The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 210

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Chapter 210

The grilled fish was the last dish. They charred it over the fire, then brushed it with the stew seasoning and let it cook through. Once it hit the table, they kept it over a small charcoal stove to stay hot.

The two little ones didn’t help at all. Poppy curled up on the couch, busy drawing, while Cola sat nearby, watching everything like a supervisor.

When everything was ready, Poppy ran over with her drawing. “Nicole, this is my birthday present for you! Happy birthday! I hope you stay pretty every day.”

Nicole took it, already smiling, but paused after a closer look. Something about it felt…off.

“What did you draw?” she asked.

There were circles, triangles, and rectangles all over the page. It looked a little abstract. Then again, Poppy was five. Expectations had to stay realistic.

Poppy leaned in to explain. “This is Zeph, this is you, this is me, and this is Cola. We’re all holding hands and living happily in the same house.”

Nicole stared at the shapes. Triangles, ovals, rectangles, and somehow, those were supposed to be people?

Hughie leaned over and laughed. “Nicole, didn’t we draw like that when we were kids?”

Growing up in an orphanage, who hadn’t dreamed of having a family? Who hadn’t secretly drawn pictures of parents they didn’t have? It was just something people grew out of as they got older.

“Did we?” Nicole didn’t remember any of that.

That wasn’t the point, though. The real question was why Poppy had drawn her and Zeph together, living in the same house, raising the two “kids.” 1

Still, children had their own way of seeing things. Nicole kept her thoughts to herself and smiled instead. “This is really good, Poppy. I love it.” 1

Poppy lit up at the praise, bouncing on her toes with barely contained excitement.

Jeremy, always quick to stir things up, leaned in. “Poppy, how come you only drew Zeph and Nicole?

Where are we?”

Nicole shot him a look that could have killed.

Of all things to ask.

Poppy froze, caught off guard. She stared at the drawing, picking at her fingers as she thought. After a while, she said, “I’ll add you later.”

“Good girl. We’re all family, after all.” 1

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Sapter 10

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Poppy looked at Jeremy, then at Zeph. It sounded right, but something about it didn’t quite add up.

“Food’s ready,” Zeph said.

Everyone took their seats. The bottle of liquor from last time was brought out again.

“Come on,” Jeremy said, raising his glass. “To Nicole. Forever young, always eating well, and always looking gorgeous!”

Nicole had just turned 20. She hadn’t expected that, even in a world like this, she would have so many people around to celebrate with her.

“We don’t have cake, but you still need to make a wish.”

Nicole closed her eyes.

She wished for everyone on the 18th floor to stay safe and healthy until the disasters were over. Then, she lifted her glass and drank it in one go.

“That’s my wish.”

The food was incredible. The grilled fish was rich and flavorful, the roasted pork was tender and juicy, and the spicy rabbit was perfectly done.

As they ate, they started talking about childhood memories. Fights, trouble, all the things they used to get

into.

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