Ethan's voice remained flat and cold. "You really think I'd say yes?"
On the other end, Claire looked helplessly at the others, who gestured at her—Get to the point already.
Sniffling, she put on her softest, tear-filled voice. "Ethan, Peter and the others… they're badly hurt from your arrows. We don't have any medicine left. They'll die from infection…"
"You—didn't you stockpile medicine before all this? Please, I'm begging you. Just lend us a little..."
"I swear we'll never bother you again!"
Ethan paused mid-cooking, amused at the ridiculous logic.
"Claire," he said with a chuckle, "did you not understand why I used rusted arrows?"
"My exact goal is to watch them die slowly and painfully from infection."
"And now you want to borrow medicine? Are you out of your damn mind?"
Claire knew this made no sense.
But without Ethan's help, they'd have to watch three of their own die.
And Peter, Zack, and Gary were their only able-bodied men left—without them, they had no hope of survival.
Tears streamed down Claire's face. "Ethan, we were wrong. Please, just this once… save them."
"The world's falling apart. Shouldn't we help each other instead of tearing each other down?"
"Don't be so heartless. Can you really live with yourself if they die like this?"
Before she could finish, Ethan calmly said, "Actually, yeah. It feels amazing."
That shut her right up.
Monica stepped forward, desperate. "Ethan, it's Monica. Remember? I bought you dinner once to thank you for helping with those warehouse goods…"
Ethan rolled his eyes.
Oh, that dinner. The one that netted her a ton of profit off his discounted stock.
"Do you think that means anything to me?" he sneered.
Monica swallowed nervously. From the living room came Peter's muffled screams as Dr. Chloe dug out the arrow.
Ethan heard it and smiled contentedly.
Monica pressed on. "Ethan, we're all just trying to survive. You never know—someday, you might need us."
"Give us the medicine now, and I promise—I promise—I'll return the favor."
Ethan scoffed. "A favor? From you? Do I look like an idiot?"
"I'm the one who shot them. One of your people's dead. His body is still lying outside my door."
"No matter what I do now, you all will never forgive me. So why should I help?"
Monica blurted out, "We're not like that! We wouldn't seek revenge—"
"Shut up," Ethan snapped. "That's not the point."
"Whether you are that kind of person or not is irrelevant. I don't believe you're not."
"That's why I'll never help you."
Save people who literally tried to kill him?
What kind of idiot did they think he was?
Seeing that he wasn't budging, Monica's patience finally snapped. "Ethan, don't push us! If you let us die, who knows what we'll be forced to do!"
Ethan chuckled. "What you'll do? Haven't you already done it all?"
"If you had the balls, you'd have already stormed in, killed me, and looted everything."
"I'm not scared of people like you."
Claire quickly grabbed the phone again and tried a softer tactic.
"Ethan, do we really have to end up like this? We used to be so good together…"
"Why can't we let go of the past and start over? I still care about you, Ethan. I always have."
In the next room, Peter bit down hard on the towel during surgery, his eyes bulging with rage at the words.
Ethan was honestly impressed. This woman's shamelessness could rival a medieval castle wall.
But then again, considering his current lifestyle, it made sense she was desperate.
Suddenly, an evil idea popped into Ethan's mind.
He knew the others were probably within earshot. Peter could definitely hear everything.
So Ethan said in a melancholy voice, "Claire… I never stopped caring about you. But you hurt me too deeply back then."
That spark of hope lit up in Claire's eyes like fireworks.
She trembled with joy. "I knew it! I knew you still loved me!"
"You big dummy! I've always liked you. I only pushed you away to test you. I just… didn't know how to say it back then."
Monica and the others looked like they were about to puke. Peter was practically frothing at the mouth.
But no one interrupted. If Claire could win Ethan over, maybe they could all ride her coattails into safety.
Claire continued, voice syrupy sweet, "Ethan, let me move in with you. I'll be your woman. I'll do anything you say—anything you want."
Ethan grinned. "Sure."
Claire nearly jumped for joy. Her face flushed with excitement.
Natalie piped up eagerly, "Take me too! Don't leave me behind!"
Claire shot her a sharp glare, mentally sneering.
Then Ethan's cool voice came again.
"But Claire… I only love you. I can only accept you."
"As for the others? You should stay far away from them. This world is hard enough—we don't need deadweight, right?"
The entire room fell silent.
Everyone had expected Claire to win Ethan over—and for them to benefit too.
But now it sounded like Ethan was telling her to ditch them.
Claire was too excited to care.
She nodded like a bobblehead. "Of course! Whatever you say, baby! I'll listen to everything you say!"
"I'm coming right now!"
She ran for the door without hesitation, practically glowing.
The others' faces turned dark with fury.
Just as Claire grabbed the doorknob, Natalie grabbed her arm.
Claire spun around, her expression twisted with rage. "Let go of me! Don't stop me—I've had enough of this hellhole!"
SMACK!
Monica's hand slammed across her face.
"You treacherous bitch!" she snarled. "You got us into this mess, and now you think you can just run off to live the high life? Not a chance!"