Chapter 143: Brainwash

Mariel Phoenix's POV

"I am leaving then"

'slam'

"..."

"Is she going into a rebellious phase?" I wondered what happened to my dear daughter.

I blankly stared at the door for a few seconds and shrugged it off, "I guess, I had been putting her a lot of stress for the past mont...." Just about to work on my documents.

I smelled a faint lavender perfume,

"She wore a makeup!!!" I shouted.

"N-N-No way, the brat who didn't like to wear makeup for every meeting and ball parties, suddenly"..... I felt something wrong so I pushed my work to my faithful servants and followed my daughter carefully.

Hiding my presence, I slowly followed.

"Hmm?" I thought she was going to meet someone, however, she simply went to the Nex Academia.

"Did I think too much?" I wondered and was just about to return when I saw her covering her body with a cloak and hiding her presence as she walked away different direction.

"...." I felt excited for some reason.

Just like her I also followed her suit and carefully scanned around my surroundings then I realized, this wasn't the route to Nex.

Around this time, the streets were crowded like chickens in a cluster.

She mingled in the crowd and I was about to follow her when my vision was obstructed by the passing people ....She disappeared.

I immediately searched around however, she disappeared as if she never appeared.

"So you think you can escape from me...." I muttered as I stomped the ground and landed on the high building.

My red ruby eyes turned yellow slits as I searched.

"It's a unique ability that is able to identify the Phoenix bloodline person" I muttered as I scanned the area when my eyes landed on the certain capped person emitting yellow radiation.

"Found you" I smiled and about to follow, my daughter suddenly changed her costume again.

"....Wow" I was amazed by her skill.

"Just who is she going to meet?" I mumbled even though I already guessed, 'must be lover', but it was amusing to see your children trying their hard to hide from their parts.

I followed her from quite a distance, she changed quite a number of costumes before reaching the Royal Restaurant.

After my daughter entered, I spoke to someone who was responsible for handling the Royal Restaurant.

Even though I was 'observing' my own daughter, I could not do that inside as the person who running this restaurant would cause a ruckus and it would be a pain in the ass.

After confirming with that person, I entered the restaurant and showed my membership VVIP card.

And asked the receptionist for help.

She initially didn't agree as it might offend the privacy of customers, however, I again called the owner and made some arrangements...she reluctantly agreed.

"She is a good worker" I thought.

Then servants entered my daughter's room in the pretence of arranging the flower vase and taking an order.

I used this chance and hide my presence; entered the room and silently stood in the corner.

Even though she couldn't sense me, there was a possibility that her bloodline would attract, 'so let's maintain some distance'.

After that, only she and I were in the room.

"I see, You finally moved on. I am really happy as a mother....

However, as a woman....you are stealing my prey, lady" I said dangerously.

I was expecting to act like 'Hen protecting it chick', however,

"He is my brother....bitch, you are the one who trying to steal it"

'Wait.....what?' My mind suddenly short-circuited.

'Brother....does that mean he was 'his' son?....Wait, more importantly, This was the second time she cursed me' I wondered as a dangerous glint passed through my eyes.

____________________________________

Third Person's POV

After introducing themselves.

As soon as Mia saw her mother, she slammed the door and entered.

Both Eli and Scarlett had perplexed expressions.

Then they decided to sit at the table.

Eli, Scarlett, Mia and Mariel sat on the table facing each other.

"So, he is your brother?" Mariel asked suddenly with a pouting tone.

"Yes" Scarlett answered while trying to maintain her composure.

Mariel scanned a handsome man and said with a smile

"You are not exactly like your father, you know?"

"Well, I took my mother's beauty...I guess" Eli said with an awkward smile...this was his first time seeing his other step-mother.

"....I guess" Mariel silently muttered. This was also the first time she saw another step-son.

Mariel was always in the City while Eli never left the village so they never knew each other before.

"Hmm?" Mia was fidgeting from the moment she entered.

Seeing this, Mariel asked, "What is it, Mia?" with affection, however,

"Big sister, did big brother remember now?" Mia showed cold shoulder to her mother and instead asked Scarlett.

"..." Mariel didn't take it her heart as she already knew the cause.

".." Eli raised his eyebrows when he saw a blatant ignorance.

".....Well" Scarlett who was scowling inwardly at her mother turned hesitant when she heard her litter Mia's question.

Scarlett silently glanced at Eli asking for help.

"....Little Mia, I remem--"

As soon as Eli called 'Little Mia', Mia without minding she moved and hugged him tightly and rumbled while crying,

"'sob', Br-other 'sniff', Big Brother, Bi-g B 'sniff', brother" She bawled out just like her older sister.

"sigh" Eli sighed internally and patted her head. It's not that he wants to hide or avoid her....it's that their father educated....more likely, brainwashed her completely.

So the moment she knows the truth, Eli doesn't what will happen to her.

This was also the reason Scarlett was very cold towards her mother who didn't bother to help Mia when she needed.

Even the hatred Mia had for her mother was due to her father's brainwashing.