Chapter 3

I forced a stiff smile. "I don't really know, but better safe than sorry, right?"

The boss nodded and drove off.

Hector was still working upstairs, but when he heard the commotion, he came down and helped Aurora and me organize the supplies I'd just bought and put them in the basement.

Right after, I went upstairs and grabbed the thickest blanket and brought it down.

Hector teased, "Why are you leaving the spacious, comfortable master bedroom? Planning to settle down in the basement now?"

I explained, "If the apocalypse really hits and everyone runs out of food and supplies, you know riots could break out. With you not being as young as you used to be, do you really think you could take on some young punk?

"The only safe place we've got is this basement, and I reinforced it myself. That door? Even if someone went at it with a sledgehammer for three days straight, it wouldn't even get a scratch."

Hector didn't buy into my doomsday talk at all. He slung his arm around my shoulders and started nudging me upstairs. "You're great and all, but you really worry about things that probably won't ever happen.

"Come on, let's go upstairs. There's no heat down here, and it's not exactly comfortable."

As Hector pushed me toward the stairs, I glanced back at the basement, packed with supplies, and felt a little more at ease.

"Hold up, Hector. Let me lock the door first," I called out.

But Hector just kept steering me toward the living room, his hand firm on my waist. "Let Aurora handle it. You're my wife, the lady of the house. You don't have to do everything yourself."

With that, Hector turned and called down the stairs, "Aurora! Make sure the basement door's locked up tight. Gotta keep Mrs. Conway feeling safe."

Aurora called back, "Yes, Mr. Conway."

Still, as I watched the snow outside keep falling harder and harder, my heart was racing.

Noticing how tense I was, Hector gently guided me to the couch and tucked a blanket around me. "Just relax, okay? I'm heading upstairs for a video call.

"Stop worrying so much. Even if it keeps piling up, it's just snow. There's nothing to worry about."

After Hector went upstairs, Aurora brought over a cup of coffee for me. "Drink it while it's hot, Mrs. Conway. I'll take a bowl up to Mr. Conway too."

I nodded and reminded her, "Keep it quiet when you go into the study. Don't disturb his meeting."

Aurora flashed me a gentle smile, then carried the other cup off toward the study.

I sipped the coffee, my nerves still on edge. Lying down on the couch, I drifted into a restless, uneasy sleep.

I had no idea how long I'd been out when the sound of frantic footsteps jolted me awake. Aurora and Hector came rushing down the stairs, both half-dressed and looking completely disheveled.

"Hurry! Smash the floor-to-ceiling window," Hector shouted.

Aurora was wearing a wine-red, deep V, ultra-short nightgown I'd never seen before. Her chest was almost spilling out, and the hem barely covered the top of her thighs, leaving little to the imagination.

A wave of dizziness hit me, and I instinctively furrowed my brows in pain.

Following Aurora's pointing finger, I looked out the floor-to-ceiling window. It was pitch black outside, and the snow was already almost waist-deep.

I jumped in fright, rubbing my eyes and looking again. Through the swirling snow, I could barely make out three figures struggling their way toward our house.

I sprang up and hurried barefoot to the window. It was Edmund's family, Alice and little Matthew with him.

The wind and snow were brutal, and Edmund and Alice were half-buried in the drifts. They had to hold Matthew high above the snow, inching their way closer and closer to our place.

Edmund's cheeks were flushed and raw from frostbite, and even in his thickest down coat, he was shivering uncontrollably.

When our eyes met, Edmund shot me a look so fierce, his hatred was so raw it felt like it could swallow me whole.

I stumbled back in shock, my heart pounding. Matthew was limp in Edmund's arms, a tear still hanging from his lashes. I couldn't tell if he'd just passed out, or if it was something even worse.

Aurora was beside herself, practically in tears as she stomped her feet and shouted, "Hector, what are you doing?

"The front door is buried under a mountain of snow. We can't budge it. Smash the upstairs window, quick. Let Edmund and Matthew in before it's too late."

'Why does Aurora care so much about Edmund and Matthew?'

Before I could even think, I saw Hector charging over, wrench in hand, winding up to smash the floor-to-ceiling window.

I lunged in front of him, grabbing his arm and clutching the wrench tight, blocking his way. "Hector! Stop... We can't let him in."

Before Hector could even respond, Aurora shoved me hard, sending me crashing to the floor. "Lillian, are you out of your mind? That's the son you raised. Are you really going to let him freeze out there?"

I hit the ground hard, my arm scraping and bleeding as I tried to catch myself.

Aurora didn't even flinch. Instead, she just kept yelling at me, pointing right at me. "You evil old hag! You're the one who deserves to die out there, not them."

Aurora's eyes were blazing red as she glared at Hector, her whole body shaking with anger. "What the hell are you doing just standing there?

"Are you seriously going to let your own son and grandson freeze to death right in front of you?"

My eyes widened in shock as I snapped my head toward Hector.

Guilt flashed across his face. Hector couldn't even meet my eyes. Then, without another word, he bolted for the window.

Edmund's family was just steps away from the window.

With a deafening crash, Hector smashed the floor-to-ceiling window, and a howling gale of snow and wind came blasting into the room.

"What are you waiting for? Get over here and help!" Hector shouted at Aurora.

The two of them stood at the window in just their thin pajamas, their skin instantly stung by the freezing air.

Gritting their teeth, they fought against the storm, dead set on dragging Edmund, Alice, and Matthew inside.