CHAPTER 2 - The Inheritance Game 

Inside the room, the argument raged on, each whisper carrying through the tiny gap in the doorway.

"I’m telling you, Phoebe, you’re throwing money away!" Mack insisted, his tone dripping with impatience. "The house needs repairs anyway! The van is pure profit!"

"Shut up, Mack! Just shut up!" Phoebe snapped back, her voice laced with pure hysteria. "We are taking the house! End of discussion!"

Felicity stood frozen in the quiet hallway, peering through the crack. 

Her gaze landed on the two figures inside. 

They were standing impossibly close, far closer than a man should ever stand to his girlfriend’s sister. 

Mack’s hand rested low on Phoebe’s waist, his thumb gently stroking her hip, while Phoebe leaned into him naturally, completely comfortable in his space.

A sickening realization hit Felicity right in the chest.

‘How was I so blind?’

In her past life, she had trusted both of them blindly. 

She thought their secret glances were just friendly banter and their closeness was just a tight family bond. But looking at them now, the truth was as clear as day. 

They hadn't just betrayed her when the apocalypse hit, they had been cheating behind her back all along.

‘I was such an idiot.’

A cold, bitter sneer touched Felicity’s lips, but she quickly erased it, forcing her face into a smooth, unreadable mask. 

Acting like she knew nothing was her biggest advantage right now.

She reached out, grabbed the handle, and pushed the heavy wooden door open with a loud click.

Instantly, Mack dropped his hand from Phoebe’s waist and took a quick step back. 

Phoebe flinched, smoothing down her skirt with trembling fingers as her eyes swept toward the door.

"Felicity!" Mack exclaimed, quickly plastering a warm, handsome smile on his face. 

He smoothed the front of his jacket and hurried toward her with open arms. 

"Babe, you're finally here! I came as soon as Phoebe called me about the meeting. I wanted to be here to support you."

He leaned down, reaching out to pull her into a tight hug and plant a kiss on her lips, just like he always did.

Felicity felt a wave of disgust wash over her. 

Before his lips could touch her skin, she stepped smoothly to the side, ducking under his arm and brushing past him as if she were simply adjusting her handbag.

Mack’s arms hit empty air. 

His smile faltered, a flash of confusion crossing his features before he awkwardly lowered his hands. 

"Uh... babe? Are you okay?"

Felicity ignored him completely, walking straight toward the conference table. 

She cast a cool, detached glance at her twin.

Phoebe looked pale. 

Dark circles shadowed her eyes, and her knuckles were white where she gripped the back of a chair. 

She was staring at Felicity with an intensity bordering on desperate.

"Have you made your choice, Felicity?" Phoebe blurted out, her voice rising in pitch. 

She didn't even bother with a greeting; she needed the answer now. 

"Lawyer Vexn said we have to decide before signing the final papers. What do you want?"

Phoebe’s eyes darted nervously between Felicity and the documents resting on the desk, practically sweating with anxiety. 

She was waiting for Felicity to fight for the house, just like she had in the previous timeline.

Felicity let out a soft, amused hum, pulling out a leather chair and taking a seat. 

She crossed her legs calmly, looking up at her panicked sister with an innocent smile.

"I was actually planning to choose the house," Felicity said, her tone smooth and even. 

She made sure not to give away a single hint that she had been reborn. 

"I mean, it’s a whole two-story home. But... I know how much you’ve always wanted a permanent place, Phoebe. And I figured you’d probably prefer the van anyway since it’s worth more money. So, I’m willing to let the house go and take the van instead."

Phoebe’s face went completely pale. 

Panic flared in her eyes, and she nearly knocked her chair over as she lunged forward.

"No! No, no, no!" Phoebe cried out, her voice pitching into a shrill screech. "I don't want the van! I want the house!"

Felicity blinked, putting on a look of total confusion. 

"Are you sure? You've always hated that house, Phoebe. You always complained about how old and isolated it was."

Phoebe rushed over and grabbed Felicity's hands, holding them tightly. 

Her grip was desperate, her palms clammy.

"I'm sure! Very sure!" Phoebe pleaded, trying to squeeze out a sweet smile. "Felicity, you've always been such a good sister to me. You always give in to what I want, right? Please, let me have the house this time. Just take the van. I really, really need the house!"

Looking at her sister's eager, fake face, a cold wave of memory washed over Felicity.

In her past life, after Felicity chose the house, Phoebe and Mack had moved in with her under the excuse of keeping each other safe. 

Felicity had worked herself to the bone fortifying the walls, growing food, and rationing every single grain. 

Meanwhile, those two sat back, ate up all her supplies, and treated her like a servant. 

And when the food ran low, they threw her to the wolves without a second thought.

S’he really thinks the house is the ultimate safe haven,’ Felicity thought, hiding a dark smile. ‘She thinks keeping the house means surviving the apocalypse.’

What Phoebe didn't realize was that a stationary house was just a giant target. 

When the apocalypse hit, hordes of zombies and desperate scavengers would surround it. 

Without real strength, a fixed house was nothing more than a solid tomb.

‘Let's see how well you survive in that trap this time, sister.’

Felicity pulled her hands back smoothly, sighing as if she were reluctantly giving in. 

"Fine. If you want it that badly, take the house. I'll take the van."

Mack opened his mouth, clearly wanting to protest again about the value of the van, but the icy glare Phoebe shot him instantly shut him up.

Lawyer Vexn stepped into the room moments later, placing the final transfer documents on the desk. 

Within minutes, pen met paper.

Phoebe signed her name so fast the ink nearly smudged. 

The moment the stamp was pressed, she let out a long breath, a triumphant, greedy smile spreading across her face.

Felicity watched her carefully. 

She leaned back in her chair and asked softly,

"Phoebe... you seem awfully excited today. Is something going to happen? Is there anything you want to tell me?"

Phoebe’s smile instantly froze. 

She snapped her gaze toward Felicity, her forehead creasing into a tight frown.

"What are you talking about?" Phoebe snapped defensively, pulling her shoulders tight. "Nothing is happening. Why would I have anything to tell you? Don't be weird, Felicity."

Felicity watched her closely, feeling a final spark of pity extinguish inside her heart.

‘She knows the world is ending in a week, and she isn't saying a single word to warn me.’