’That doesn’t seem right. If it were Tiana Lynch, the car would have been following me since I left Stellaport, not just appearing after I reached Eldoria.’

’Are they after my gold?’

’Buddy, you must be dreaming.’

Glancing at the ubiquitous traffic cameras and speed traps on the highway, Sue temporarily suppressed the idea of using her Superpower. She pretended not to notice anything and maintained a steady speed toward Stellaport.

Just then, her phone rang. The screen showed two words: "Tiana Lynch." It was a video call. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

’What a coincidence.’ The next highway rest area was just ahead. Sue turned the wheel, pulled in, parked her car, and answered the call.

Tiana Lynch’s delicate, smiling face immediately filled the screen. Jason Sterling stood behind her, and to the side, Maeve Walsh had her chin up, a look of arrogant pride on her face. ’In the old company, the core circle was just Tiana and Jason. Maeve was a fringe character at best. Now she’s standing in a core position. It has to be because of that Space Ability.’

’The Space Ability.’

The sight of Maeve Walsh made the predatory urge inside Sue surge even more fiercely.

"Sue, where have you been?" Tiana feigned ignorance, her tone intimate, but her eyes held a calculating glint.

Out of the corner of her eye, Sue glanced outside. The silver-gray Nissan had silently parked in a spot diagonally across from her. The position was cleverly chosen—not easily noticeable, yet perfectly positioned to keep a close watch on her car. She gave a faint smile and lied smoothly, "Just out for a drive. I’m buying some warm winter clothes for Leo."

Her tone turned colder. "Didn’t we agree not to contact each other? What is it now? More mismanaged assets you need me to come and clean up for you?"

That was how it always used to be. Whenever an unsolvable mess came up at the company, Tiana would call her over. If Sue fixed it, Tiana took all the credit. If she couldn’t, it was Sue’s fault for being incompetent and lacking the Ability.

Now that the masks were off, she couldn’t be bothered to pretend at sisterly affection. She spoke without reservation.

Tiana’s face stiffened for a moment before she smiled again. She deliberately tilted the phone to show more of the room behind her.

"Jason and I are planning to have our engagement party tomorrow at the company we founded. After all, the company’s been sold and will belong to someone else soon. We want to commemorate this last chance. You have to come!"

The walls were covered in balloons and colorful banners. Piles of various high-end gifts sat in the corner. On a table, an open jewelry box revealed glittering gold ornaments and dazzling jewels. There was even an entire case of neatly stacked gold bars.

’They would never tell me about the apocalypse. They just want to use this engagement party to disgust me.’ All this jewelry and gold would be worthless in the apocalypse, but right now, in front of the "dumped ex-girlfriend," it was more than enough to make someone seethe with jealousy and hate their guts.

’Tiana Lynch, you truly are vicious.’

Sue stared at the deliberately displayed items on the screen, at the unconcealed provocation on Tiana’s face, Jason’s smug expression, and Maeve’s contemptuous gaze. A cold glint flashed in her eyes as a satisfying and cathartic idea suddenly popped into her head.

On her end of the call, Tiana stared intently at her screen, watching Sue’s expression.

She had deliberately pushed the camera up close, filling the frame with the gold bars, jewelry, and luxury goods, hoping to see Sue become hysterical and burn with jealousy.

But the Sue on the other side of the screen was stunned for only a brief moment. Then, a casual smile touched her lips, and her tone was as light as if she were discussing the weather. "Well, that does sound commemorative. Sure, I’ll definitely be there!"

Tiana’s smile froze on her face, as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over her head. A suffocating feeling tightened in her chest.

She had anticipated Sue’s anger, tears, and accusations—the one thing she hadn’t expected was this light and breezy attitude.

’But then again, Sue has no idea the apocalypse is coming. She probably thinks Jason and I are genuinely getting engaged. She must be putting on a brave face, but deep down, she’s eaten up with jealousy.’

Thinking about how the Lawrence Group was still foolishly selling off stocks to invest in so-called "emerging industries," Tiana’s smug smile returned. Once the apocalypse hit, the Lawrence Family’s wealth would be nothing but waste paper. Sooner or later, Sue would be on her knees, begging for shelter. "Great, Sue! You should come early, then. I’ll be waiting for you at the office at ten~"

She deliberately set the time an hour and a half early. She wanted to make Sue wait in an empty hallway for a while to really feel the difference between the "loser" and the "victor."

Sue’s gaze swept over the corner of the screen, catching the flicker of confusion in Maeve’s eyes. ’Apparently, Maeve knows the real time of the engagement party. Tiana can’t even hide her petty little schemes.’

The smile on Sue’s face faded slightly, and her tone turned abruptly cold. "If that’s all, I’m hanging up. It’s annoying just looking at you."

Before Tiana could react, she ended the video call. The screen went blank, leaving Tiana frozen in place, her face alternating between pale and livid.

"Tiana, you actually invited her?" Maeve Walsh clicked her tongue, her eyes full of disdain. "A woman with a reputation as stained as Sue Lawrence’s coming to your engagement party? She’ll tarnish everything here! You’re too kind. If it were me, I would’ve blocked and deleted her long ago. I’d never want to see her again in my life!"

Though she was bad-mouthing Sue, her gaze kept drifting uncontrollably toward the two cases of glittering gold bars and jewelry in the corner.

’She’d never seen so many valuables in her entire life. If I could just load all of this into my space, I could do whatever I want in the apocalypse!’

Maeve’s praise mollified Tiana. She deliberately linked arms with Jason Sterling and said meekly, "But Sue and I were friends for so many years. Even though we’ve grown apart, I still want her to witness my engagement party. Right, Jason? The apocalypse is almost here, so a real wedding will be impossible. This engagement party means so much to me!"

Jason Sterling looked down and smiled dotingly. "Of course. Whatever you want."

In his eyes, Sue Lawrence was already a discarded pawn.

’So what if she’s back with the Lawrence Family now? When the apocalypse comes, the Lawrence Group’s assets will be worthless. Without her family’s protection, Sue will just be a helpless woman. She’ll be putty in my hands.’

Compared to Sue’s stubbornness and backbone, a woman like Tiana, who knew how to please him and be useful, was far more practical.

"Then let’s keep hoarding supplies!" Tiana grabbed Maeve’s hand, her voice excited. "Maeve’s space is still empty! We need to stock up on more hard currency!"

"Oh, right. Should I put these gifts in my space?" Maeve’s eyes were glued to the two cases of gold bars again, her voice tinged with a subtle urgency. "It’s not safe to leave so many valuables out in the open, is it?"

Jason Sterling snorted. "No need! The office is covered in cameras, and there are security guards patrolling downstairs. What could possibly happen?"