Edward fell silent after Lily's question. He balled his fists, then slowly unclenched them. "I... couldn't care that much," he said, his voice tight with suppressed emotion.

"Yes, I didn't have time! Although many innocent people are here, I can only sacrifice them to save many others."

Lily's voice rose. "We're not that desperate yet! How could you not discuss such an important decision with us? Did you even talk to Alex? I highly doubt it!" Her gaze met his; she didn't intend to blame him, but her upset was evident.

"He worked for Alex for years; Alex treated him like a brother. Yet, he kept this critical thing from Alex and decided independently. He'll sacrifice not just many innocent lives, but his own as well. If Alex finds out, he'll be heartbroken!"

Edward was speechless. Given his circumstances, he hadn't been able to think clearly. He'd only returned from Burnwken because someone had saved him. Initially, he'd thought the danger was over, but he'd fallen into a stupor, waking and passing out repeatedly.

When he finally awoke, he was in agonizing pain. He vaguely heard voices but couldn't make out the words. Shadowy figures moved around him; then someone injected him. The needle stung mildly, but the subsequent pain was unbearable. A voice kept repeating in his ear, "Who is Alexander Russell?"

He mumbled, "Alex is my boss and friend."

"No, Alexander is your enemy. He abandoned you. He pushed you to shield himself from the bullets."

"No, no..."

"Yes! I saved your life, and Alexander nearly got you killed!"

Edward knew it was untrue, but he couldn't break free from the stupor. He fought against the suggestion, repeatedly, before losing consciousness. Then, he jerked awake, as if from a nightmare.

He collected himself, his gaze steady on Lily. "I know it's unfair to many people, but I couldn't care that much because this place is far more terrifying than you realize. Besides, I didn't have time to discuss my plan with anyone." His eyes, once bright, gradually dulled with sadness.

"Even if you didn't have time, you could have informed us! Have you thought this through? How big is the place, and how many bombs do you need? Are you certain blowing it up will eradicate the viruses? What if you destroy the building, but not the viruses?"

Lily continued, "And without containment, wouldn't the viruses mutate and spread even faster?"

Edward was shocked. He hadn't considered these possibilities. It wasn't that he hadn't planned well; he had zero knowledge about viruses or their containment. He'd naively believed blowing up the place would solve the problem.

"But... what else could I do?" He was near tears. He thought he'd planned well, even prepared to die. He wasn't afraid of death, but if Lily was right, his actions would spread the viruses faster—a grave mistake.