The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 771

Chapter 771

Arthur walked in, his expression unreadable.

His silence only made Irene more nervous. She stood and forced a smile. “Hi, Arthur.”

He glanced around the room. “Hi.”

Irene reached for his briefcase. “It’s been a while since you were home. Are you hungry? I can make you something.”

Arthur ignored the offer and looked at Camila’s battered face. “Camila, go to your room. I need a minute with your mother.”

Camila’s face throbbed, and she was still furious about the beating. She tried to think of what to say, but one look from Arthur silenced her.

She couldn’t bring herself to argue. His steady gaze frightened her more than shouting would have.

She got up, went to her room, and shut the door.

Arthur sat down and looked at Irene. “Sit down.”

Irene drew a breath and tried to sound casual. “You’re home now, Arthur. You can stop looking like you’re about to interrogate someone.”

Arthur said nothing. He just watched her.

He seemed to be searching her face for the woman he once knew.

Back then, Irene was full of life and loved him without caring what anyone thought. She swore she would marry him no matter what stood in their way.

Thirty years later, he barely recognized her.

Irene knew that look. She hated the way he studied her, as though she did something so terrible that he could never forgive her.

But she didn’t know what else to do except keep trying to get through to him.

Even when they argued years ago, she was always the first to make up. Back then, a touch on his arm and tears in her eyes were enough to soften him.

Now, nothing worked.

Arthur finally broke the silence. “Why did you treat her like that?”

Irene knew the question was coming, but her stomach still dropped.

“Who?”

She hurried on.

“You mean at the trading hall today? It’s all a misunderstanding. That woman and Camila had a run-in before,

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and she’s held a grudge ever since…”

Arthur cut her off, “Nicole is your daughter, too. Why did you treat her like that?”

Irene went still.

“What are you talking about?

“Camila is my only daughter. My daughter from my marriage to Ben died when rioters broke into the house during the polar night.

“I told you all this. You’ve had so much on your mind, you must’ve forgotten.”

Arthur opened his briefcase and tossed two reports onto the table in front of her.

Irene picked them up, trying to look calm. As soon as she saw what they were, her face went white.

They were DNA test results. 1

The first was dated the day after she brought Camila to the base during the polar night. The second was from the night Nicole arrived. The sample came from strands of her hair.

The results showed a 99.999% probability that Arthur was Nicole’s father, while Camila wasn’t related to him at all.

Irene’s mind went blank.

The base could build submarines. Of course, it could run a DNA test.

They just never told anyone.

Her hands shook as she stared at him, feeling like a fool. “You knew I was lying? Then why did you let me get away with it all these years?”

Arthur asked himself that same question. He had considered confronting her more than once, but each time, he

let it go.

Years ago, a classified mission kept him away for over a year and nearly cost him his life. Still recovering from his injuries, he rushed back to Westbridge to see Irene and talk about getting married.

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