Apocalypse Rebirth: Crazy from Day One

Chapter 353: Chapter 353: Gordon Ford Is a Madman

’So her change in mood probably has nothing to do with me. She must have thought of something unpleasant, which is why she’s upset.’

Andrew Shaw thought back carefully. Her mood seemed to shift the moment she heard the name Caleb Xavier.

She had been the one to bring up the name in the first place, asking him if he’d ever heard of it.

In the eighteenth year of the apocalypse, he had been twenty-five.

Caleb Xavier had been in his early forties by then, a big shot among big shots. Of course Andrew had heard of him, so he started telling her about the man’s exploits.

But it was precisely when he was recounting the man’s life story that she had seemed to grow displeased.

When she’d first brought him up, Andrew had been curious. ’Could she have known Caleb Xavier when he was young?’

He thought for a moment. The present was fifteen years before he had died in his past life.

Fifteen years ago, Caleb Xavier would have been about the same age as the woman standing before him.

From this, he deduced that they very likely knew each other.

His initial guess, however, was that they were friends, relatives, or had some other kind of close relationship, which was why she had taken the initiative to ask about him.

But now, seeing her attitude, it didn’t seem to match his theory. It didn’t look like she was on good terms with the man at all.

He wracked his brain, searching his memories of his past life, but he’d never heard the name Stella Sterling.

He couldn’t help but let his imagination run wild.

’Could it be that she and a young Caleb Xavier had dated, but they had a nasty breakup later on?’

’That would explain why I never heard the name Stella Sterling when I was around Caleb Xavier.’

’And that’s why she looked so resentful when she heard how well Caleb Xavier was doing in the future.’

’After all, jilted lovers always hope their exes end up worse off than they are.’

’If that’s the case, then her reaction makes perfect sense.’

At this thought, he glanced at Stella Sterling with a hint of pity.

He even felt a strong urge to give her some advice.

’If she and Caleb Xavier don’t have some life-or-death feud, she should just go and make up with him.’

’Caleb Xavier is a future big shot, after all. If she latches onto him now, she’ll reap the benefits later.’

’And as someone following her, I could also ride his coattails.’

Still, he was puzzled. This Stella Sterling woman was so formidable. Logically, a person like her shouldn’t have had meager accomplishments in the future.

So why had he never heard of her?

’Was it because she was too low-key, or did she meet with some accident and die, which is why I never heard of her?’

Andrew Shaw shook his head, dismissing the latter possibility.

’That’s highly unlikely. Given the bizarre abilities she’s shown so far, how many people could possibly hurt her?’

Just then, Stella Sterling had already reigned in her emotions and regained her composure. She asked him another question. "Then what about Gordon Ford? Have you ever heard the name Gordon Ford?"

"Gordon Ford?"

As he repeated the name, a trace of confusion flickered in Andrew Shaw’s eyes.

Seeing his expression, Stella Sterling’s heart sank.

’With Gordon Ford’s strength and background, there’s no way he’d have a bad run of it. At the very least, he wouldn’t be an unknown.’

But Andrew seemed unfamiliar with the name.

’Could it be that Gordon Ford also died early in the previous timeline?’

At this thought, Stella Sterling’s heart sank further, a pang of pain shooting through it.

But just then, as if suddenly remembering something, Andrew Shaw exclaimed excitedly, "You know Gordon Ford too? He’s a big shot! Another big shot, and one who’s even more powerful than Caleb Xavier!"

Hearing this, the gloom that had settled over Stella Sterling instantly vanished, and a smile touched the corners of her lips.

But in the next moment, Andrew Shaw shook his head. "The man is powerful, no doubt, but it’s a pity he’s a madman—"

Stella Sterling tilted her head, looking at him with a confused expression.

’A madman?’

’Of the people who survived that deep into the apocalypse, how many could still be considered normal? Every last one of them had a touch of madness.’

’When everyone around you is just as crazy, it becomes the new normal. You don’t think of it as madness anymore.’

’But for him to single out Gordon Ford as a madman... what’s that about?’

She thought of Gordon Ford. He had always been calm and powerful. It was hard to imagine what he could have done to be labeled a madman by others.

"The guy’s crazy, completely reckless! In my past life, I heard he was gathering a huge number of researchers to find a way to go back to the past!"

"I mean, in the apocalypse, just surviving was a struggle. We’d all made it that far, who in their right mind would want to do it all over again and relive the horrors of the end of the world?"

Andrew Shaw shook his head as he spoke.

Stella Sterling frowned at this. ’Researching how to go back to the past?’

Andrew Shaw stopped talking and looked at Stella Sterling. "Miss, don’t tell me you know this Gordon Ford, too?"

Stella Sterling nodded.

Andrew Shaw looked at her with envy. "Of course it’s you. Everyone you know turns out to be a big shot in the future, a total badass!"

"But hey, if your relationship with both of them is about the same, I’d suggest you get on Caleb Xavier’s good side. That guy is much easier to get along with."

"As for that Gordon Ford... he’s powerful, sure, but he doesn’t seem to be all there in the head. It’s better to keep your distance from someone like that."

As he spoke, Andrew Shaw’s voice trailed off. He realized the woman in front of him was staring at him with a strange, displeased look in her eyes.

It seemed she had become upset because he’d been bad-mouthing Gordon Ford. He immediately grasped the key point and asked tentatively, "Miss, are you... on very good terms with this Gordon Ford?"

"Yes. Very good. He’s the man I love."

Stella Sterling looked at him with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile.

Andrew Shaw threw his head back and let out a huge sigh.

’It’s over, it’s over. Gordon Ford is the man she’s in love with, and I just stood here calling him a madman, saying he wasn’t right in the head.’

’I’m the one who’s not right in the head!’

’How could I have guessed so wrong!’

He instantly changed his tune, forcing a laugh. "Heh heh heh, I was just kidding! ’Mad,’ you know... in the apocalypse, who isn’t? It’s perfectly normal for your man to be like that. Besides, his abilities are outstanding in every way!"

"He’s even more powerful than that Caleb Xavier. Miss, you’ve got pretty good taste! Heh heh heh heh heh..."

Andrew Shaw kept laughing awkwardly.