Apocalypse Villainess? Nah, I'm Nice

Chapter 352: Chapter 244: Separation

The accusation left Paige Summers reeling, her mind blank for a good while.

’So it’s not just me who has a problem with him,’ she thought. ’He has plenty of his own complaints about me.’

His words were harsh, but he wasn’t wrong about one crucial thing: she really didn’t trust him enough. And he didn’t trust her, either.

’I’m suddenly so tired...’

After a long silence, she finally pushed his hand away and said wearily, "Because back then, you were tempted."

Marcus Monroe knew what she meant. He didn’t try to hide it, instead admitting it readily. "Yes! I was tempted! An army that never ages, dies, or feels pain... of course that was tempting! What man doesn’t have the ambition to fight for supremacy in a chaotic world? Everyone wants to reach the top! But what does being tempted even mean? Does it mean I’m going to cooperate with Zombies and wipe out humanity? Or is that what you really think of me? If I were the man I used to be, would you still doubt me?"

Paige Summers opened her mouth to speak, but the sound of artillery fire echoed from the distance once more.

So, what she said instead was, "The assault on the city has started. Let’s go back. We can talk about this later when we have time!"

With that, she took off at a run.

Marcus Monroe reached out a hand, resentful, but ultimately let it fall and followed her.

In truth, they both understood.

Paige Summers’s answer would have been no.

If it were the old Marcus Monroe, she would have trusted him without a moment’s hesitation. He wasn’t just her lover; he was the partner she could trust with her life. How could she possibly not trust someone like that?!

But now, it was different.

Marcus Monroe hadn’t just lost his memories of their love; his entire personality had changed so much he was like a stranger.

Even as Paige Summers told herself to stop comparing him to the man he used to be and to accept him as he was now, she was still subconsciously resisting. She might not have even been fully aware of it herself, but her resistance manifested unconsciously in her decisions and actions.

So, while she might be momentarily captivated by the new sides of Marcus Monroe he revealed, when it came to a critical moment, she still held back.

Marcus Monroe was only just beginning to understand this himself.

He felt incredibly frustrated!

’Was it my fault I forgot about our past?’

’Even if I don’t have that deep love for her anymore, I still think of her as my woman! I’ve been protecting her!’

’But her?’

’She actually distrusts me this much!’

As he thought about it, his gaze on her retreating back grew cold.

Traveling in silence, it didn’t take them long to get back to the Central Army’s encampment.

Just as they’d hoped, Sweetie had already rescued Shawn Monroe.

Paige Summers herself hadn’t expected it to go so smoothly.

Her original plan had been for Sweetie to take advantage of the chaos while they were inside the city pinning down Nora Lowell to rescue him.

She just hadn’t expected Nora Lowell to lead them into a tunnel, or for those masked men to appear... but as it turned out, that only made for a more effective diversion.

And it was all thanks to Sweetie’s cleverness. It had chosen to peck through the ropes holding Shawn Monroe at the exact moment Nora Lowell was with them in the tunnel and the masked men were busy moving the researchers.

Paige Summers felt their enemies’ movements had been somewhat chaotic, but she had to admit that Sweetie had perfectly seized the opportunity.

So, an animal’s instinct should absolutely not be underestimated!

However, it had been slightly injured.

It had been hit in the wing on the way back while carrying Shawn Monroe, and pushing on with the journey had aggravated the injury slightly.

It acted all pitiful upon seeing Paige Summers.

Fortunately, the immediate reward of two Crystal Cores and the promise of two more cheered it right up.

See? It wasn’t as foolish as humans. Life was for living happily, not for creating your own problems!

Paige Summers glanced at Shawn Monroe. Seeing that his injuries were severe but not yet fatal, she felt a sense of relief. ’We’re partners, and he’s quite useful. It would be a shame for him to die.’

After that, she and Marcus Monroe headed straight for the front.

The battle for the city was raging fiercely at the front lines.

In calm command, Kiera Walsh looked a decade younger. Gazing at the two anti-aircraft guns his trusted subordinates had just brought from Central City, his spirits were high, a stark contrast to his earlier forced, weary demeanor. A furious fire burned in his eyes, as if nothing less than leveling Norgate and blasting every last Zombie to bits would be enough to avenge his son.

Unfortunately, there were only three shells.

He had obtained these with great difficulty.

Therefore, the shells could only be used to blast open the city gates; the army would still have to serve as the main assault force.

Of course, the morale boost from the artillery was immense.

The Central Army’s morale surged once more as they charged into Norgate.

Paige Summers and Marcus Monroe also joined in.

Upon returning to Norgate, their main objective—aside from slaying Zombies along the way—was to find any trace of Nora Lowell and the masked men.

To their disappointment, however, they didn’t find a single one.

The city held only Zombies, some imprisoned civilians, and a handful of remaining Superpower Users. Nothing else.

Both of them were seething with frustration, and could only take it out on the Zombies...

After a day and two nights of slaughter, the battle for the city was finally over.

Standing amidst the field of corpses, Paige Summers felt utterly exhausted. She and Marcus Monroe had split up and searched nearly every corner of Norgate, but they still hadn’t found Nora Lowell or a single one of the masked men.

The tunnel entrance inside the city had been blown up long before they entered.

The time bomb Marcus Monroe had set had also detonated, completely sealing the passage that led out of the city and bypassed the Central Army’s encampment. Kiera Walsh learned of the situation and planned to deal with it completely after the battle.

But clearly, Nora Lowell and her people had escaped.

Paige Summers sighed and slowly walked away.

Right now, she just wanted to find a place to rest.

Now that the Central Army had taken the city, the busy work of cleanup began. Disposing of the bodies and conducting a final search would take a considerable amount of time.

Paige Summers didn’t look for Marcus Monroe, but went outside the city alone.

It was still quiet here for the time being.

At least, until the cleanup inside the city was finished, the Central Army wouldn’t be concerned with the area out here.

She found a corner and sat under a tree.

Leaning against the tree trunk, her chaotic mind gradually calmed down.

She began to slowly try to sort out the problems between her and Marcus Monroe.

’Thinking it over, I really do owe him an apology.’

’Anyone would be angry if they were suspected like that.’

’It wasn’t that I truly thought he would cooperate with Nora Lowell. I just... I expected him to be completely resolute from the start, not even the slightest bit tempted. When reality didn’t meet my expectations, I couldn’t accept the difference, and my attitude showed it.’

’He wants to reach the top...’

’There’s nothing wrong with that.’

’The old him never said it, but that doesn’t mean he never thought it.’

’So, when all is said and done, I was the one in the wrong.’

But even though she was wrong, she realized something.

They couldn’t just keep going on like this, confused and uncertain.

Otherwise, this argument would be the first of many. If things got to a point where they were beyond repair, their relationship would truly be over, with no going back.

They both needed to cool down, think things through, and re-evaluate.

So, when Marcus Monroe found her, his face grim, she said seriously, "Let’s take some time apart."