Apocalypse Queen: My Space, My Rules Chapter 249: Give and Take

"She passed a few years ago," Chandler said, his voice flat, expression giving nothing away.

Mariella got the message and didn't push it any further.

It was already late. After all that dancing and singing, Chandler had clearly worn himself out, so she decided to call it a day. "Tired? I'll give you a massage tonight."

Chandler was stunned.

He liked how direct she was, but sometimes she was so blunt it rattled his self-control.

In the bathroom, things went far beyond just bathing and scrubbing each other's backs.

After almost two hours of fooling around, Chandler wrapped Mariella in a large bath towel and carried her back to the bedroom. He picked up the hair dryer and started drying her hair.

Mariella, meanwhile, teased him—lightly pinching the sharp lines along his narrow waist and making him twitch from the ticklish feeling.

Chandler set the hair dryer aside and lifted her onto the bed. "Still not satisfied?"

"I was just enjoying the view," she said quickly, waving her hands in protest. "I'm good now. Don't mind me."

Men and women really didn't think on the same wavelength.

For her, getting close to him was just admiration. It wasn't about wanting anything more.

But he still thought she hadn't had enough?

"Everything's better in moderation," he said seriously, like he was laying down a firm rule for himself.

Mariella was just getting ready to sleep when he pulled her into his arms from behind. His lips brushed near her ear, his warm breath sending a faint, itchy shiver across her skin.

"Tomorrow you're taking Dr. Lester and Serena shopping at Imperial Crest Plaza, and I'm stuck going out to chop firewood with the team?" he asked, his voice tinged with quiet grievance and reluctance.

Half-asleep, Mariella let out a quiet laugh.

"I'll bring you along," she said, turning toward him and giving his sharp jaw a light pinch, coaxing him as he needed it.

Ever since she'd been given a second shot at life, her temper hadn't improved much, and she still wasn't all that patient. But for some reason, when it came to Chandler, she just couldn't get mad. Even her patience seemed to stretch a little further around him.

Only then did he finally smile, satisfied, and pull her into his arms as they drifted off to sleep.

The infrastructure work at Celestine Ridge was finally completed.

The police unit withdrew, but Terry moved in with his family.

They settled in No. 100, right next to No. 98, which had already been funded by Kieran and fully renovated by workers. It was built to match No. 98's layout, with reinforced explosion-proof glass, thickened walls, and an electrified high-voltage fence.

Terry rang the doorbell of No. 98, holding a heavy cloth bag.

Mariella asked Matthew to open the door and invited him in.

"Mariella, this is some smoked brisket my mom made, also pickles and canned greens my grandma prepared. It's nothing fancy—just something fresh to try. Hope you don't mind."

Mariella took it with interest. "Pickles and canned greens? I like those."

She had stocked up on some packaged versions, but she still preferred homemade ones like this.

"My grandma's pickling skills are amazing, it's just..." Terry sighed. "We can't find fresh vegetables anymore."

It had been five months since the disaster. Even at its lowest point, the floodwater still stood as high as a three-story building.

Most of the land was completely underwater. Other than the mountains, there was nowhere left to grow anything.

And even if they planted anything on the mountains, hungry survivors would likely harvest it before the owners could.

Mariella opened the sealed jars and tasted the pickles. They were sweet, spicy, and incredibly flavorful—perfect with meat.

"I know someone who can get fresh vegetables. Next time I trade for some, I'll bring them over and ask your family to help process them."

Terry looked at her with even more admiration. "You can still get fresh vegetables? That's amazing!"

Mariella didn't let him leave empty-handed. She gave him a large, plump, fresh catfish weighing about ten pounds. Along with it were a big pumpkin and about five pounds of potatoes.

Terry froze for a second, then quickly waved his hands. "I barely brought anything. I can't take all this back... my family will scold me."

His family had moved into a place this big and nice for next to nothing, all because of Mariella.

They'd told him to bring something over to thank her, but they didn't have much to spare. There just wasn't anything worth giving.

Luckily, their family had an old tradition of making smoked brisket and pickles, so they brought what they could to at least show their appreciation.

But what Mariella gave him in return was way too generous—worth several times more than what he'd brought. It left him feeling a little at a loss.

Mariella smiled. "That's just how neighbors do things—give and take. Besides, I'll still need your family's help with the pickling."

Terry couldn't turn her down, so he finally took it.

"Thanks. If you ever need anything, just say the word."

...

Denton showed up in person with a crew, delivering the mini tractor and the large fishing machine. He also brought back Mariella's wooden boat.

"Ms. Townsend, I got everything you asked for. The boat's been pulled up onto shore and left by the north gate. I already let security know, so you can grab it whenever you want."