Hannah stared at Melvin, unaware she hadn't loaded the gun before firing. Manuel hadn't mentioned it, assuming it was common sense—common sense for them. Untrained people, he realized, only knew how to pull the trigger. Fortunately, Hannah hadn't noticed; otherwise, they would have been the next victims. Even so, their survival was a long shot.

"I didn't realize it," Melvin said, meaning he hadn't realized Hannah hadn't loaded the weapon.

"Neither did you," Melvin added.

It was clear Melvin didn't want her to die, while Hannah, conversely, was determined to kill him.

Melvin sneered. "Hannah, you really hurt me." Tears welled in his eyes. "Farewell, Hannah," he said, a farewell to his affection for her. He sneered and pulled the trigger.

Before the bullets even landed, someone lunged at him. The sound of the bullets tore through the air, paralyzing Hannah with the stark reality of death. She was far less composed than she'd imagined. Panicked, she saw Jimmy tackling Melvin, only to be subdued by the guards.

Before Hannah could react, Melvin unleashed a torrent of bullets at Jimmy, his anger unrestrained. Tears streamed down Hannah's face as she helplessly watched Jimmy fall, riddled with bullets, unable to utter a word. Melvin only stopped when his gun was empty. He tossed it aside and turned to Hannah. "Are you happy?"

Staring at Jimmy's body, Hannah fought back tears. She glared at Melvin with murderous intent.

"Am I hated?" Melvin laughed. "That's exactly what I want! How else could you repay the sorrow I felt when you shot me?"

Hannah bit her lip, glaring at Melvin as she slowly stood, feeling blood flow from her legs. Pain lanced her abdomen where Melvin had pushed her, but she ignored it. She walked toward him, despite the guns trained on her. She was unafraid; death was inevitable.

"You're bleeding," Melvin said, noting the blood pooling on the floor.

"Yes, but so what?" Hannah smiled.

Melvin was wary. He looked at the cold fury in Hannah's eyes. "So what are you going to do? Kill me?"

"You're right," Hannah nodded, instantly seizing Melvin's throat with all her might.

Melvin's face contorted, pushing Hannah away as he gasped for air. He flipped her over, but Manuel caught her just in time.

"Manuel," she whispered, "the only way to stop Oscar is to sacrifice ourselves." She sought a chance to die, believing it the only way to stop Oscar.

Manuel swallowed, doubting his cousin's survival. He nodded in agreement; Hannah might live, but he wouldn't. As long as Melvin shot at him, Hannah could reach Melvin and…

Manuel lifted her. Though wounded and bleeding, he walked steadily toward Melvin.

Melvin was alerted by his approach. He sneered, about to order the guards to fire, when the villa was hit by heavy weaponry. They crouched low. Under the guards' protection, Melvin reached a corner, while Manuel quickly moved Hannah to the other side.

Then a man appeared. It wasn't Oscar. It was Cian, who had just left.

Both Hannah and Manuel were stunned, gripped by intense anxiety.

"Cian!" Hannah cried.

Cian laughed. "I hope I'm not too late!"

"Do you know what you're doing?"

"Yes."

"Go now!" Hannah urged.

"Why didn't you listen and come to save me? I told you to take care of yourself," Cian said coldly.

"Cian!" Manuel called.

"Stop calling my name. I'm not here for you, I'm here for my brother. If I didn't come, he would have."

"Your brother would rather die than have you come back!" Hannah said anxiously.

"That's why I'm here," Cian smiled. "He sacrificed so much for me, now I can do the same for him."

"Cian…"

"Melvin!" Cian shouted towards the hall.

Melvin, hiding behind a sofa, pulled a grim face at the sound of Cian's voice, wondering about the connection between Cian and them, and Harry, a friend who had risked so much to rescue them. He gritted his teeth and stood. Seeing the explosives strapped to Cian's body, Melvin's apprehension intensified. No one could escape if Cian was shot; the guards clearly knew this.

Cian sneered. "Surprised? I'm not as ordinary as you thought."

"Who are you?" Melvin asked, his eyes blazing.

"I won't tell you."

Melvin trembled with rage. Cian smiled pleasantly and walked toward Melvin. The guards wanted to shoot, but hesitated, watching helplessly as Cian approached.