Apocalypse Rebirth: Making Billions With My Fortune-Telling Skill

Chapter 122: Driving Lessons

April stared at Alexander’s hand pressed flat against his chest. She looked back at the matte-black Jeep under the spotlights, her mind quickly weighing the practical benefits.

​In her past life, she had been a runner—navigating the broken remnants of the world entirely on foot, dodging dangers by ducking into alleys and crawling through ruins.

She had never sat behind the wheel of a motorized vehicle back then. Cars were luxury assets for high-tier factions that required fuel and mechanical knowledge.

She had always viewed transport as an unnecessary risk that could easily get trapped in a bottleneck.

​But looking at this reinforced Jeep, with its heavy steel ramming bar and thick windows, she had to change her mind.

​He is right, April thought. I don’t plan to leave the safety of my fortress once the countdown hits zero. But if an emergency happens, relying solely on my feet or expecting Samuel to always drive is a severe flaw.

​Having all sorts of survival skills was something she had in her to-do list.

​"All right," April agreed, her voice dropping back into its usual flat tone. "I accept. We can start the driving lessons right now."

​Alexander’s face shifted into a relaxed, confident grin.

Up until he met her, the crushing weight of his family’s troubles had made him constantly on edge. Of course, he grew up with only the best and it made him complacent and arrogant, but she managed to bury his arrogance somehow.

Now that the crisis was averted and the path was clear, he felt a strange, new sense of freedom.

​He walked over to the driver’s side, throwing the door open. It was quite heavy, given the kind of car it was. "Come on, hop in. Let’s start with the basics."

​April climbed into the cabin. The scent of new leather and industrial sealant instantly washed over her. The seat was firm, and the dashboard looked clean, modern, and sturdy.

It was a beauty both outside and inside.

​Alexander leaned over the open door frame, reaching for her seatbelt. "First and foremost, safety first." He said. "Always make sure to have your seatbelt on." He grabbed the seatbelt, his body pressing very close to hers before he buckled it and pulled back.

April looked at the seatbelt, her hand trailing the smooth leather.

"Safety first," she repeated with a quiet voice.

"Now," Alexander pointed a finger down at the floorboards. ​"Look down there," he began, his voice surprisingly focused. "Since this is a heavy-duty custom build, it’s an automatic. You only have two pedals to worry about. The long one on the right is the gas—that makes this thing move. The wide one on the left is the brake. The most important rule: use your right foot for both. Never use both feet at the same time, or you’ll stress the engine and ruin the car."

​April looked down at her loafers, lightly pressing her right foot against the wide steel brake pedal. "Understood. The left foot does nothing."

​"Exactly," Alexander said, moving his hand to the steering wheel. "Now, grab the wheel. Feel the weight of it. This isn’t a flimsy sports car. It’s got a lot of armor plating, so you’re going to have to use some real muscle when you’re turning at slow speeds. Don’t be timid with it."

​April placed her hands on the thick leather grip. A strange, quiet sensation of control rippled through her chest. For the first time, she wasn’t just hoarding resources; she was learning something simple, something that the average person learns once they come of age.

But of course, she wasn’t driving the kind of car the average person does. This machine was designed to smash through obstacles.

​"Now, turn the key," Alexander instructed. "Let’s see how it sounds."

​April reached forward, gripping the key and twisting it.

​The engine instantly roared to life with a deep, raving growl that vibrated right through the floorboards, shaking the exhibition bay.

The raw, mechanical power humming beneath her seat was deeply satisfying to her. Now, it truly felt like she was learning to drive.

​Alexander let out a brief chuckle over the rumble as he watched the satisfaction ripple over her face, though it wasn’t very visible.

"Good. Now, keep your foot pressed firmly on the brake, and pull that lever in the center console straight down to ’D’ for Drive. Don’t yank it, just a clean pull."

​April looked down at the heavy shifter, her hand gripping the cold metal knob. With a smooth, deliberate motion, she clicked it into gear.

​"Great," Alexander said, walking around to the passenger side.

He hopped into the leather seat beside her, pulling his seatbelt across his chest until it clicked. "The showroom has a private, three-mile closed track right out the back doors. No public traffic, no cameras, and no speed limits. Let’s head out and see how your reflexes hold up."

​April stared straight through the thick windshield toward the heavy iron warehouse doors that were slowly grinding upward, revealing a wide, sunlit track.

​She slowly began to ease the pressure of her right loafer off the brake pedal, feeling the massive, armored Jeep instantly pull forward with an unyielding momentum.

​Alexander leaned his elbow against the window sill, keeping a sharp eye on her hands and her posture. "Take it easy on the gas at first. If you jerk the wheel like that, we’re going to take out the door frame. Keep your eyes on the road, not the dashboard."

​"I am focusing," April murmured, her foot gently transferring over to the accelerator as the black beast surged out into the open air.

But the moment April’s loafer touched the accelerator, the massive Jeep didn’t glide forward smoothly. Instead, it violently surged.

​Startled by the sudden roar of the engine, April instantly slammed her foot back down on the wide brake pedal.

The vehicle jerked to a brutal stop, throwing both of them forward against their seatbelts.

​"Whoa! Gentle!" Alexander barked, his hand flying out to brace himself against the dashboard. "Don’t stamp on it like you’re trying to kill a bug!"