Chapter 199: The Truth, Janet's Sad Ending

Oscar left the warehouse, Hannah still in his arms, heedless of Janet's pleas. Janet laughed hysterically, helpless as men in black suits approached. Her screams echoed through the warehouse, a terrifying sound that hinted at unspeakable horrors. The ordeal lasted a long time.

Night fell. The warehouse emptied, leaving only Janet, lying on the ground, her breath shallow. She heard footsteps and dully turned to see a man approaching. She stared ruthlessly at Thomas as he stopped before her. He simply watched her, a broken figure.

"You didn't leave?" she whispered.

He had been there, watching her rape.

"I warned you not to mess with Hannah," Thomas said.

"So you know. You knew Oscar wouldn't go easy on me," Janet replied.

"Yes."

"You slept with me, not Oscar?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me?" she screamed, the sound choked by her injuries. Tears streamed down her face.

"If I had, would you have stopped loving Oscar?" Thomas asked.

Her heart ached. No. She loved Oscar; she would die for him. Nothing could change that.

"Oscar deceived the public," Thomas said, beginning to reveal the truth.

Janet wanted to laugh at her own folly, but only tears came.

"Wasn't Oscar drugged?" she asked.

"Yes," Thomas confirmed.

"He'd rather endure it than sleep with me?"

"Yes."

Her heart felt broken and numb.

"Do you want to know how he coped?" Thomas asked, ready to tell her everything.

Janet stared, listening as he said, "With Hannah's photo."

"You're lying!" she denied vehemently. She refused to believe Oscar loved Hannah, much less that he had loved her for years. "Oscar hasn't touched Hannah! He doesn't love her!"

She clung to Hannah's words, despite their failure to be proven. If a man truly loved a woman, wouldn't he be intimate with her? Still, Janet refused to accept reality. Thomas stated plainly, "A man doesn't have sex with a woman for two reasons: he doesn't love her, or he loves her too much."

Janet looked at him, seeing the truth in his steady gaze.

"You know Oscar, his situation. He avoids intimacy with Hannah because he fears dragging her into cruelty, because he loves her so much he protects her," Thomas explained calmly, like a simple fact.

Janet finally understood: Oscar deeply loved Hannah. She had relentlessly pushed him until he could bear it no longer.

"Oscar had hundreds of reasons to kill you, but he didn't. I begged him to spare your life. The gang rape was the price. I don't love you anymore, and I won't love a woman as malicious and crazy as you. We're even now, for the baby you aborted. I saved your life."

Thomas left her alone in the warehouse, his coldness a stark contrast to the devastation she carried. He imagined the extent of her pain—the rape, the truth.

Janet believed she'd given her virginity to Oscar, that he was the father of her child. She thought she was special to him. In reality, it was Thomas who'd slept with her that night, deceiving the public for Oscar's sake, allowing himself to be used to earn her trust. Oscar, however, kept emotional distance, trusting only his closest associates.

Manuel, a long-time admirer, respected Oscar's strength, forged through hardship and torture. Oscar, powerfully emotionless, nonetheless held a deep love for a woman in his heart.

So, Janet's fate was sealed when Oscar called. She'd dug her own grave by targeting Hannah. Oscar's men located them. He arrived at the warehouse, Thomas pleading, "Oscar, don't kill Janet. I owe her."

Oscar remained silent, focused only on Hannah. He ultimately spared Janet's life, but in the most horrific way.

He wondered if the trauma would drive her to suicide.

A gunshot shattered the night's silence. Thomas's eyes were wet, but the gunshot, emanating from the warehouse, confirmed Janet's choice. It was her decision; he had no part in it. He left without looking back.