A deafening explosion rocked the villa, shattering every window. Across the sea, Oscar, having settled his affairs, prepared to call Melvin. But before he could, a monstrous roar ripped through the sky. He watched in horror from afar as the villa crumbled.

"Fuck!" Theodore, beside him, recoiled from the blast, his face paling. He realized it originated from the island villa; moments before, he'd thought this might be his last glimpse of Oscar.

Oscar had asked Theodore to stay, to assist Chan, to care for Hannah and their child (if alive, to bury her with him), and to protect Justine should Manuel perish. Theodore, though reluctant, had been unable to refuse Oscar since childhood. Even now, his eyes bloodshot, he'd obeyed.

Then the explosion. He saw the fear etched on Oscar's face. Oscar had anticipated many things, but not this. Though Melvin had threatened him, Oscar knew Melvin wouldn't act rashly. Melvin desired his death, even at the cost of his own life, but Oscar understood Melvin wouldn't embrace such a reckless fate.

"Oscar!" Theodore watched as Oscar leaped onto a speedboat, ignoring everything, and sped toward the island. Wells' army ships followed his command, racing toward the smoke-plumed island.

As they neared, the extent of the devastation became horrifyingly clear. What caused such a cataclysm? Were there survivors? Theodore dared not dwell on the thought of Oscar finding Hannah's body. He'd sent Hannah to Melvin, leaving her no choice. His eyes burning, he gritted his teeth, urging the others to speed up, but they couldn't match Oscar's frantic pace.

Oscar reached the shore and stormed into the ravaged villa. The guards, stunned by the explosion, were paralyzed. The villa was ablaze in parts. Oscar found injured and dead scattered amidst the wreckage.

He froze. Cian lay at the entrance. Oscar thought him safe. He'd believed only Hannah, Manuel, and Jimmy remained. Why was Cian here? He stood there, petrified, staring.

"Oscar," a weak voice rasped from the battered body on the ground. Only the suffocating silence amplified the sound.

Oscar's throat tightened. A tear fell onto Cian's face. Cian felt it, immobile, unable to wipe it away. He hadn't seen Oscar cry in years; he thought those days were over. This was unexpected comfort.

"I did my best."

Tears streamed down Cian's face, Oscar's body rigid.

"I don't know if Hannah… Urgh…" Blood gushed from his mouth, nose, and ears.

"Don't be sad, brother. I always wanted to protect you," Cian whispered, attempting a laugh that failed. He couldn't see his brother clearly, couldn't fully register the tears.

"I'm tired… I don't have such great attachment to this world," Cian murmured, his voice fading.

"Oscar, don't let Hannah down," Cian rasped, his final words. "She deserves…"

He smiled, then he was gone. Dying with Oscar present, Cian felt fulfilled. His only attachment in life had been his brother; saving his brother's life, he felt, had been his greatest happiness and dying with purpose, his greatest fulfillment.

Oscar watched Cian's eyes close, never to reopen.

Theodore arrived, bursting into the villa. He saw Oscar, motionless at the doorway. Then he saw Cian. Shock threatened to overwhelm him. He'd been certain Cian had left. But he lay dead, seemingly having detonated the explosives. Beside him, Melvin, clutched in Cian's grasp, was also dead.

Theodore was lost. Had Cian returned? Was it to save Hannah, or Oscar?

Overcome with grief, Theodore couldn't bear to look at Cian, the boy he'd watched grow, the ever-smiling man, now still. He couldn't bring himself to look at Oscar, whose family had been stolen from him yet again.

His throat constricted, he forced down his anguish. "I'll check for survivors!" he choked out.