The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 532

Chapter 532

“Nicole?”

Jeremy’s delighted voice came from inside. He hurried out and pulled her into a hug.

“I can’t believe you’re really here! As soon as we got back to Westbridge, we went to Crownview Residences, but the whole place had been destroyed. We were afraid something had happened to you and Zeph. Wait, where’s Zeph?”

Hearing his familiar voice, Nicole felt a weight lift from her chest.

It was a relief to know Jeremy was still his ridiculous old self.

His appearance, however, had changed quite a bit. He looked rougher and more mature. The biggest difference between him and Hughie and Beatrice was that the light in his eyes was still there.

Maybe all the heartbreak he suffered at the hands of older women only made him more resilient. Now that he finally found love, he seemed capable of getting back up no matter how many times life knocked him down.

Nicole smiled. “He had something to take care of at home. He’ll come next time.”

“Come on, let me introduce you.”

Jeremy casually slipped an arm around the older woman’s waist.

“Nicole, this is my girlfriend, Diana. Diana, this is Nicole, the one we’re always talking about. She, Hughie, and I practically grew up together.”

Despite the age difference, they looked surprisingly well matched in both height and appearance.

Diana Palmer wasn’t conventionally beautiful. Her features were stern, and she carried an intimidating presence that warned strangers to keep their distance, but she had a striking figure.

After three years of hardship, Jeremy had grown more rugged. He carried himself with confidence now, without any trace of his former weakness, and his smile came easily.

“Nice to meet you, Diana.”

Nicole smiled in greeting, then gave Jeremy a light punch on the shoulder.

“Congratulations. You finally found someone.”

It happened to be their day off. Hughie emerged from the inner room, running a hand through his messy hair. ” Hey, Nicole.”

Nicole stepped inside and patted him lightly on the shoulder. “How’s Beatrice doing?”

Beatrice cleared a place for her to sit. “He massages the pressure points every two hours. I already feel much better.”

The room smelled of smoke and medicine. Beatrice had probably taken her morning dose not long ago.

Seeing her look more alert lifted Nicole’s spirits, too.

Three years into the disasters, they were all still alive and managed to find one another again. That alone was worth celebrating.

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After they caught up, Nicole briefly told Hughie and Jeremy what happened since they parted.

“Zeph and I spent some time trading goods along the coast and selling medicine on the side. We managed to save enough to buy a house in Brighton Estates.”

Even close friends needed to keep things clear. Nicole pulled a ledger from her bag.

“When you left, you gave us a supply of food and medicine. The food wouldn’t last forever, so we used it. We also traded away some of the medicine that was close to expiring.

“Things like antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs were too valuable, so I held on to them. I couldn’t bring myself to trade them away. Expired medicine can still be used, but there’s no telling how effective it’ll be.”

As she spoke, she pulled out a bag of medicine. “This is everything that’s left. You can divide it however you want.”

Then, she took out the dried seafood and crushed corn. “I didn’t bring too much because I wasn’t sure it would be safe here. Once you use this up, you can ask me for more, or I can give you the rest all at once. You decide which would be safer.”

She handed the ledger to Jeremy. “I wrote down everything we received in exchange for the medicine that was close to expiring. I can repay you in food or medicine, or you can tell me what you need, and I’ll try to trade for it.”

Back when they all lived on the 18th floor, Nicole and Zeph had done a great deal to help Hughie’s group, and none of the three had forgotten it.

They said they were leaving the food and medicine with Nicole and Zeph for safekeeping, but deep down, they never expected to see any of it again.

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