Chapter 604: Aunt

Hannah wasn't sure what "be trained thoroughly" meant. She looked at Oscar, sensing a hint of brutality in the words.

"Before my birth," Oscar began, "my father determined my future: fostering me with the Wells family. Though unrelated to the royal Wells family, my great-great-grandfather's generation significantly supported them, leading to their success and wealth. They remained deeply grateful for generations. So, when our family was destroyed, they were the only ones who offered any support. Ultimately, facing their own peril, they chose silence. This history, however, led to Robert Wells immediately accepting my father's request. My mother was pregnant with me concurrently with Venus's pregnancy. At birth, she announced twins. I was half a month younger than Thomas, but the twin announcement obscured the discrepancy." A slight tremor shook Oscar's throat.

Hannah perceived his mood swings, yet he presented these events with a lightness of tone.

Oscar continued, "At birth, my mother didn't even see me before I was sent away."

Hannah imagined the heartbreak.

"I was raised by the Wells family until age three, then met my parents for the first time. I had no affection for them; I cried intensely when approached. It's said that adults don't remember events before age three, but meeting my birth parents profoundly impacted me. I saw my mother's tears and my father's red eyes. I understood their sadness and pain." Oscar offered a slight smile, concealing his sorrow.

Hannah knelt, taking his trembling hand. Oscar shook his head, dismissing the past.

"The day after meeting my parents, I was sent to a remote island," he said. "This so-called desert island, now developed, once teemed with wild animals. I survived alone from age three. My brother, the heir, required strong protection, to clear his path and avert danger and bloodshed."

Hannah's throat tightened; the cruelty was evident.

"Theodore and Manuel were also sent to the island. Theodore arrived the following year. He was reportedly frail as a child; his father, Laird, being older, missed his prime reproductive years, resulting in Theodore's weaker physique. Fearing my loneliness, my father sent him at four years old. Protected due to his poor health, Theodore fainted upon witnessing me kill and eat a python on his first day. For a long time, he fainted at the sight of me." Oscar laughed.

Hannah remained unamused. The young Oscar's brutality had clearly terrified his peer.

She tightened her grip on his hand.

Oscar continued calmly, "Manuel, three years younger, arrived later. My aunt sought to establish herself first, marrying a much older man to legally reside in Northfield's territory. This man died a few years later, leaving my aunt wealthy. She returned to Kensbury City with Manuel. With me the only remaining family in Kensbury City, she made that choice for me. She subsequently married Edward Phillips and settled there. Once settled, she sent eight-year-old Manuel to the island, where Theodore and I were already established."

Hannah nodded silently. She recalled Manuel's occasional disappearances and Susan's anger over his misuse of family funds, but as a child, she suspected nothing.

"Theodore, Manuel, and I underwent rigorous training. My training was far more brutal, due to my identity. I persevered, however. My training yielded results surpassing even the best of the royal Wells family or the Dark Guard." Oscar seemed pleased.

Hannah was speechless. He still seemed to crave a challenge.

"Tan Laurier was no match for me."

Hannah's eyes darkened. Finally, they addressed the previous night's events. Oscar poured her black tea. She sipped the warm, fragrant brew.

"When Tan appeared, I suspected him and asked Theodore to investigate. With aristocratic resources, verifying his identity was simple. His innocence only heightened my suspicion. Before his death, Tan mentioned Dark Guard members among the Men of Sacrifice. This confirmed my suspicions."

"Really?" Hannah still felt the weight of the previous night.

"I knew, but remained silent. I needed to maintain appearances for Collins and Balderston. From birth, my mission was to support my brother and restore the royal Wells family. Before meeting you, I felt a burden of hatred, a tool to an end."

Hannah looked at him.

"Not anymore," Oscar smiled, offering reassurance.