The moment Ivy was gone, Darren and Erick settled into the two available chairs, their gazes fixed on the bubbling broth that released a mouthwatering aroma into the air.

"There’s no way she can finish all this by herself," one of the team members muttered, raising a brow curiously. "I’m telling you, this food is definitely for all of us."

"Obviously," another chimed in immediately, his eyes never leaving the steaming hot pot. "She already looked full earlier. She probably forgot to tell us to start eating because of the baby. I’m sure she’ll take a while putting her to sleep too."

The others nodded in agreement.

The rich scent of meat and spices drifting through the air was driving everyone insane. Their stomachs growled loudly one after another, but despite their hunger, none of them dared to touch the food first. Their eyes instinctively shifted toward Darren and Erick, silently waiting for permission.

Erick was the first to move.

Without hesitation, he grabbed a plate and a pair of chopsticks before picking up a neatly sliced piece of meat. He slowly dipped it into the spicy bubbling broth, watching as the meat cooked perfectly within seconds.

The moment Erick placed the meat into his mouth, his entire body froze.

His eyes widened instantly.

An explosion of rich flavor filled his mouth, the spicy broth blending perfectly with the tender meat until it practically melted on his tongue.

"Oh my God..." Erick muttered under his breath in disbelief.

Darren wasted no time either.

He quickly grabbed a bowl and chopsticks before taking a slice of meat for himself. Unlike Erick, he dipped his into the milder broth. Steam rose around his face as he brought the cooked meat into his mouth.

The second he tasted it, even Darren’s usually calm expression cracked.

His eyes widened slightly as shock flashed across his face.

Without saying a word, he immediately reached for more meat and vegetables, tossing them into the broth one after another before eating continuously like a man who hadn’t tasted real food in years.

The other team members swallowed hard as they watched their bosses devouring the food without a single care in the world.

Their mouths watered painfully.

"You all should stop staring and dig in already," Erick finally said while chewing.

That was all the permission they needed.

Like starving wolves pouncing on prey, the team immediately rushed forward. Chopsticks flew everywhere as everyone scrambled to cook their preferred slices of meat and vegetables.

The atmosphere instantly became lively.

"Oh my goodness! This tastes incredible!"

"I can’t believe I’m eating something this good during the apocalypse!"

"If monsters attack me after this meal, I’ll die with absolutely no regrets!"

"This doesn’t even feel like the apocalypse anymore!"

"My God... this broth is heavenly!"

The group continued eating excitedly while grabbing different canned drinks and bottled beverages from the cooler Ivy had brought out earlier that evening.

And to their shock...

The drinks were still cold.

Perfectly cold.

The icy beverages combined with the steaming hot pot created a level of comfort none of them had experienced in a very long time.

Laughter and excitement filled the shelter as the men completely immersed themselves in the feast.

For a brief moment, they forgot the horrors of the apocalypse.

They forgot the monsters outside,constant fear and endless hunger.

Darren silently glanced at the boiling broth before lowering his eyes slightly.

Just who exactly was Ivy?

A woman capable of bringing out endless supplies of fresh food, clean drinks, and ingredients like this in the middle of the apocalypse...

It simply didn’t make sense.

And yet none of them cared enough to question it right now.

Not when their stomachs were finally full.

Just then....Footsteps echoed from behind them.

The cheerful atmosphere instantly died down as everyone turned toward the source.

Ivy stood there, her expression was dark.

The warmth in her eyes had completely vanished, replaced with visible anger.

Ivy’s sharp gaze swept across the table filled with half-eaten meat, empty drink cans, and bubbling broth before finally landing on the group.

Her face darkened even further.

"How dare you all steal my food?!" Ivy shouted angrily.

Her furious voice instantly sent waves of shock, confusion, and disbelief crashing through the entire group.

The team members immediately dropped their chopsticks in panic before standing to their feet almost simultaneously.

Even Erick nearly choked on his drink.

The lively atmosphere was now replaced with pure tension.

“Steal?” Darren was the first to speak, his face contorted with confusion as he stared at Ivy. “How could you even say that?”

“Didn’t you prepare this for us?” Erick chimed in, equally confused. His tired eyes drifted toward the bubbling hot pot once more before returning to Ivy. “For dinner? We don’t steal from people.”

“But you just did.” Ivy folded her arms tightly beneath her chest, her expression filled with indignation. “Smelling the hot pot alone is considered stealing. So how dare you? How dare you start feasting before I even gave you permission?”

The words landed like a bomb.

“We didn’t steal!” one of the team members snapped immediately, disbelief thick in his tone. “How can you accuse us of something like that? That’s insulting!”