Spoiled by Mr. Russell, Chapter 2147

"Do you need to do it again to be sure?" Alexander ignored Mike, looking at Austin instead. Austin glanced at the unconscious Rhea and gently shook his head. "No."

Alexander turned and left, Austin following closely behind. Mike watched them go, then looked at Rhea before hurrying after the pair. The trio returned to the living room, the recent events feeling dreamlike. Nothing seemed outwardly changed, yet everything felt subtly different.

Mike felt listless, adrift. He struggled to avoid thinking about his son from the past few days, but the mention of Nick by Rhea overwhelmed him. The boy was his Achilles' heel. More terrifying was his growing lack of self-confidence.

Alexander poured Mike a glass of cold water, handing him a wet towel. "Do you know what kind of virus is in her body?"

Austin shook his head. "The lab viruses are complex; I can't be certain. However, I suspect it's similar to the previous one."

"How so?" Mike asked after taking a sip of water.

"The lab experiments may seem disparate, but they share a common goal—control," Austin explained.

Mike, despite his bloodshot eyes, appeared calmer. Puzzled, he looked at Austin.

"The virus prioritizes mind control," Austin elaborated. "I don't know who's behind the organization, but one thing is clear—they intend to use their creations to control people, to rule certain places, or even the entire world."

Though it sounded improbable, it was the truth. After all, why else would someone seek to control others' minds and bodies? Austin, who had only understood the existence of such things after enduring immense suffering, admitted he'd never considered it before.

Alexander, however, quickly connected the dots. Having witnessed Austin, Dominic, Lily, Cameron, Edward, and others undergo similar experiences, he readily believed Austin's assessment. The fact that such experiments were even being attempted was terrifying, regardless of their success or failure. This was the only aspect Alexander found truly incomprehensible. "So Rhea did this to control herself?"