The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 240

Chapter 240

Who in this world didn’t feel frustrated sometimes? What could anyone do about it besides swallow it down? Cry for sympathy? Tears meant nothing in the apocalypse.

Honestly, Hughie was almost grateful for the disasters. His health had steadily improved, and now, he could finally earn enough to support the woman he loved.

Being able to stand tall with confidence again felt incredible.

“Nicole, carrying everything alone for too long will wear you down eventually. You need someone beside you when the storms come. Don’t lock yourself away just because Edward hurt you once. Don’t lose your ability to love over that.

“And trust me. This time, you didn’t misjudge the guy. Edward can’t hold a candle to Zeph.

“Maybe I can’t compare to you or Jeremy in other ways, but I’m good at reading people. I’m telling you, this one’s solid. Just treat it like giving yourself a chance.

“Besides, who says being together has to mean forever? There’s no forever in the apocalypse. If one day it stops working or feelings fade, then you separate. Why torture yourself over it now?”

After patting her shoulder, Hughie swaggered back into his apartment and immediately started loudly declaring his loyalty to Beatrice.

“Babe, I missed you.”

Nicole sat there thinking about his words, feeling both mentally exhausted and strangely relieved at the

same time.

In the end, she kept freeloading meals and shamelessly enjoying the arrangement anyway.

Somehow, during sparring practice that evening, Zeph suddenly stopped holding back.

Normally he fought with patience and restraint, but tonight he pressed her relentlessly, suppressing her at every turn.

Nicole retreated step after step under the pressure, growing increasingly disheveled until, cornered badly enough, she instinctively unleashed her ultimate move…

The sneak attack failed.

Not only that, Zeph caught her wrist and pinned her against the wall.

“You’re seriously doing that again?”

Nicole instantly sobered up and wished the ground would swallow her whole.

Before she could finish speaking, Zeph suddenly lowered his head and kissed her forehead.

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Nicole’s mind went blank, and her face instantly turned bright red. “What was that for?”

“If you use that move again in the future, I’ll kiss you once every time.”

Honestly, if he failed to dodge someday, with how ruthless she got during fights, there was a very real chance he would end up permanently unable to have children.

Nicole looked mortified and quickly turned her face away.

“Sorry. I got carried away.”

She tried pushing him away, only to realize he wasn’t moving.

Zeph stared directly at her. “So you really aren’t planning to give me an answer?”

“Let go of me first.”

This time, he did. Then he handed her a towel and some hot water.

Nicole wiped away sweat and sat down on the couch, drinking slowly. After a long silence, she finally spoke.

“Do you really want to be with me?”

“It’s the first time I’ve ever liked someone this much,” Zeph admitted quietly. “I don’t want to give up easily.”

Nicole thought for a while before speaking honestly.

“I eat a lot. Cola eats even more. You may have a huge stockpile, but if you add the two of us, your supplies still won’t last forever. And Cola once saved my life. I could never abandon him just to save

food.”

Thinking about her previous life, Nicole unconsciously took several deep breaths.

“If it weren’t for him, I’d already be dead. To me, he’s family, not something disposable. If you stay with me, then both Cola and I become your responsibility, too. That isn’t fair to you. I don’t want you regretting your decision someday when supplies finally run out.”

“Cola is to you what Poppy is to me,” Zeph answered without hesitation. “I’d never treat him differently. As for everything else you’re worried about, I already thought it through long ago. You don’t need to worry about food. Once the deep freeze passes, I’ll find ways to earn more. I won’t let you or Cola go hungry.”

At this point, he had laid out his position and feelings so clearly that Nicole honestly couldn’t find anything left to argue against.

At the same time, some invisible tension inside her quietly loosened.

“If you’re really this determined, then we can try. But if someday, we realize we’re not right for each other, we can’t force it. Okay?”

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“Okay.”

For a moment, the two of them simply looked at each other. Then Zeph reached over and held her hand.

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