Upgraded Space Thrive in Apocalypse Reborn (caroline) novel Chapter 97

**TITLE: Doomsday Rebirth 97**

Caroline maintained a steely demeanor as she extended her hand to help Kay rise from the ground. The tension in the air was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife—ironically, the very weapon that Richard had just wielded in a desperate attempt to assert his misplaced aggression.

With a sudden crash, Richard collided with the wall, but his resolve was as fierce as ever. He scrambled to his feet with a wild determination, the glint of a knife in his hand reflecting the dim light of the hallway. He lunged forward, a predator in a frenzy, but Tyler was quicker. With a grip like iron, he seized Richard’s wrist, immobilizing him with an effortless strength.

The kitchen knife clattered to the floor, a metallic sound that echoed ominously in the confined space.

“Ahhhh!” Richard’s scream pierced through the silence, a raw expression of pain and frustration as Tyler coldly hurled him to the ground, leaving him in a crumpled heap, wailing like a wounded animal.

“What’s happening?” Caroline inquired, glancing at Kay, who stood nearby, her eyes wide with confusion.

“That’s Bethany’s son,” Kay replied, her voice barely above a whisper, laden with the weight of recognition.

In an instant, the pieces fell into place for Caroline. So, this was the reason behind Richard’s reckless intrusion—he was here for revenge, fueled by grief and misguided anger. A smirk almost crept onto her lips at the absurdity of it all.

Releasing Kay, Caroline strode purposefully toward Richard, her gaze fixed on the pathetic figure sprawled on the floor. She looked down at him with disdain, her foot connecting with his side in a swift, punishing kick. “Do you even comprehend how your mother met her end?” she demanded, her voice dripping with contempt.

Richard lay there, bewildered, shaking his head as if trying to dispel the reality crashing down around him.

“Do you understand why she died?” Caroline pressed, her tone icy.

Again, he shook his head, a picture of confusion and denial.

Caroline couldn’t suppress a laugh, the absurdity of his ignorance almost too much to bear. Here he was, a young man oblivious to the truths of his mother’s actions, yet still daring to confront her.

Before she could articulate her next thought, Richard sprang to his feet, his voice rising in defiance. “I don’t care how my mom died! Everyone says it’s because of you guys!”

Caroline seized on his words, her interest piqued. “Who told you that?” she asked, her curiosity mixed with a hint of annoyance.

“The people who went for supplies! They said it was your fault! If you don’t answer me, I won’t drop this. Especially Caroline—I want her to pay for my mom!” he shouted, his voice cracking under the strain of his emotions.

Richard’s outburst echoed through the hallway, and Caroline regarded him with an expression that conveyed both disbelief and irritation.

She hadn’t anticipated that their neighbors would stoop so low as to tarnish the reputation of the residents on the 66th floor. Did they genuinely believe the three of them could be bullied so easily?

In a swift motion, she slammed him against the wall, her patience wearing thin. “You always do what your mother says, don’t you? She’s always been the one pulling the strings. I’m not her. Why on earth would I tell you who did it? Go find out for yourself!”

With a swift motion, Caroline pressed a sharp knife against his neck, her voice low and menacing. “Listen closely or face the consequences. Your choice. I know you have a brat at home who annoyed me previously. Last time, I spared him. Want me to change my mind this time?”

Fear washed over Richard, and the bravado he had clung to began to crumble.

It dawned on him that he had made a grave mistake by confronting the residents of the 66th floor. All his rage over Bethany’s death morphed into sheer terror.

Yet, he would not concede entirely. Lowering his head, he begrudgingly agreed to Caroline’s demands.

He fixed their broken door, begrudgingly fetched the last three bottles of water from his own supplies, and slinked away, defeated.

Meanwhile, Jonathan had just ascended the stairs and witnessed the entire scene unfold. The sight of Caroline, her demeanor so transformed, sent chills down his spine. She was no longer the Caroline he had known.

Spotting Tyler nearby, Jonathan clenched his fists, a surge of determination coursing through him. “Uncle Tyler!” he called out, urgency in his voice.

Tyler’s expression darkened as he regarded Jonathan from outside the door. “Don’t call me uncle anymore. I’m not your family,” he replied, his tone sharp and final.