Chapter 3

Jasper cast me a suspicious look. Then, he suddenly broke into a smile.

"You can't possibly think that I harmed Sasha. Did you? Ari, I am still her biological father. It's just that the base camp came up with a new cryonics program, so I had her sent there.

"After all, Ave is right. One less person to worry about means more water for everyone else."

I couldn't hold myself back any longer and jumped to my feet. Then, I grabbed a nearby cushion and threw it at him.

"Jasper! You are Sasha's father!"

How could he be so heartless and send his own daughter for a cryopreservation experiment just because of something Avery said?

Yet, Jasper simply frowned and said, "Nothing's happening to Sasha. Avery already said that the program is very safe. Sasha won't die, and she won't have to suffer either. It's good for her.

"We'll be able to revive her when we finally return with a larger water source."

I didn't know what to say to him anymore. Couldn't Jasper have thought that if the cryopreservation program was really as safe as he said it was, why wasn't everyone scrambling to sign up for it?

I gripped the toy in my hand and cried silently.

"I must return!"

I had to go back and save my daughter!

"What sort of nonsense are you spouting now?"

Jasper flung the cushion to the floor, his temper flaring. "Avery already said that the program was very safe!"

I had never sensed Jasper's favoritism toward Avery as clearly as I finally did now. Even if Sasha was about to die, and even if I told him I was going back alone, his focus was still on blaming me for not trusting Avery's words.

I clenched my fists.

"Don't worry. I'll take the blame for everything. I won't let you ruin your reputation because of this."

If we came out searching for water and returned empty-handed, that only meant that we had wasted precious resources for nothing.

Jasper's voice was hoarse as he growled through gritted teeth, "Fine. Go back if you really want to. However, even if I were the one who personally called for transport from the base camp, it would take them at least ten days to arrive."

If there were no transport to bring me back to the base camp, I wouldn't be able to find my way back there. It would also be impossible for me to walk there on my own.

Jasper knew that I had to rely on him.

However, I didn't need him anymore. My personal rescue vehicle was already on its way to save me.

I never planned on telling him that. I just cast him one final glance before going back into my room.

…

I couldn't stop thinking about Sasha at night and didn't manage to fall asleep.

In my blurry, half-conscious state, I could sense Jasper getting up from beside me and heading out the door.

I immediately went out after him without hesitation.

It was still unbearably warm at night since it was the apocalypse. Under the moonlight, I saw Avery running into Jasper's arms in a long slip dress.

Jasper gently wrapped his arms around her.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"You gave me all that water. I was sure that Ari would get mad at you for that, so I came to check on you."

Jasper chuckled softly and let her into our quarters with affection in his eyes.

Avery then asked in a coquettish voice, "Aren't you worried that Ari would get the wrong idea?"

Jasper scoffed loudly.

"I was meant to be yours anyway. There's no need to care about her. She'll be going back in two days. Finally, we'll be left on our own. When that time finally comes…"

I closed my eyes. I couldn't believe that the young man who once refused to let me shed a single tear was now breaking my heart and making me cry over and over again.

The last bit of my love for him completely faded away.

I went back inside my room. Just as I'd lie down, I suddenly saw that Jasper had just received a message on his communication device.

"Dr. Curran, another base camp has already located the person who first invented the water detection device. They're on their way to bring the inventor back. Please find the new water source and return before they bring the inventor to their base."