Chapter 598: Cruel Result
Jimmy, his body trembling, faced Oscar, poised to strike. After a few seconds, he unleashed a blow, sending Oscar sprawling to the ground. Theodore watched in fury; Jimmy's strength was superhuman, and once his martial arts prowess was unleashed, it was unstoppable. Theodore feared Oscar would be beaten to death. Hannah watched, her heart breaking. Overwhelmed by the unfolding scene, tears streamed down her face as she witnessed the brutal assault.
Oscar, still recovering from surgery and only recently off liquid food, was frail and weak. How could he withstand such an attack? She bit her lip in anguish.
Oscar, however, rose again, and the fight resumed—a ferocious exchange where each blow could be fatal. Only the sounds of fists connecting and ragged breaths filled the quiet night. Eventually, Oscar collapsed, covered in blood. He struggled to stay upright, but finally fell.
"Oscar!" Hannah cried, unable to bear the sight. She felt a terrible pang of anguish watching Oscar's torment. "Oscar!" she called again.
Oscar, his body trembling, slowly turned his head, his eyes bloodshot. "Don't cry," he whispered, his voice so weak she almost missed it.
"That's enough!" Hannah collapsed, pleading with Jimmy, "What do you want? Kill me! Kill us all! Don't torture us like this!"
Jimmy looked at Oscar. From the beginning, though Oscar's strength surpassed that of average men, he was no match for Jimmy's relentless attack. Oscar’s efforts were purely brute force; he couldn't land a significant blow, and even when he did, Jimmy barely reacted.
"What the hell do you want?" Hannah sobbed, her hatred for Jimmy palpable.
Jimmy lowered his eyes. "I'm sorry, Hannah," he said.
Hannah was stunned. "I lied to you," he continued.
"What do you mean?" Hannah cried, refusing to show weakness.
"The order stated that if Oscar is innocent…" Jimmy seemed to struggle with his words, a hint of emotion betraying his stoic exterior. As a Man of Sacrifice, he shouldn't feel, yet he was moved. "You should die," he finished.
Hannah's eyes widened, her body shaking. She knew he wasn't joking. "Why?" she screamed. Why could only one of them survive?
"This was a test. Since Oscar entered the aristocratic families, he must learn obedience. Taking away the most important thing in his life shows the greatest sincerity to the aristocratic families!"
"Are you crazy?" Hannah wailed. She recalled Charles killing her in her past life—another victim of this power struggle.
"Didn't you test it? Oscar didn't stop you when you shot. This proves I'm not important to him. He chose the latter!"
"No," Jimmy countered, "The results show Oscar couldn't act because of his innocence; he couldn't claim any other identity. My conclusion was wrong."
"But at least he chose silence! It shows I mean nothing to him…" Hannah argued, agitated.
"That wasn't the only reason," Jimmy interrupted. "There's also the Cooper family fortune. The four major families are prey to the aristocratic families. Charles was valued by Collins because he offered the Cooper Group to gain entry. The standard should be no lower for Oscar. Your death would leave the Cooper Group easily accessible to him."
"In short, you have to die, Hannah!"
"If you kill me, will he truly be loyal? If Oscar surrenders, doesn't he know what they are up to?" Hannah desperately tried to reason, seeking a way out.
"Of course not. Becoming a member of the aristocratic family is the best way to protect his family. That's why Charles fought so hard—not only ambition, but the survival of his family."
Hannah laughed bitterly. Her death was inevitable, regardless of Oscar's actions.
"I thought Oscar wouldn't fail," Jimmy murmured, his finger lightly on the trigger.
Hannah looked at Oscar, lying bloodied on the ground. She didn't know how to say goodbye. She didn't know who to blame—fate? But at least, she was looking at him as she died, unlike her last life, where she was killed by the man she loved. She could die peacefully.