The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 500

Chapter 500

Nicole didn’t take Sven’s warning seriously. As far as she was concerned, power was what mattered in the end.

She had already let too much slide because she wanted to keep a low profile, but everyone had a breaking point No one could keep pushing her around and expect her to smile and take it.

She wasn’t built that way.

The Robinsons didn’t scare her. She had already taken down two private bases. Why would one wealthy family be any different?

“Thanks for the warning, Sven.” Nicole smiled.

“I leave people alone when they leave me alone. But if someone comes after me, I hit back a hundred times harder.

“We’ve moved in, and we’re staying.

“This time, all we did was injure one bodyguard’s hand. That was more mercy than they deserved. If it happens again, it won’t end with a hurt hand. Anyone who doubts me is welcome to test it.”

Her message could not have been clearer.

“From now on, if anyone asks about us, tell them exactly what happened.”

Sven had mixed feelings. He hated the way those people looked down on them, but part of him still thought Nicole and Zeph had taken things too far.

One family couldn’t stand against an entire neighborhood. There was still room to talk, and they didn’t need to push the situation past the point of no return.

The Robinsons weren’t people anyone crossed lightly.

Even so, Nicole’s words stirred something in him.

He had been fearless once too, back when he was young enough not to worry about consequences.

Then life had beaten that recklessness out of him and taught him to keep his head down and swallow his pride.

Throughout the apocalypse, Sven had swallowed humiliation and endured more pain than he could count just to survive, yet life had never stopped grinding him down.

Nicole was right.

They didn’t steal from anyone or take anything by force. They went through hell to buy those houses, and the government officially recognized them as the legal owners. Yet the wealthy residents banded together to keep them out and even refused to let them through the gate.

They had nowhere left to retreat. Why shouldn’t they fight back?

Sven grabbed his beer and drained it in a few long swallows. “Even if this road leads straight to hell, I’m with you!”

To hell with it! He only had one life to lose.

At least he wouldn’t be standing alone.

Meanwhile, every light in the Robinson residence was on.

Eric sat on the couch, his imposing presence filling the room with tension. He pinned the butler, Peter, with a

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hard stare. “Tell me exactly what happened today.”

Peter lowered his head and wiped the sweat from his brow. “Mr. Robinson, what happened today had nothing to do with the Robinsons. It was all a misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding?” Eric’s expression hardened. “There’s nothing wrong with increasing security, but who authorized the guards to deny entry to a legal homeowner?”

Peter answered honestly, “This was my failure, sir. My role as the HOA president is mostly ceremonial. Mrs. Jocelyn Shaw, the vice president, handles the day-to-day operations.

“We agreed that she would manage routine matters, while major decisions would require approval from the full board.

“I never expected her to overstep like this. She not only left the owners of Villas 49 and 50 off the HOA, but also ordered the guards to give them trouble at the gate.”

Those women had far too much time on their hands and spent most of it creating problems.

Eric closed his eyes. After a long silence, he asked, “What do we know about the people living in those two villas?”

“Villa 49 belongs to a group of resellers who have made a considerable fortune trading supplies since the disasters began. As for Villa 50…”

Peter hesitated.

“They seem close to the people in Villa 49, so they’re probably friends or business partners. We still haven’t confirmed their identities.”

“You don’t even know who they are?” Eric took a slow breath. “And you still thought it was a good idea to provoke them?”

Peter wiped the sweat from his forehead and kept his head down, too afraid to answer.

“How do you plan to handle this?” Eric asked.

Peter replied, “The HOA was clearly at fault, but the people from Villa 50 took things much too far. All 20 guards on the day shift were injured, several of them badly.

“They didn’t stop there. They injured one of our bodyguard’s hands and took his gun. That was a direct challenge to the Robinsons.

“The HOA mishandled the situation, but it could have been settled with a calm conversation and a formal apology from those responsible. Instead, they attacked the guards and even fired a gun toward the residents. That’s not self -defense, that’s the behavior of dangerous criminals.”

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