The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 713

Vince finally put it together, and panic flashed across his face.

"You were the one who beat me up last night?"

"Mm-hmm." Poppy's voice stayed soft. "I let you go last night, but instead of learning your lesson, you only got worse. That made me really mad."

"I didn't know it was you. I swear. Please, just give me one more chance."

Poppy shook her head. "I already gave you one. You wasted it."

For all his usual arrogance, Vince knew when he was in trouble. He immediately started begging.

"My dad's a high-ranking official in Glenmere. He's saved a lot of people during this disaster, including you. I'm his only son. Can't you let me go for his sake?"

Poppy had her own sense of right and wrong.

"Your dad's a good person, which is why Nicole spared you before. I spared you last night too. But you wasted both chances. You came here to kill us."

She smiled, but her voice turned cold.

"Besides, what your dad's done doesn't excuse what you've done. You're responsible for your own choices."

Vince was so terrified he wet himself. "I'm sorry! I really am. Please, just let me go."

Poppy shook her head. "No. I don't like leaving loose ends."

The moment Vince saw the cold look in her clear eyes, he knew she really meant to kill him. He panicked and started crawling away as fast as he could, screaming, "Dad! Help me! Dad!"

But there wasn't another person for miles. He could scream until his voice gave out, and no one would come.

Poppy watched him crawl until he finally gave up hope. Only then did she raise the gun.

Just as Zeph taught her. One shot to the head.

Nicole didn't interfere. She stayed nearby and kept watch. Poppy needed a way to let out everything she had been holding in.

Nicole walked over and patted her shoulder. "You didn't do anything wrong. You handled it well."

Poppy took a deep breath, then suddenly hugged her. "Thank you, Nicole."

There was a river nearby, so the two of them dragged the bodies over and dumped them in, then carefully covered their tracks.

Zeph took her hand. "Put up with you? I've never thought of it that way."

"Really?"

Nicole knew her own temper. She wasn't always easy to deal with, and Zeph was far more patient with her than he ever admitted.

After everything that happened, one thing became clearer than ever: Zeph was the one person she couldn't imagine living without.

Staying alive mattered, but so did having someone worth staying alive for.

She lay beside him, feeling more content than she had in a long time.

"When you get better, are you still going to take care of me, spoil me, and put up with me?"

"Of course." Zeph kissed her forehead. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

Nicole laughed, then went back to massaging his lower back.

"Can you feel that?"