CHAPTER 119: WAR OF THE MIND

As soon as Serena was completely bare, Salvador lost control of himself. Every ounce of restraint he had summoned evaporated into thin air. The very moment her clothes fell away, revealing her full form, something primal overtook him. He forgot everything he had been instructed to do next. The plans, the purpose of being in that room, the command he had been given, it all slipped from his grasp the second his gaze locked onto her. His eyes trailed across her body, spellbound by her smooth skin, her curves, the way she stood there with quiet obedience, waiting for his next instruction.

He was so lost in her image that he failed to notice what was happening in the corner. Lucian, who had been under the influence of the glove, was dangerously close to breaking free. The mental hold was slipping rapidly and Salvador was oblivious to the cause. Lucian’s own mind was warring against the power binding him, driven to rebellion by the intense way he was staring at Serena. Something about seeing her like that, exposed and vulnerable, was stirring fury within him, and that fury was steadily ripping through the control that had been imposed on him.

Meanwhile, Serena remained motionless, her face void of expression, waiting for Salvador’s signal. But Salvador, instead of remembering Lucian and continuing with his orders, took a slow step toward Serena.

He was drawn to her as if by an invisible tether. Her body, seductive and regal, robbed him of his senses. His gaze settled firmly on her chest, on the soft curves of her breasts, rising and falling with each breath. Without thought, his hand moved to cup one of them. The moment his fingers made contact with her warm skin and his lips once again claimed hers, everything else vanished from his mind.

That was when Lucian lost it.

The fury that had been simmering inside him surged violently to the surface. In a single swift motion, he tore free from the hold that kept him seated. His eyes burned with rage as he stood from the bed, his mind fully awakened by the sight of Salvador’s lips on Serena. In three long strides, he reached Salvador, seized him by the collar, and with unbridled force, delivered a jaw-shattering punch to his face. The impact sent Salvador staggering backward, crashing into the opposite end of the room.

Outside, Modi gasped as a wave of pressure slammed into his mind. He clutched his head, feeling as though it was about to split open. The control he had meticulously maintained was crumbling rapidly, slipping like sand through his fingers. Panic began to rise. The person he had under control was slipping away at an alarming rate. Something had triggered the collapse and Modi could feel the intensity of that trigger. Confused and furious, he banged on the door, his voice thundering through the heavy wood as he yelled at Salvador.

"What the hell is going on in there? Why are you wasting so much time? Use the glove, damn it!"

His fists pounded harder as desperation laced his tone. "If you don’t get this under control, I swear I will release my hold on both of them whether you like it or not!" He threatened, unwilling to be the one to go insane as a result of Salvador’s mistakes.

Inside, Salvador still lay on the floor, his vision blurry and his head spinning from the force of Lucian’s punch. He could not even find the strength to answer Modi’s threats. He was dazed, confused, and humiliated, his thoughts still muddled from the unexpected blow. He couldn’t see clearly yet as the stars were still dancing around his head.

Modi, realizing Salvador was in no state to respond, made a quick decision. He had no time to wait. He released his hold on both Lucian and Serena before the pressure inside him drove him to madness.

Whoever was attempting to break free had nearly succeeded, and holding on any longer would have likely destroyed his sanity. He could only hope Salvador would be able to impose his own control in time. The only reason Modi had not burst through the door himself was because Salvador, in a self-serving act of secrecy, had locked it from the inside to prevent Modi from seeing his wife’s body.

Back in the room, Salvador was slowly picking himself off the floor. He was still seeing stars and clutching his throbbing jaw when Lucian blinked and fully regained his senses. Awareness returned to him in pieces. Confusion immediately followed. His eyes swept around the room, noting the strange setting. Then he noticed Serena — naked, vulnerable, standing silently — and Salvador close by.

A sharp jolt of disbelief stabbed through him. What was going on? Why was he here? Why was Serena naked? And why was Salvador in the room with them? The questions tumbled through his mind like a crashing tide, leaving him more shaken by the second.

But while Lucian was piecing together fragments of memory, Serena remained still and unaffected. The release from Modi’s control had no impact on her. Salvador, long before Modi’s release, had already imposed his own command on her, wrapping her in a web of silent obedience. She stood rooted, responding only to Salvador’s influence.

Salvador, his vision clearing and senses returning, pulled himself up fully and began approaching Lucian again. His face twisted in anger and humiliation. The sting of Lucian’s punch still throbbed, his ego bruised deeper than the wound on his face. He clenched his gloved hand and advanced with renewed purpose, intending to seize control of Lucian before he could act again.

But Lucian was ready now.

As Salvador reached for him, Lucian, who had fully recovered both his strength and memory, and also realized what was happening, responded instantly. His arm drew back and he delivered a second, more brutal punch to Salvador’s face. The sound of impact cracked through the air like thunder. Blood burst from Salvador’s split lip as his body once again crashed to the far side of the room.

This time, Lucian did not hesitate. He followed Salvador’s stumbling form, grabbed him by the neck, and pulled his fist back to unleash another series of devastating blows. He was fueled by rage and by the horrifying suspicion that something vile had been done to both him and Serena.

But Salvador, acting faster than Lucian had anticipated, reached out and pressed his gloved hand against Lucian’s. The moment the glove made contact with Lucian’s skin, and Salvador gave a new command, everything inside Lucian began to crumble.

Lucian’s grip slackened. His body froze. His mind became a whirlwind of chaos. The sharpness of thought and clarity of intent evaporated, replaced by fog and confusion. He had no will of his own anymore. He stood straight again, his limbs heavy, his thoughts no longer his own. The glove had claimed him once more.

But inside, a small voice continued to scream. It clawed at the walls of his mind, refusing to be extinguished. It was faint, but persistent. Even in his subdued state, it fought to survive.

Salvador, seeing that Lucian was once again under his control, lashed out in retaliation. His gloved hand released Lucian’s and curled into a fist. He slammed it into Lucian’s face, his voice rising with rage.

"Bastard! Who do you think you are? What gave you the right to lay your filthy hands on me?"

He landed another punch to Lucian’s jaw. Lucian did not move to defend himself. He could not. He had no mind of his own at that moment. He was nothing more than a shell waiting for instruction.

After that second blow, Salvador pulled back and forced himself to calm down. As much as he wanted to unleash his fury, he had a task to complete. He reminded himself of what needed to be done, and he knew he could always return to punish Lucian later. For now, he needed results.

Turning away from Lucian, Salvador issued a sharp command. His voice was cold, calculating.

"Have sex with her. Now. And make sure you release all of your seed inside of her."

Then, he turned to Serena and added, "Cooperate. Do not resist."

With both commands given, Salvador stepped back and retreated to a corner of the room. He folded his arms, his eyes glued to the scene before him, watching with twisted satisfaction as Lucian turned toward Serena without hesitation.

His movements were mechanical. He walked up to her, took her hand, and led her silently to the bed.

And just like that, Salvador’s perverse plan began to unfold before his very eyes.

As Lucian kissed Serena deeply, Salvador’s jaw clenched, but his body did not mind how angry he was. It responded beautifully to the scene playing out in front of him.

Unable to hold still anymore, Salvador unzipped his pants, and began to stroke himself, imagining he was the one in Lucian’s position.