Chapter 929: The Outbreak of War (5) Surrounding Rowan

Rowan regarded Lillian coldly, unmoved by her desperate pleas. "Lillian, if you truly wish to die, then do so! Don't impede my ambitions because of you!"

"Father, is power truly so important? Will you abandon your family?" Lillian cried, despairing.

Rowan sneered. "Family? There are many; one less makes no difference. Do you think your mother's death was accidental? She obstructed my progress!"

"Father!" Lillian screamed, heartbroken. "How could you be so callous?"

"If I weren't ruthless, how would I have achieved this? How could I provide for you? My brothers would have destroyed me. How else could I become the sole heir to the Collins family?"

Rowan, unaffected by his daughter's accusations, revealed his true nature. "Lillian, don't threaten me with your life! To me, your death is no more significant than a dog's."

"Rowan!" Lillian cried out.

Rowan offered a chilling smile, a terrifying expression Lillian had never witnessed. She had never imagined her seemingly benevolent father viewed them as mere tools.

Tears streamed uncontrollably. The thought of her own death mattered little now, but Una and even Oscar would suffer. She regretted everything.

Rowan, indifferent to Lillian's distress, turned to leave.

"Mr. Collins, disaster!" A subordinate rushed in, voice trembling.

"What?!" Rowan's face darkened instantly.

"We're surrounded!"

"What?!" Panic flickered across Rowan's face.

"Commander's men. They've completely surrounded us! We can't contact reinforcements. It's an ambush!" the subordinate stammered.

"Damn it!" Rowan cursed, whirling to leave, then spun back to Lillian. "You betrayed me, you bitch!" he roared.

Lillian laughed bitterly. She wished she had betrayed him, but she had aided his madness. Yet, he had still fallen prey to a scheme. She had been manipulated, used by Oscar.

The irony was crushing. She had believed in her father's love, in Oscar's affection. She was merely a pawn.

Rowan, wasting no more time on Lillian, departed. Viewing the security footage, he saw the tight perimeter of guards.

His phone rang. He answered fiercely, "Oscar!"

"Defect, and I spare your life," Oscar said, cold and deliberate.

"You wish!" Rowan shouted. "Una is in my hands!"

Oscar sneered, a contemptuous smile playing on his lips. Rowan's hand trembled, barely containing his fury.

"Do you think she'll make me relinquish everything? Would you sacrifice everything for your child?" Oscar asked rhetorically.

Rowan suppressed his rage.

"Besides," Oscar continued casually, "Una isn't even my biological daughter. I sent my real son to safety long ago. It's all a game."

"Oscar!" Rowan’s voice was harsh. He never imagined his years of cunning would leave him so thoroughly outmaneuvered.

"My peace offer? I was suffering heavy losses against the Jun family. I lacked confidence in victory. Secretly, I built my strength, making you believe Una's importance was paramount. You relaxed your guard," Oscar said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "And you, Mr. Collins, fell into my trap!"

"Enough!" Rowan couldn't endure it. He wouldn't have been so reckless if he hadn't believed Oscar's attachment to Una. He'd thought controlling Una meant controlling Oscar.

The powerful were ruthless. Oscar had deceived everyone.

"I don't want excessive bloodshed. It would reflect poorly on me. But if pushed, eliminating you might be necessary. Force meets force. Nothing is insurmountable," Oscar said lightly, contrasting Rowan's fury. "But mutual benefit is preferable."

"What do you want?" Rowan demanded.

"Surrender without resistance, and we harm no one under your command. Afterward, I'll send you abroad with sufficient wealth for a comfortable retirement," Oscar replied calmly.

Rowan remained silent. Oscar said no more.

"Half an hour. Then we attack!" Oscar declared, ending the call abruptly. The hint of his purported attachment to Una wasn't lost on Rowan, who looked deeply unhappy.

Matthew, beside him, was agitated. "Father, what do we do? We can't switch sides."

"Absolutely not!" Rowan declared fiercely. "Oscar won't spare me! He'll destroy everything. He won't stop halfway!"

"Then what?" Matthew was terrified. They had planned to make Oscar pay, only to find themselves on the brink of ruin.

"We're surrounded, escape is impossible. But Oscar can't simply kill me. I have international support. If Northfield fails, as long as we escape, I'll return stronger!" Rowan stated.