Chapter 865: Lillian’s Show Time
Cian and I met at a party. He swept me off my feet, and we began dating soon after. I was still in college, and my father was very strict. We kept our relationship secret. I didn't know Cian was the heir to the Wells family until after he died, nor did I know he was Oscar's younger brother," Lillian said sadly, her voice choked with sobs.
Hannah stared at her impassively. She had considered many possibilities, guessing Oscar had married Lillian to ally with the Collins family and secure the Wells family's power. But she never imagined Lillian was carrying Cian's child.
She looked at Lillian coldly. "I realized I was pregnant after Cian died," Lillian continued. "I didn't want to give up his child, but my father, fearing damage to my reputation, forced me to have an abortion. So I told Oscar. To save Cian's child, Oscar made a deal with my father, giving him whatever he demanded."
Hannah recalled Oscar's sudden peace offering to the Collins family during the war. She'd always assumed he lacked the power to defeat them, and a cease-fire was mutually beneficial. It had all been for Cian's child.
She remembered Cian once mentioning a woman he was seeing, but he hadn't loved her; it was a purely political arrangement, likely using Lillian to secure his own survival or advancement should the Wells family fail to gain power. The Wells family had invested heavily in Cian, yet he died saving Hannah. It was difficult for her to accept. Oscar had committed terrible acts to protect Cian's child. Suddenly, she found she had little reason to hate him. She smiled faintly, suppressing her emotions.
Lillian, seeing Hannah’s silence, added, "Seriously, I don't want more misunderstandings between you and Oscar. I had to tell the truth. I don't want you to hate Oscar for the car accident, or to hurt each other again. I hope you can reconcile by learning the truth."
Reconcile? How? Hannah couldn't forget, couldn't forgive; Manuel and her child remained in danger.
"You mean you'll leave Oscar?" Hannah asked.
Lillian was stunned by Hannah's hardheartedness. Unbelievably, Hannah, despite Lillian's confession and emotional plea, urged her to leave Oscar. Cian had died for Hannah; shouldn't she be more accommodating for his child? Hannah’s ruthlessness left Lillian no choice.
Lillian, simmering with anger, maintained composure. "Actually, I never wanted to be with Oscar for Cian's child, but my father insists. I can leave Oscar, but I fear it would plunge the world into chaos. I can't control my father, and I can't stop him from killing Cian's child."
It was a threat. Leaving Oscar could spark another war in Northfield, or result in the child's death. She couldn't protect the child. What a clever girl! Cian's baby was her secret weapon, and she was using it masterfully.
Oscar wouldn't abandon Cian's child. Upon learning of Cian's posthumous child, Hannah understood Oscar's feelings; he would sacrifice everything for the child.
"So, you're trying to guilt-trip me into forgiving you," Hannah said sarcastically, bluntly exposing Lillian's tactic.
Lillian felt awkward. It was precisely her intention, yet being so transparently seen through was humiliating. She shook her head vehemently. "I told you everything, but I never intended to guilt-trip you. You said you wanted me to have a premature delivery…"
Lillian choked back sobs, looking heartbroken.
"I would gladly accept forgiveness for my family’s actions," Lillian said slowly. She doubted she could truly sway Hannah. Initially, she'd believed Hannah was grateful and kind, valuing love and friendship, and therefore caring about Cian’s child. She was wrong. Hannah was ruthless, viewing evil as a mortal enemy.
Oscar was different. He was ruthless towards anyone except Cian’s child—Lillian’s trump card. She could do anything during her pregnancy, and Oscar would turn a blind eye.
"It seems you didn't love Cian that much," Hannah taunted.
Lillian froze, staring at Hannah, surprised by the subject change.
"If I were you, I'd do anything to protect the child of the man I loved. I'd even die for it! But I wouldn't leave its life in someone else's hands," Hannah snorted, pitting Lillian against Cian, implying Lillian's lack of love meant Oscar needn't care for her.
Yet Lillian had played the role of a heartbroken woman, claiming near suicide for Cian's sake. This had garnered Oscar's pity and ongoing compromise.
"I only want to atone for my family’s wrongdoings. If anything happens to the baby, I… I will kill myself and join Cian and the baby in heaven," she sobbed.
Hannah smiled again. What a dramatic performance of love and death! What a talented actress Lillian was! And in Oscar and Theodore's eyes, Hannah suspected she would be blamed.