Chapter 2

My mother-in-law gave me a helpless smile and then placed the bags in the living room.

Even at one in the morning, both she and Declan were drenched in sweat.

I handed a tissue to Declan to wipe his sweat, but my mother-in-law pulled him toward the door.

“Rosalie, don’t be stingy with yourself. If you run out, I’ll find a way to bring more.”

Then she urged Declan to go home.

“Come on, it’ll be hard to travel once the sun’s out.”

Declan stared at the slightly open storage room door.

Then, with a smile, he pushed his mother’s hand away.

“Mom, I’m staying. I want to spend more time with Rosalie.”

I was surprised by Declan’s initiative.

I was usually the one begging him to stay.

His mother looked troubled. “But I can’t drive...”

Awkwardly, she took the car keys Declan handed her, standing helplessly by the door.

“Fine, stay here tonight.”

I pointed to the guest room, “You can use this room.”

His mother immediately agreed, “Thank you for the trouble.”

I didn’t want to deal with her, so I waved her off and wrapped my arm around Declan’s as we walked to the bedroom.

Since I was in a good mood, I decided not to fuss with her today.

Declan held me, dreaming of life after the heatwave, assuring me he only loved me.

His phone kept buzzing, so he reluctantly let go to reply to messages.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw he was texting a girl I didn’t recognize.

“Who is she?”

Declan quickly shut his phone.

“I don’t know her.” He brushed it off.

I still felt uneasy because I saw the word “baby.”

Declan, seeing my disbelief, kissed my lips and swore nothing was going on.

But I underestimated him and overestimated my own intelligence.

The night passed, and it was another unbearably hot morning.

Sweat soaked my pillow and sheets.

I woke up to my mother-in-law knocking on my door.

Groggy, I sat up and noticed Declan was gone.

I opened the door, and she asked, “Rosalie, do you know where Declan went?”

“I heard the door early in the morning, and even the car keys are gone...”

Worried, I tried calling him, but his phone was off.

“The sun’s so strong now; what if something happens to him...”

I feared something had happened to Declan.

But what on earth was he doing outside?

Before I could think further, messages popped up in the residents’ group chat.

“Such a good person! Now, water and food are worth a fortune, and someone’s willing to sell to us!”

Attached was a picture of supplies.

Everyone was begging for the contact details.

“No rush, he’s on our floor. If you need anything, just wait; he’ll sell it to you.”

Risking life for money, huh?

I rolled my eyes but found the supplies in the picture oddly familiar.

Evian water, Ferrero, and red-boxed eggs...

They looked a lot like my stockpile.