Chapter 4

By the next morning, I had made a decision.

I wasn’t going to wait for Ethan to accept the divorce.

I wanted out.

And I wanted out before he had the chance to make things difficult.

I sat at my desk with my phone in my hand, staring at the message my lawyer had just sent.

The divorce papers are ready.

I read the message twice.

With a smile on my face.

In my previous life, the words divorce would have terrified me.

I had been so afraid of losing Ethan that I tolerated almost anything.

His insults.

His family’s constant criticism.

Even my sister’s shameless attempts to get between us.

I used to believe that losing my marriage meant losing my entire life.

Now I knew the truth.

My marriage had been the thing keeping me from living.

I picked up my phone.

“Send them.”

The response came almost immediately.

“Are you certain?”

I looked at the message.

I knew exactly what would happen once Ethan received those papers.

He would be angry.

His mother would call me ungrateful.

My sister would pretend to be concerned.

They would probably accuse me of having another man.

Maybe they would even threaten me.

But none of that mattered.

What could they possibly do to me that death hadn’t already done?

“I’m certain.”

I sent the message.

Then I leaned back in my chair.

For the first time in years, I felt strangely calm.

My phone rang.

Ethan.

I stared at his name on the screen.

In my previous life, seeing his name could change my entire mood.

If he called, I answered.

If he was angry, I apologized.

If he ignored me, I wondered what I had done wrong.

I had spent so much time studying his moods that I had forgotten my own.

The phone continued ringing.

Eventually, it stopped.

Then it rang again.

The joy of him repeatedly calling felt good.

I answered on the fourth attempt.

“What?”

There was silence.

Ethan sounded irritated.

“Where are you?”

“At home.”

“Why aren’t you answering your phone?”

“I was busy.”

“Busy doing what?”

I looked at the stack of documents on my desk.

“Getting divorced.”

His breathing changed.

“You actually sent the papers?”

“Yes.”

“You’re serious?”

“I’ve never been more serious about anything.”

He was silent for a moment.

Then he laughed.

A cold, humorless laugh.

“You’ll come back.”

I frowned.

“What makes you think that?”

“Because you always do.”

His words were like a slap.

And the worst part was that he was right.

In my previous life, I always came back.

I would get angry, cry, threaten to leave then apologize because I couldn’t bear the thought of losing him but that woman was dead.

Completely.

“I won’t this time.”

He scoffed.

“Stop acting childish.”

“I’ve made my decision.”

“You have no idea what you’re doing.”

I looked out the window.

Maybe he was right.

I didn’t know exactly what the future would bring.

But I knew what the past had brought.

And I wasn’t going back.

“Goodbye, Ethan.”

I ended the call.

My hands were surprisingly steady.

Then another message appeared.

[System Mission Updated.]

I opened it.

[Mission: Sever all unnecessary ties before the apocalypse.]

[Time Remaining: 49 days.]

I stared at the screen.

“Unnecessary ties?”

[Individuals who may compromise Host’s survival.]

A list appeared.

Ethan.

His mother.

My sister.

Several members of his extended family.

I frowned.

“That’s almost everyone.”

[Correct.]

I laughed.

At least the system had a sense of humor.

I opened my notes and began writing.

There was still so much to do.

The property had been purchased, but it wasn’t ready.

I needed contractors.

I needed security.

I needed to reinforce the basement.

I needed a second power source.

I needed water storage.

And I needed someone who could help me obtain supplies without asking too many questions.

I remembered Lucian Vale.

The billionaire from the system’s mission.

I searched his company.

Vale International.

His businesses stretched across technology, logistics, security, energy, and construction.

Exactly the kind of man I needed.

But approaching him wouldn’t be easy.

Lucian Vale wasn’t known for allowing strangers into his personal life.

He rarely appeared at public events.

He didn’t give interviews.

He had no interest in social media.

And according to everything I remembered, he trusted almost nobody.

I needed a reason to meet him.

Fortunately, I had one.

His company was currently looking for investors for an energy project.

In my previous life, I remembered hearing about it.

The project had seemed insignificant at the time.

After the apocalypse, it became incredibly valuable.

I opened the information.

Then I smiled.

I could invest.

But I wouldn’t do it anonymously.

I wanted him to know my name.

I wanted him to know I existed.

So I made the call.

“Connect me to Vale International.”

The receptionist answered.

“Good morning. How may I help you?”

“I’d like to speak with someone regarding the company’s energy division.”

“Are you an existing client?”

“No.”

“Do you have an appointment?”

“Not yet.”

“I’m afraid Mr. Vale doesn’t accept unscheduled meetings.”

“I wasn’t asking for Mr. Vale.”

The receptionist paused.

“I’d like to speak with the person handling the investment proposal.”

“May I have your name?”

I gave it to her.

She asked me to wait.

A few minutes later, a man’s voice came through.

“Miss?”

“Yes.”

“I understand you’re interested in investing.”

“I am.”

“How much?”

I gave him the amount.

Silence.

“That is a substantial investment.”

“I know.”

“And what do you expect in return?”

“An appointment with Lucian Vale.”

Another silence.

I smiled.

“I assume that isn’t possible.”

“Not normally.”

“Then tell him I have information about the energy crisis.”

The man went quiet.

“What kind of information?”

“Information that could make his project worth considerably more than it currently is.”

That was a gamble.

But I knew something he didn’t.

And apparently, it worked.

“Hold, please.”

I waited.

Thirty seconds passed.

Then a minute.

Then the voice on the other end changed.

Deeper.

Calmer.

More controlled.

“Miss Hayes?”

I sat up straight.

My heart skipped.

Lucian Vale.

“I understand you want to invest in my company.”

His voice was nothing like Ethan’s.

There was no irritation.

No arrogance.

Just quiet confidence.

“Yes.”

“And you claim to have information that could increase the value of my energy project.”

“Yes.”

“What information?”

“I’d rather tell you in person.”

A pause.

“Why?”

“Because I don’t know who’s listening.”

Silence.

Then I heard a faint sound that made me realize he was probably smiling.

“Interesting.”

I swallowed.

“Does that mean you’ll meet me?”

“Tomorrow.”

My eyes widened.

“Where?”

“My office.”

“That’s it?”

“You wanted an appointment.”

“Yes.”

“Now you have one.”

The call ended.

I stared at my phone.

That had been easier than expected.

Then the system appeared.

[Main Mission Progress: 10%.]

[Survival Alliance Target identified.]

[Lucian Vale.]

I looked out the window.

Forty-nine days.

I had already changed my marriage.

I had secured land.

I had discovered my hidden wealth.

And tomorrow, I was going to meet the man who might become my greatest ally.

Or my biggest complication.