Chapter 713: The Feud (18) The Accident

Gossip and whispers filled the air. Clearly, things had spiraled out of control. Rowan, furious, wondered why the minister had made such a statement, especially since Oscar had confirmed Melvin's surrender and willingness to give a public statement of support. He narrowed his eyes, glaring at Oscar.

Oscar looked confused and helpless, seemingly unsure how the situation had deteriorated or how to rectify it. He remained inactive despite Rowan's intense stare. Rowan couldn't order Oscar to kill the minister publicly, yet he suspected Oscar's sudden ineptitude.

As the funeral descended into chaos, the minister slowly produced his phone. "Mr. Collins," he announced, "Mr. Balderston is alive, though seriously injured. He's recovering, hence his absence."

"I understand your difficulty accepting Melvin's death," Rowan responded powerfully, regaining control. "But facts are irrefutable. The dead cannot be resurrected. I urge you to exercise restraint and refrain from inciting further conflict. As a minister of Northfield, you represent not only yourself, but the Balderston family and the entire town. Your words and actions must reflect that responsibility!"

The crowd turned on the minister, criticizing his recklessness and inflammatory rhetoric. Rowan, feeling justified, resolved to silence him.

Moments later, Rowan coldly ordered Oscar, "Take him down. Don't disrupt Melvin's funeral."

"Yes, Mr. Collins," Oscar replied respectfully.

He moved forward, but the minister swiftly produced his phone again. "I'm video chatting with Mr. Balderston now," he announced. "He's seriously injured and unable to attend. He's entrusted me to show you this."

All eyes, including Rowan's, were fixed on the phone. Rowan's worry intensified; he didn't possess Melvin's body.

The phone displayed a CIU room where a seriously injured Melvin lay in bed, weakly addressing the phone. "Mr. Collins," he said, "thank you for your concern. I awoke today and learned of this… funeral."

Rowan, pale and trembling, could only endure the unfolding events.

"I'm recovering," Melvin continued. "I thought I was dead, but I was rescued. Thank you for the funeral, Mr. Collins. I'll rest and heal. I'll be back."

The live image and voice irrefutably proved Melvin's survival. Rowan glared sharply at Oscar, who was stunned to realize he'd been manipulated by Melvin.

Melvin's plan was to appear at the funeral, but instead, he revealed his survival, exposing Rowan's lies while ensuring his own safety. Crucially, it left Rowan vulnerable, and Oscar, controlling most of the Collins family's army, could potentially fight back to save himself. This allowed Melvin to eliminate Rowan through Oscar, without sacrificing a single man.

Every politician was a cunning strategist. It was clear that Melvin had never fully trusted Oscar, using him all along.

Instead of his own life, Oscar immediately thought of Cian and Hannah upon learning the truth. Melvin, having faked his attendance, was likely back on the island—his sanctuary.

No. He couldn't let Melvin return to the island.

The thought of Hannah and Cian's peril sent Oscar into a panic, leading Rowan to suspect Oscar's fear of exposure. Oscar immediately contacted Manuel.

Before Oscar could speak, Manuel said, "Right. Melvin's back."

The minister had played a pre-recorded video. Melvin had meticulously planned everything, leaving no trace of when or where it was recorded.

Manuel hung up instantly, surrounded by guards. He surrendered, dropping his phone and weapon. Hannah watched helplessly, having unwittingly witnessed Melvin's departure and return.

Melvin was escorted away by the guards that morning. Soon after, Manuel infiltrated the villa, finding it sparsely guarded. He believed rescuing Cian and Hannah would be relatively straightforward, given his fighting skills and knowledge of the area. He couldn't risk alerting Laird and bringing in the army—a large, vulnerable target. If discovered, Cian and Hannah would be killed. Laird dared not act rashly, leaving the task to Manuel.

It was easier than expected, though it still took an hour to reach Hannah. They strategized their escape, identifying a hidden tunnel offering safety if they could reach it. Cian, however, was closely monitored, even while sleeping. However, Melvin seemed sympathetic towards Hannah; his men avoided her room while she was inside.

Manuel, having realized this, chose Hannah's room as his first target. He reached her and discussed rescuing Cian first.

"Hannah, Cian's safety is paramount," Manuel stated, implying he couldn't rescue her first.

Hannah nodded in understanding. She wouldn't protest; her priority was ensuring the safety of herself and Cian, cooperating fully with Manuel.

"I'll go to Cian's room," she offered. She wasn't under house arrest, and could relay a message to Cian.