The Apocalypse Survival Manual (Three Days Before Doomsday, I Stockpiled Billions) novel Chapter 868

Chapter 868

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Chapter 868

In a world this battered, memories could hurt as much as any fresh wound. Everyone carried pain that would stay with them for the rest of their lives.

Nicole didn’t press Stella. She carried the buckets inside.

No one made it through unscathed. When Nicole first met Stella, she wore that same dress with carefully applied makeup and took obvious pride in her appearance.

She was fiery and jealous, but she also lived better than any of the women around her.

Now, the dress hung on a woman who looked at least 20 years older. Her face was so thin and drawn that

Nicole barely recognized her.

Age changed people. Years of disasters only sped up the process.

Nicole grabbed a mirror and examined her reflection. “Zeph, do I look a lot older?”

“No. You look pretty much the same.”

“You’re just saying that.”

Nicole was past what she considered her best-looking years. Her skin only held up this well because she lavished it with expensive creams, using them as freely as cheap lotion.

“You’re only 29. You look better than ever.” Those relationship magazines certainly helped Zeph find the right words. “You’ll always be beautiful to me. When I look at you, I still see the woman I first met.”

In his eyes, she was still 19. She was so young back then.

Nicole turned to study him. “I think you’re showing your age.” (19

Zeph touched his face. He was in his early twenties when they met. Now, he was over thirty.

They spent what should’ve been some of their best years struggling to survive, without ordinary dates, a chance to get married, or the big wedding he wanted to give her.

He couldn’t help feeling she missed out on too much by being with him.

“Do I really look that old?”

He rarely thought about his appearance, but her teasing made him suddenly aware of the rough skin

beneath his fingers.

He hadn’t shaved in days. His stubble probably scratched her face last night.

Nicole smiled. “Not in a bad way. You look more mature. Like someone I can count on.”

The years gave his face more character. Now in his thirties, he had a rugged appeal that suited him. If

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Chapter 868

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anything, he was more attractive than ever.

Their eyes met, and both softened.

Beside them, Poppy pretended to find something interesting elsewhere and gently turned Cola’s head away. She kept quiet, hoping neither of them would remember they had an audience.

Reassured, Nicole gave Zeph a pleased smile. “You’ve got the prettiest wife around. Happy?”

After so many years together, Zeph could tease her right back. “Very. And you got yourself the best- looking husband.”

They grinned at each other, while Poppy and Cola went completely ignored.

Poppy overheard Stella’s account of the earthquake. Brandon was among those who got separated from

her family.

She wondered how he was doing. He was the only friend she had left. Still, she didn’t let her worry show.

Nicole crouched beside the buckets and examined the treated seawater. “Think they managed to get

everything out?”