Chapter 938: Lillian's Madness
It was a profoundly quiet night, so still that the world seemed to hold its breath. Hannah awoke to absolute darkness, disoriented, as if transported to another realm. She struggled to discern her surroundings, eventually realizing she was in an abandoned warehouse.
As she attempted to sit up, a familiar voice pierced the silence.
"Awake?"
Hannah’s head snapped toward the sound. Lillian’s face loomed close in the darkness, her expression resentful. Hannah, surprisingly alive after Lillian’s attack, fought to regain her composure.
"Hannah," Lillian hissed, "I never imagined you'd go this far for Una Wells. Do you know how reckless it is to come here alone?"
A wicked laugh escaped Lillian's lips; her plan had unfolded flawlessly until now. She'd secured another scapegoat before meeting her end.
"Una Wells' life is important to me," Hannah stated plainly, aware of Lillian's thoughts.
Lillian sneered, her trust in anyone completely eroded.
"Give Una to me, and I'll take her away safely," Hannah offered.
"Do you think I'm that easily swayed?" Lillian scoffed, convinced that surrendering Una would lead to her own demise without consequence.
"You never planned on living anyway," Hannah replied calmly, a response that only fueled Lillian's rage.
Hannah saw the pistol in Lillian's hand, wavering slightly in the gloom. She forced herself to remain calm, acutely aware that any agitation could trigger Lillian.
"Oscar cares deeply about Una Wells," Hannah said.
Lillian’s cold laughter grated. "If he cared, would he use her as bait? You must have spoken to Oscar beforehand. Otherwise, why risk your life? Let me tell you, Oscar only values power. He cares about no one else!"
"It was an accident," Hannah explained. "Oscar used Una as bait, believing he had a surefire rescue plan. He didn't anticipate this. If you return Una to Oscar now, he'll let you go, I promise."
"What guarantee do you have? Are you Oscar? Do you know what he's like? You know nothing! Hannah, don't be naive. We're all victims," Lillian spat.
"How can we get Una released?" Hannah pressed, unwilling to waste time arguing.
Lillian's skepticism towards Oscar was unshakeable. No amount of explanation would change her mind.
"Release her? How can I? What good would it do? I say, if I let Una live, she lives?" Lillian sneered.
"She can! I guarantee with my life that Una will grow up loved by thousands!"
"Impossible. Oscar wants to kill everyone."
"Lillian, do you want Una alive or not?"
Lillian's demeanor revealed a woman pushed to her breaking point, both physically and mentally. Her instability made her incredibly dangerous.
"If you want Una alive, take a gamble. Even if it fails, at least try, instead of giving up," Hannah pleaded, raising her voice.
Lillian stared at Hannah, a flicker of belief momentarily crossing her face. If Hannah had contacted Oscar directly, she could have sent him straight to Lillian instead of risking herself.
Lillian’s emotions fluctuated. She thought of Una, her daughter, the little girl who had clung to her these past days. Una cried, but Lillian's soothing coaxed her quiet. The lack of formula hadn't bothered Una. The child, sheltered since birth, had never known such hardship. The thought wrenched Lillian's heart. That wasn't the life she wanted for her daughter; Una deserved to grow up a princess.
But Oscar had ruined everything, and her family, those she held dear, had abandoned and betrayed her.
Lillian laughed abruptly, a chilling, sinister sound. Hannah watched, her fear palpable. Lillian's shift from hesitation to madness sent a shiver down her spine. Something inside Lillian Collins had broken. She was capable of anything.
As Hannah feared, Lillian began, "What kind of life is that, if Una is alive?"
Lillian’s surrender to despair terrified Hannah. She'd lost all will to live, even for Una.
"Without parents, living is painful! She should die with me, while she's still young and understands nothing," Lillian declared.
"You're not Una, you shouldn't decide for her!" Hannah retorted fiercely.
"Hannah, do you know why Oscar hurt you so much? Because you're too weak!"
Hannah bit her lip, her gaze fixed on Lillian, who raised the black pistol, aiming it at Hannah.
"If you hadn't come for Una, you wouldn't be dying. I let you come, but I never needed a savior. No one can help me. Since the Collins family was destroyed by Oscar, everything—my glory, my pride—has been ruined by him. So today, I'll kill you. I hate you!"
Terror seized Hannah, despite her readiness to sacrifice herself for Una. And she hadn't even rescued Una yet.