My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse novel Chapter 193

Seeing Kisha clarify her motives to ensure he didn’t misunderstand, Duke nodded and happily let go of his earlier sourness. Her explanation showed that she valued Duke’s feelings above all else and didn’t want to hurt him.

This was all he needed. It didn’t need to be spoken; it was enough evidence for him to realize that his and Kisha’s hearts were aligned. Duke’s eyes formed crescents as he gazed directly into Kisha’s.

Those monitoring them from the hidden camera couldn’t bear to watch because Kisha and Duke appeared intimidatingly affectionate toward each other, making them feel uncomfortable as if their eyes were under assault.

Duke refrained from making any advances towards Kisha, knowing they were still under surveillance, which irked him. He was eager to teach those who intruded into his private space a lesson they wouldn’t forget once he had the chance. If only he had known they were no longer being watched, he could have taken advantage of the moment to do more than just hold hands.

The thought that he missed a perfect opportunity for intimacy with his wife when the mood was ideal frustrated him deeply.

Even though they hadn’t officially tied the knot, Duke already considered Kisha his one and only wife. The insecurity about their unofficial status weighed on him, knowing how amazing Kisha was and how easily she could attract attention. Seeing her in disguise actually eased his mind a little.

He looked at Kisha’s hand and frowned. "Where’s the wedding ring I gave you?" Although he referred to it as a wedding ring, it was more of an engagement ring for now, considering they hadn’t actually wed yet, if they intended to follow the traditional wedding procedure.

But in a world where societal norms no longer held sway, they could consider themselves husband and wife as long as they both agreed. However, Duke couldn’t shake the feeling that it wasn’t enough; he believed Kisha deserved more. If possible, he would spare no effort to give her a grand wedding, reminiscent of the lavish ceremonies he could once afford in a society where he was considered wealthy.

Thinking of this made him feel a pang of sadness. Imagining Kisha in a beautiful wedding dress, walking down the aisle in a venue adorned with flowers, surrounded by their beloved family, he felt his heart ache. He longed to give his wife such a beautiful wedding.

Kisha noticed Duke’s eyes starting to redden, and she assumed he was upset because she wasn’t wearing the ring he gave her. Feeling guilty, she nervously rubbed the tip of her nose as she retrieved the ring from her inventory.

"I was afraid this beautiful ring would get lost or stained with zombie blood, so I kept it safe in my inventory," she explained, showing the ring to Duke. Her grip on his hand tightened slightly as she felt distressed seeing him so sad.

Duke took the ring from her and gently slipped it back onto her finger, chuckling softly. "I’m happy to know that you value my grandmother’s ring so much." He then slowly rubbed her finger where the ring sat. "I just wish I could give you more," he added, his tone turning somber once again.

As a man who once had everything, he wasn’t afraid of hardships or starting over. However, he felt guilty that he couldn’t provide his wife with the better life and splendor he once enjoyed.

As the saying goes, it’s easy to go from poor to rich, but it’s hard to go from rich to poor once you’ve experienced having everything.