Chapter 605: His Judgment

When making choices, my family is my first consideration. This is something ingrained since childhood, and it's difficult to change. I've been observing him and you closely, secretly. You hold him in high regard, showing him a warmth he never received among the Men of Sacrifice. This reinforces my belief that he wouldn't kill you unnecessarily. Oscar began explaining his actions from the previous night.

Lowering her eyes, Hannah understood his rational judgment. The memory of last night kept her from speaking.

"Hannah, believe it or not, when he first held a gun to your head, threatening to force my identity from me, I knew his gun was unloaded. Those families wouldn't use a woman's life to threaten a man capable of great things. Their cruelty and bloodshed preclude such sentimentality; power is their sole concern. Therefore, Tan's action last night was a personal decision, a means to solve the problem quickly and minimize casualties."

Hannah questioned whether a man who wanted to kill her would also protect her. She refused to feel pity.

"Since it was his personal decision, Tan wouldn't kill you without the family's permission. Though I was taking a gamble, I estimated a ninety percent chance of survival when he fired."

"And if I were that ten percent… would you feel guilty?"

"Yes," Oscar replied.

Hannah's eyes trembled slightly.

"I even considered dying with you if you perished, after completing my mission."

Hannah stared at him.

"Hannah, I've never lied to you," Oscar said earnestly. "I may choose not to say things, but I will never lie."

Hannah nodded silently, her trust unwavering despite her momentary despair the previous night.

"Then Tan ordered me to fight Jimmy, as the families dictated. They wanted to test my Dark Guard affiliation through our fight. Fortunately, anticipating this possibility before joining, I practiced extensively with Jimmy, making my fighting style difficult for him to decipher. If we fought, Tan would believe I was at a disadvantage."

"I planned to bluff, but then they turned on you." A grim expression crossed Oscar's face.

Hannah understood he was referring to Tan's attempt to kill her.

"I had no choice but to kill him, revealing my cruel and bloody side. I feared you'd hate me."

Hannah bit her lip. She had rejected him yesterday, yet a flicker of hope remained, leading her here.

"What about your parents?" Hannah abruptly changed the subject, needing time to process her emotions.

"They're dead," Oscar said lightly.

Startled, she realized she'd only seen his brother, not his parents, and his silence had led her to believe they were alive.

"I'm sorry," Hannah murmured, feeling a pang of sadness.

"It's been many years," Oscar said peacefully. "I was twelve or thirteen; my brother, nine. Our family's aggressive expansion alerted the aristocratic families. My father and aunt died—their bodies never recovered—creating tension and escalating violence. To protect my brother and me, my parents willingly sacrificed themselves."

"Their bodies were left adrift at sea, a lure for the remaining royal Wells family. For the family's plan, loyalists, including my aunt and Laird, ignored them, leaving them to sink to the bottom of the sea."

Hannah was awestruck by his calm recounting of such tragedy.

"My parents' death lessened concerns about the royal Wells family. But our recent unscrupulous actions have again raised suspicion. They can't safely enjoy ill-gotten gains, so they remain vigilant. However, they lack concrete evidence, leaving them unsure if any royal Wells members remain." Oscar analyzed the situation. "Their ambiguity works in my favor, so I must act."

"But you killed Tan; they'll suspect you," Hannah worried.

"Yes, so I need your help."

"How?" Hannah was surprised, feeling insignificant in their world.

"Once they believe my love for you compelled me to kill, they'll believe me innocent. We must demonstrate our love publicly. The best way is…"

Hannah sensed his ulterior motive.

"You're pregnant with my child, and I killed for my wife and child. That's a compelling reason."

Hannah was speechless, questioning his obsession with fatherhood.

"Unfortunately, you're not pregnant," Oscar sighed lightly.

Hannah found his teasing, blaming her for the situation, infuriating, regardless of the topic at hand.