The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 531

Chapter 531

When Nicole reached the roadside, Zeph was already waiting in the car. Poppy and Cola greeted her enthusiastically.

He waited until they got home before asking, “How’s Beatrice?”

“She’s in terrible shape, and it’s not just physical. She’s depressed, too.”

Nicole could tell that Beatrice was already losing the will to live. If not for her love for Hughie and the guilt she felt toward him, she might not have held on this long.

Physical illnesses could be treated. Emotional wounds were much harder to heal.

Zeph thought for a moment. “What are you planning to do?”

“I talked to her today,” Nicole said. “She can still think clearly and knows right from wrong, but she’s living in terrible conditions while dealing with both physical and emotional problems. Sooner or later, something serious is gonna happen.”

She paused.

“When they left Westbridge, they gave us a third of their food and medicine.”

Zeph understood. Nicole wanted to help Beatrice.

Nicole only had three close friends, two of whom she had known since childhood, and Beatrice had helped her in her previous life.

When resources were scarce, you looked after yourself. When you had enough to spare, you helped others.

Zeph had no objection. He simply knew how unpredictable people could become during the apocalypse. He hoped Nicole would handle the situation carefully, or they might end up destroying the very friendship she was trying to

save.

Nicole understood that perfectly well. She couldn’t just hand back the exact amount of food and medicine they had given her. Even helping them required a reasonable explanation.

First, Beatrice needed treatment.

Nicole had stocked antidepressants before the disasters. But with Zeph, Poppy, and Cola by her side this time, she remained much more emotionally stable and never needed them.

She could give some to Beatrice.

Hughie and the others also deserved a share of the supplies she received from Tomlinson Enterprise in exchange for the insulin.

Their contribution helped expand her storage space and secure the cruise ship. As long as she had the means, she should repay them with a fair share of the supplies.

The problem was that Jeremy now had an older girlfriend who was apparently quite capable. To avoid resentment or unnecessary trouble, Nicole would need to divide everything fairly between the two households.

Zeph suggested, “If you’re going to help someone, give them what they actually need. There’s no need to rush. Find out what they’re short on first.”

Nicole had read enough relationship advice to know better than to make every decision on her own.

1/2

+15 Bonus

Worried that Zeph might object, she softened immediately. She slipped her arm through his, rested her head on his shoulder, and asked, “What do you think I should give them first? I’ll follow your lead.”

Men were all vulnerable to that approach, and Zeph was no exception. He slipped an arm around Nicole’s waist and thought for a moment.

“Treat Beatrice first. We can give them some seafood and grain, then explain where it came from. Once we know what they need most, we can calculate the value of the medicine they gave us and repay them with supplies worth

the same amount.”

“Okay.”

Nicole packed several boxes of antidepressants, then went to the study and picked out a few uplifting books to help Beatrice pass the time. She also added several more medicinal herbs for Beatrice’s condition.

Back then, Jeremy had collected plenty of electronics from an office building and given Nicole all the unopened devices before they left.

She charged one of them and loaded it with relaxing music, movies, and TV shows.

The neighborhood was full of desperate people, so giving them too much food could do more harm than good. Nicole packed two pounds of dried seafood and five pounds of cracked corn.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify