Chapter 64: Chapter 53: One Kiss Isn’t Enough

"I have the ability to protect myself, my family, and my friends. I’m sure you saw that earlier."

Flora Bloom’s words didn’t surprise Lex Cross. It was only natural that the girl he was interested in was smart. But his desire to take her with him was genuine.

"That’s true, you’re very capable. Especially your pets—every one of them is strong. But you know better than I do that in the apocalypse, there are more monsters like the one we saw today."

How could Flora Bloom not know? But her confidence stemmed entirely from her space. That was what she truly relied on.

"Don’t say another word. If I’m willing to risk traveling with my parents, it’s because I have an even better ace up my sleeve."

"I appreciate you looking out for me. But I don’t want to be the kind of person who can only rely on others to survive the apocalypse."

Flora Bloom’s resolve made it impossible for Lex Cross to press the issue. He was far too proud; having been rejected once, he wouldn’t allow it to happen a second time.

Flora Bloom went and filled the bathtub with Space Spirit Water, soaking for a while. After she was clean, she planned to go straight to bed, but Lex Cross shamelessly pestered her into filling the tub for him to bathe as well.

It was late into the night. The two of them lay on opposite sides of the bed in silence. But with someone so strange yet so familiar beside her, Flora Bloom couldn’t sleep at all. So she decided to strike up a conversation.

"Are you in the special forces?"

Flora Bloom’s voice was languid, with a classic girlish tone that made Lex Cross’s heart soften. No woman had ever dared to get so close to him. The feeling was like a ravenous beast threatening to consume his willpower.

"Sort of."

He seemed to revert to his cold, indifferent self, his voice tinged with a chill. A complete one-eighty from moments before when he had been teasing and joking with Flora Bloom.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Your brother is in Morhaven? How do you plan on getting there?"

"The roads are dangerous in the apocalypse, but we’ll get there one way or another."

Flora Bloom said with a hint of self-deprecation, her tone light but still laced with confidence.

"And after you find your brother?"

"Probably find a safe place and live a good life with my parents and friends."

Lex Cross started to say something but held his tongue. He was angry about something, though he couldn’t quite place what. It was only natural that the future Flora Bloom envisioned didn’t include him.

’It’s for the best,’ he thought. ’I still have unfinished business back in Argent. Her being with me wouldn’t necessarily be any safer than her being on her own.’

’Besides, with that thing she has, no matter how strong they are, ordinary people won’t be able to hurt her.’

"Lex Cross, you have to become much stronger over the next three years."

Suddenly, Flora Bloom’s expression turned exceptionally serious as she looked at him. Lex Cross was visibly taken aback by her warning.

’She seems to know something.’

Three years from now, there would be a great war between zombies and humanity. Many of those with superpowers would die in that war, and ordinary humans would be all but wiped out. Hope only existed for those who survived.

"What do you mean?" Lex Cross asked.

"Just trust me. I... I won’t hurt you."

’If for no other reason than Lex Cross being Polly’s biological father, she would never harm him.’

"Okay." The single word, without any embellishment, made a feeling of being trusted well up inside Flora Bloom.

Flora Bloom fell silent. She didn’t know why, but she found she could talk so freely with this man she had just met. They kept chatting, and at some point, she drifted off to sleep without even realizing it.

The next morning, when she woke up, Lex Cross was already gone from her bedside. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Though she couldn’t place the faint sense of disappointment she felt, Flora Bloom quickly got out of bed and stored all the necessary items from her room into her space.

Her parents had already gone downstairs and weren’t in their room. Flora Bloom went in, stored their things in her space as well, gathered some other common household items, and then headed downstairs.

"Brother Five, you should take us with you to Argent! I’ve awakened an Ice Ability, so I can help you kill zombies and monsters on the way."

As Flora Bloom came downstairs, her senses were met with the fragrant aroma from the kitchen and the sound of Tianna Bloom’s chirpy, fawning voice. After last night’s battle, their two families were the only ones left alive in the village. Having survived, Tianna Bloom was back to dressing like a showy peacock, as if the previous night had never happened.

’This is hilarious,’ Flora Bloom thought. ’Is Tianna Bloom clueless, or just clueless? Running out in the middle of an apocalyptic autumn wearing a flimsy, off-the-shoulder top and a miniskirt to fawn all over a group of soldiers.’

Seeing Flora Bloom come downstairs, Tianna Bloom shot her an arrogant glare.

"Flora Bloom, don’t even think about trying to hitch a ride with us to the Argent shelter. Brother Lex and his men won’t give you the time of day."

Flora Bloom rolled her eyes and ignored her. ’Looks like Tianna Bloom’s family has already decided to go with Lex Cross’s team to the shelter in Argent,’ she thought. ’And from the sound of it, they’ve already worked out the details with the special forces team.’

Just then, the sound of several car horns honking came from outside.

Flora Bloom quickly found a hidden spot in the backyard, summoned Vert and the others, and recalled them to her space, then went outside to take a look.

She saw Lex Cross leading his team out of a military SUV, just as her father, Caleb Bloom, was getting out of the passenger seat. Her dad was beaming from ear to ear, looking as if he and this Lex Cross were getting along famously.

The military SUV was huge, and its interior was spacious. If a normal SUV could seat four to five people, this one could seat eight or nine without a problem.

Flora Bloom looked at the three military SUVs, and her mind started turning. If they had such a durable vehicle for their journey to Morhaven, their group’s chances of survival would be much higher. With this thought, she immediately put on a fawning expression as she looked at Lex Cross.

"Flora, Young Cross and I went out early this morning to gas up the car and get some food and drinks. We really have to thank him. Now we’re a bit more prepared for the journey to find your brother."

Flora Bloom mentally rolled her eyes. ’I’ve got plenty of food and drink in my space, who needs your charity?’ But on her face, her smile grew even brighter.

"Dad, how could you let Mom make breakfast for so many of us all by herself?"

Hearing Flora Bloom’s words, Caleb Bloom gave Lex Cross an awkward smile and hurried into the kitchen. Lex Cross lagged behind, stopping beside Flora Bloom.

The pre-dawn sky had yet to brighten, and the air was still cool and damp.

"Couldn’t sleep without me by your side?"

Lex Cross leaned in, whispering beside Flora Bloom’s ear. The feeling of his warm breath tickled her, and the tips of her ears flushed red. To hide her embarrassment, she quickly turned her head to glare at him.

"Who said I couldn’t sleep?! Get lost."

Lex Cross didn’t get angry. He grabbed for Flora Bloom’s wrist, but she unceremoniously slapped his hand away several times. Finally, losing her patience, she turned and glared at him.

"Your little ’sister’ Tianna was just saying this morning how she wants to go to Argent with you. If you keep flirting with me like this, your dear little sister is going to get jealous, you know." After that, she rolled her eyes dramatically at him.

Lex Cross was completely baffled by Flora Bloom’s words. "Are you talking about Tianna Bloom? I thought she was your older sister."

Flora Bloom said impatiently, "My mother only has one daughter. I certainly don’t have a sister who acts like a showy peacock."

"PFFT!" Instead of getting angry, Lex Cross just gave Flora Bloom a teasing smirk. "You’re even cuter when you’re jealous than when you’re mad, Flora."