Swapped for His True Love in the Flaming Apocalypse のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 8

I silenced my phone screen without a word and managed a thin smile in Rhett's direction."Fine. I'll go."Where I actually went was my own business.He let out a slow breath, then leaned in and pressed a brief kiss to my forehead. "I knew you'd understand. Don't worry, I'll bring you back soon."I wiped the spot with the back of my hand once he looked away.That night, Rhett stayed by Anna's side without once changing out of his clothes. I sat on the couch all night, chasing sleep that never came, my mind dragging me back through things I'd rather have forgotten.Rhett had grown up on a scholarship funded by Dad. His grades were exceptional, good enough that Dad had arranged for him to study abroad alongside me.Back then, he once crossed half the foreign city just to bring me a slice of cake. When I couldn't stomach the food there, he showed up outside the campus gates every evening with a covered lunchbox, waiting.Now, he couldn't stand the thought of someone like Anna being

For the rest of that afternoon, Rhett made himself scarce. Guilt, most likely. He didn't come near me until evening, when he pushed open my bedroom door."Nora, the car from Level Three is almost here. Have you packed?"I was bent over my suitcase, transferring stacks of files and documents into it. He didn't notice what I was doing, but what he did notice was the ring sitting in the trash can.He picked it up and asked, "What is this supposed to mean?"I glanced at it without moving from where I stood. It was a plain band, no stone, nothing special.When we got married, Rhett had just moved into the Vale residence with nothing to his name, and I hadn't wanted to make it harder on him. So I asked for something simple.In the years that followed, he never once gave me anything on any occasion that might have called for it. I told myself he just wasn't that kind of person.Then yesterday, I found Anna's social media profiles from before the apocalypse. Rhett had sent her something

Elliot Callum was waiting at the entrance to the research institute when I arrived on Level One. He extended his hand."It's been too long, Aldenvale's Rose."I took it and laughed, a little embarrassed. "After all these years, you're still calling me that.""Some things don't change." He smiled. "Aldenvale's Rose never withers."I smiled back, though there was a quiet ache behind it.Back in college, I'd won a campus debate competition that got me voted the thorned rose of Aldenvale University on the school forums. The nickname stuck.Later, someone came along and plucked that rose, trimmed away every thorn, and let the years wear her down to something softer and smaller. Then that same person turned around and chose a fresher flower entirely.Inside the institute, Elliot casually slung an arm around my shoulders and turned to the room."This is my closest friend from Aldenvale and my junior by two years. Nora Vale, PhD in astrophysics, formerly known as Aldenvale's Sky Eye, a

Elliot kept his eyes on the road but couldn't resist asking, "Didn't you say you weren't going to have dinner with me? What happened to that?"I rested my chin on my hand. "I was using you to make a point. Don't let it go to your head.""It's my honor to be of use to you, Ms. Vale," he said without missing a beat.I tilted my head. "And what about you? I thought I told you to go home. Why were you still waiting?""Trying my luck," he said lightly. "In case you changed your mind about dinner."I smiled a little and left it at that.…A few days later, it snowed over Havenport. The apocalypse had kept the world scorching for years, and this was the first winter anyone had seen in a long time.I bundled up in a coat I hadn't worn in ages and bought a bunch of white roses. I didn't drive. I walked, letting my shoes sink unevenly into the slush with each step.Rounding a corner, I noticed a figure crouched at the side of the road.It was Rhett. For a moment, I almost didn't recogn