here," Ricky announced, prompting Nikita to let go of Ixora's neck.
"It's about time."
Ixora's gaze went towards the person as she recognized him as the one who gave her the recording.
It's crystal clear now.
Ricky's eyes met her briefly, and he went and opened the door.
A man walked in, dressed in his lab coat, frames placed on his nose bridge.
"Dr. Felix," Nikita said, and they exchanged pleasantries.
"Did you come with it?" Hazel asked.
Dr. Felix opened his palm, and a watch slipped out, hooking to his finger. It was dangling to and fro in his hand.
They smirked and faced Ixora, who stared at them confusedly.
"Come on, chatterbox, time to be our puppet," Hazel said.
"W-what's going on?" Ixora asked, her gaze not leaving the watch.
"Ever heard of hypnotism before?" Nikita asked.
"N-no, you can't do this," Ixora said, panic rising within her as she struggled to release herself.
"Watch us do it," Hazel spat hatefully.
"Doctor, we can start now," Nikita said.
Dr. Felix walked closer to Ixora.
"N-no. Don't do this! It's not right!" she kicked her legs and wriggled her wrist.
The rope was slowly cutting her wrist.
Dr. Felix raised the watch to her face.
"You three should leave. I need no distraction. If you stay here, you might get affected too."
The three of them left, leaving them both.
"Please, sir. Don't do this. I... I will do anything you want. I beg you," Ixora pleaded desperately.
Dr. Felix ignored her pleas and slowly started moving the watch.
"Focus on the watch, there's nothing but the watch."
"No," Ixora muttered, closed her eyes and looked away.
The rope cut into her wrist.
"Focus on the watch, there's nothing but the watch," he repeated, and on the third time, Ixora's eyes opened and locked on the watch.
"You will follow their every command. You are to serve them and obey them. You will be called Winter, and your two missions in life will be to serve them and to ruin Drexton Blackthorn."
He brought his hand down to see Ixora's eyes rolling back and forth.
Her head fell to the side, and her lids hugged each other.
\--
"Doctor, are you sure it worked? Why did she fall unconscious?" Hazel asked.
"It will take some time for her brain to recognize the effect. She will soon come around."
They nodded, their eyes not leaving Ixora, who was on the bed. A bandage was wrapped around her injured wrist.
\[REALITY\]
"It's so nice how we could fool them. They think they have the upper hand?" Ixora twirled the glass in her hand.
"They would regret ever messing with my daughter," Eric said, and his eyes met with Ixora's.
"High five, Dad." She raised her hand.
Eric joined his own with a clap.
Their lips stretched into a smile.
"But I think everything was fate's doing. He wanted to reunite a father and daughter. That's why he sent you to me."
"You would have found me even if I hadn't come to Costa Rica."
Eric nodded. "Georgia couldn't keep us apart. She would always hurt me by showing me your picture."
Ixora brought down her hand. "I'd been meaning to ask, how did you meet someone like Georgia?"
Eric sighed and looked at Ixora to see the look she gave him.
"We dated a few years back. I didn't know she was married, and she hid it from me. On the day I found out about her pregnancy, I overheard her talking to a man on the phone. I asked her, and she said she's married. She further told me that she now owns my properties. I trusted her so much that I didn't have any doubts. I signed papers without reading them, without knowing I'd signed my wealth over to her. I threatened to call the police, but she had already planned everything out. I was given an injection and all my muscles stiffened as I fell unconscious. I regained consciousness to find myself in the hospital. Every day was injections. I had no idea what she was giving to, all it did was weaken me. I could barely move my limbs until the day I saw how grown up and beautiful you turned out to be. I regretted being a weak man and made up the decision to escape at the cost of my life," he concluded, meeting Ixora's eyes that brimmed with tears.
She sniffled and dabbed her palm on her eyes.
"It's okay, Dad. You've found me, and I must say you are the best thing that's ever happened to me."
"You're my life, princess."
She leaned in and kissed his cheeks.
She sat up, seeming to have remembered something.
"How then did you find me?"
"At the hospital," he replied. "I was with Dr. Felix when Nikita brought you and Hazel in. He was the one who helped me escape and performed the surgery on Hazel. He told me their plan to hypnotize you. You injured yourself during the hypnotization, but he never hypnotized you. The hypnotism wore off by the time you became conscious."
"That explained why he told me to act as if I was in their control," she clapped her hand. "I should have seen it coming. He was never on their side. Wow." Her face beamed with a smile.
"Not only is my dad handsome, but he's the smartest dad in the whole universe," she said, giggling like a child.
Eric laughed.
"Oh, it slipped my mind. Do I have a sister?"
Eric's brow narrowed in confusion. "Sister?"
Ixora nodded. "A girl came to our house saying she's my sister. Though she misplaced Hazel for me, but..."
Eric shook his head. "Guess, I'll have to find out."
Ixora glanced at the clock, a gasp leaving her lips.
"Omg, we've gotten so carried away with our chat that I forgot about Hazel." She stood on her feet. "I have to leave else she will start growing suspicious."
Eric stood watching her as she hurriedly put on her disguise.
"This winter disguise has just ruined my mood," Eric said.
"Blame it all on Hazel," Ixora replied, rushing to the food.
She began stuffing her mouth with the chicken, rice, sauce, fruits, and everything on the table.
"Easy." Eric rubbed her back to prevent her from choking.
"I don't know I'll see you again, and you know how Hazel is." She drank the whole glass of juice.
"Bye, Dad."
"Take the car with you!" Eric shouted with a smile as he watched her rush into the car.
They drove off with her waving at him.
\[CASTELLAN HOUSE\]
"Where do you think she went?" Hazel asked.
Nikita had her legs crossed as she tapped her finger on the table. Each tap is like a time.
She made no sound.
Hazel exhaled with a bothersome look. Winter has always obeyed their every command, but today, she was not in the house, and she didn't inform them.
She was still in her thoughts when the door creaked open.
Winter walked in with her usual cold face.
Nikita flickered her cold gaze towards Winter, almost shrinking her if possible.
Hazel stood and went to her.
"Where were you?"
She landed a slap on her cheek.