The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 764

Nicole blinked. "Wait. Camila's father is Arthur Hunt?"

Amy stared at her. "You know Commander Hunt?"

Nicole ignored the question. "And Irene is his wife?"

"Keep your voice down. You can't go around calling the base commander Arthur like you're old friends."

Nicole went quiet for a moment, then laughed.

Irene really was something!

Her late husband, Ben Clark, was a calculating businessman who never did anything unless it benefited him. He wouldn't have raised another man's child. Camila was his daughter, yet somehow Irene convinced people she was Arthur's.

But Arthur didn't become a commander by being gullible.

Nicole remembered the odd things he said during their recent conversation.

Now, they made sense.

There was apparently no line Irene wouldn't cross. She didn't have a conscience.

Nicole wasn't sure what to feel. It wasn't happiness or anger, and she couldn't untangle the rest.

"Camila."

While Nicole was still trying to make sense of it all, Irene walked into the trading hall, neatly dressed.

After several visits to Delilah, Irene finally persuaded her to give Camila another chance with Mark, as a favor to Arthur.

Delilah had already tried to discourage her as gently as possible.

According to Mark, the tectonic plates could collide at any time. His duty was to protect people, and he could die doing it. Marriage would have to wait until the disasters were over.

It was a polite rejection. He just didn't want to offend Arthur by saying so outright.

Irene understood that. But with the world becoming more dangerous, finding Camila a husband she could depend on felt more urgent than ever.

Nicole's arrival only added to the pressure. Irene couldn't intimidate Nicole, and despite all her efforts, Arthur still kept his distance.

Camila pulled her aside.

"Mom," she whispered, "Nicole's here."

Irene froze, then looked around.

Nicole finished with Amy and turned toward them.

Irene's chest tightened.

Nicole smiled at them, but there was nothing friendly about it.

Camila clutched her mother's arm. "Mom, why is she looking at us like that?"

Irene kept her voice steady. "It's fine. We're on a military base. She knows better than to start anything here."

Nicole took out her radio and switched to Arthur's encrypted channel. "Commander Hunt."

"Nicole?" He paused, then his voice warmed. "Do you need something?"