Chapter 932: Lillian's Escape (1) Negotiation

Lillian drove, startled by a sudden crash. Flaming helicopter debris rained from the sky, bringing tears to her eyes. Oscar, she knew, was merciless. Did he believe she was in the helicopter? She wondered if he suspected she and Una were fleeing. Regardless of his suspicions, the Collins family's demise, and Una's fate, were his objectives.

Biting her lip, Lillian accelerated, noticing cars behind her. Una slept soundly in the passenger seat, undisturbed by the bumpy ride. Lillian wondered if Una slept due to sleeping pills or if she would never wake again. Driven by a desperate need to avoid Oscar, Lillian recklessly sped onward, preferring death in a car crash to falling into his hands. She would not be a pitiful spectacle before him.

Meanwhile, Oscar followed in his car.

"Commander," a guard reported, "Madam is driving erratically. Continuing pursuit risks an accident; at her current speed, survival is unlikely."

Oscar wrestled with his decision. He'd ordered Una Wells unharmed, and the guards couldn't guarantee her safety under these circumstances.

"Commander? Should we continue?"

"Fall back!" Oscar commanded.

"Roger that."

The pursuing cars halted, but Lillian continued her frantic flight. Only when she regained some composure did she notice, via the rearview mirror, that her pursuers were gone.

Had Oscar given up? No, he was undoubtedly plotting something else.

Lillian didn't slow, but the absence of pursuit allowed for steadier driving.

Oscar received a call from Manuel.

"Lillian has slowed. She seems calmer."

"Good. Give me her exact location when she stops."

Oscar planned to retrieve Una once Lillian stopped.

"Got it," Manuel replied.

Hours passed. Manuel called again. "Oscar, Lillian has parked. I've sent you the location; I'll continue tracking her."

"Okay." Oscar hung up and instructed Theodore, "Go to this location."

Theodore nodded, dispatching men to the ruined dock in The Capital. Lillian aimed to escape Northfield.

Oscar arrived, his men surrounding the dock. Preparations were complete.

"Oscar! I'll go!" Theodore offered.

Oscar shook his head. He had to go; Lillian would resort to underhanded tactics.

"Let's go!" Oscar's order silenced Theodore, as he and his men followed closely.

Una's locator led them to a warehouse at the dilapidated dockyard. Darkness had fallen; only the waves crashing against the rocks provided any sound. They approached silently.

Oscar gently pushed open the warehouse door. A creak echoed through the emptiness. He pursed his lips.

Theodore gestured, indicating another man should enter, but Oscar refused, entering alone.

"Oscar!"

"Don't provoke her," Oscar said firmly.

"But..." Theodore protested.

"I'm confident," Oscar declared.

Theodore remained silent. Oscar instructed the others to wait, then entered the warehouse.

"Lillian!"

His voice reverberated. "Come out so we can talk. I promise not to harm you."

Silence. She didn't trust him.

"Today was calculated manipulation. War demands sacrifices. It was either me or your family. I had no choice. But I never intended to harm you or Una. To Una, I'm her father; I can't abandon her. And as Una's mother, even for her sake, I couldn't kill you, even with your choice to help your family," Oscar explained, cautiously approaching a dark corner.

"I understand your decision. I would do the same. I never intended to harm you."

"We can't have a normal family, but let's talk once you come out."

Still no response.

"If you choose to take Una, to raise her without me, then so be it. She's your daughter. But consider—with me, she'll be someone people look up to."

Lillian remained silent.

Oscar narrowed his eyes. "I'll give you five minutes. If you don't come out, I'll assume you're taking Una. I'll leave."

Silence.

Five minutes passed.

Oscar cleared his throat. "In that case, I'm leaving!"

He turned, then stopped abruptly.