Chapter 710: The Feud (15) Cian's Warning

On the island, Hannah sat in a deckchair in the villa's hanging garden. She gazed at the endless waves, thinking this would be a spot everyone would enjoy. She glanced away, noticing a figure appearing behind her.

Cian stood beside her, both of them looking out at the ocean. "I've lived on this island since childhood," Cian said, "spending most of my time here, watching the endless sea. I always wondered when my brother would come, if he'd suddenly appear while I was looking."

Hannah felt a catch in her throat. She imagined a lonely, quiet boy sitting there, waiting for his family.

"After a while," Cian continued, a faint, almost mechanical smile playing on his lips, "I can't remember what that feels like. I've almost accepted being alone."

"You're eager to leave here, aren't you?" Hannah asked.

"I was," he replied. "But that eagerness… it's faded. I don't know when I stopped striving. I sometimes doubt what I'm living for. My brother and others work so hard to reclaim our family's inheritance. But even if we succeed, what then? Does owning this country bring happiness?"

Hannah turned to look at him. She'd expected him to be the one most eager for success, for his country and family. "Are you thinking I'm ungrateful?" Cian asked, an indifferent smile on his face. "Everyone fights for me, but I don't feel grateful."

Hannah shook her head. "I'm not you. I can't judge you. But your family hasn't just fought to reclaim this country; they've fought to avenge their suffering. Someone must pay for your parents' deaths, and for the deaths of all the Wells family loyalists."

"Even you see that, but I can't," Cian said, a self-deprecating laugh escaping him.

Hannah didn't understand his negativity. Oscar and others considered Cian the perfect successor, sensible and capable. But Hannah saw him not just as sensible, but indifferent, thoroughly understanding everything yet uninterested in it all. This, she realized, was why he never acted impulsively.

"I'm not here to complain," Cian said, his emotions seemingly fleeting. He wasn't sentimental; his feelings appeared only on his face, not in his heart. His anger toward Melvin, for instance, had seemed purely performative.

"What I want to say is my life is more important than yours," he stated bluntly.

Hannah's lips tightened. She'd guessed that in a choice between them, Cian would be the one chosen. She couldn't imagine what she'd feel then—despair? Hatred? At least for now, she didn't hate him. Her feelings for Oscar… that was for later. Perhaps they'd never meet again; it was too soon to hate him.

"Whether it's Oscar, Theodore, Manuel, or the entire Wells family army," Cian said quietly, his voice devoid of emotion, "they'll prioritize protecting me. They'll focus on me. I won't die if I'm in danger, but you might."

Hannah laughed, a nervous release. "So you're flexing."

"I just want you to know: don't worry about me."

Hannah looked away. "No matter what happens, many will rush to save me. You don't bear the burden my family carries. You're a victim."

Hannah smiled, surprised that Cian, not Oscar, was the first to offer comfort. "Don't worry," she said. "I'm not as concerned as you think."

Cian smiled. "I'm afraid you overvalue my life. I don't love this world as much as you think… of course." Seeing her slight distress, he hurried to add, "I'm not depressed or suicidal. I just think people should experience joy and sadness, not numbness."

Hannah wasn't sure what to say. Cian seemed to lead an unhappy life, yet he was somehow content. Was he a master of pretense, or simply cold-blooded?

"I didn't expect you two to be so peaceful," Melvin's voice cut through the air.

Both Cian and Hannah stiffened. Cian turned to Melvin. "I'd rather hate you than her. She has no choice; you're to blame."

"Generous of you," Melvin remarked.

Cian, unwilling to engage, stood and walked away. Melvin, seemingly unconcerned with Cian, sat down beside Hannah.

Hannah remained silent. She rarely initiated conversation with Melvin; he'd say what he wanted anyway.

"Tomorrow, your Oscar will prepare everything for me," Melvin said flatly.

Hannah didn't respond.

"I'll leave tomorrow."

"Are you warning me against interfering?" Hannah sneered. "Your troops surround this island. I can't escape, even if I leave the villa. You want me to jump into the sea?"

"I'm saying tomorrow might be our last day."

A dark shadow flickered in Hannah's eyes.

"I'm not saying I'll kill you," Melvin said, an indifferent smile on his face. "I'm afraid I might die."

"Why are you so diffident?" Hannah asked.

"All things carry risk," Melvin replied coldly.

"So what are you saying?" Hannah raised an eyebrow.