Chapter 82: Long Night (4)
"Mommy!"
The jubilant cry of a young girl was loud in the quiet night, causing everyone to fall silent. Their gazes converged on the young girl, who had short auburn hair tied in twin pigtails.
Without caring about anyone, she rushed over to Marie and hugged her tightly.
Marie remained dazed for a moment, then picked her up.
"Nora..."
Her voice was soft, as if she couldn’t believe this. Her eyes trembled as tears threatened to fall from her eyes. Soon, a large smile formed on her face, and she hugged her daughter tightly.
"D-Daughter...?" Marcus stammered in surprise, his gaze alternating between the mother and daughter.
’It can’t be... my daughter?! I had a daughter?’
For a moment, he remembered his past self—depressed, having low self-esteem, scorned, and unconfident. He was in his final year in the university, and his life was bleak. However, Marie entered his life without warning. She treated him like no one had ever done. She was nice, easygoing, listened to him whenever he needed, and always motivated him.
Not even a month after knowing her, he fell in love. Through some complicated means, he managed to confess to her, and surprisingly, she accepted.
Marcus immediately became confident, as that was when things started to get better for him. After graduating, he got a job at a big company, and was getting paid heavily.
At first, his love for Marie was still strong. But at some point, he gave in to the temptations around him at work. In the end, he abandoned Marie after he convinced her to give her body to him before marriage.
Since then, he hadn’t been in contact with her. He didn’t know how she fared, and he didn’t really care. Until recently.
When the apocalypse started, he was immediately abandoned by the women who were surrounding him before.
It was like he had returned to his old self. And now, he desperately longed for someone like Marie again. That was why he stole women from other men, trying to find the right woman.
However, it was impossible. They all stayed with him simply because they feared him.
Now that he had found Marie again, he couldn’t let go. However, the realization that she had a child for him stunned him for a moment. Then, his eyes shone brightly.
’This... I can finally have a family! A real family!’
A broad smile appeared on his face, and he stepped closer to the mother and daughter pair.
"Marie... is that our daughter?" He asked softly, just to confirm.
The overjoyed woman instantly turned to him, her smile gone.
"What does that concern you about?"
Hearing the sharpness in her voice, he sighed. He knew that she hated him for what he had done, and he was now willing to change and ask for her forgiveness.
"Marie. I’m sorry for everything I’ve done," He started. "I didn’t know you carried our child. I’m sorry I abandoned you in the past. I hope you can give me a chance to redeem myself. Let us be a complete family once again."
The whole place fell silent, as the revelation shocked everyone present—especially the residents of the camp. They had never seen Marcus act so softly. He was always ruthless, lecherous, and forceful.
However, they could somewhat understand him. After all, this auburn-haired woman had a child for him.
Leon stood beside Marie, watching quietly. He wasn’t really concerned about their tragic past. What he wanted to know was what Marie’s decision would be.
’Would her heart soften for someone she once loved, or would it solidify with hatred?’
Marie remained silent, her gaze lowered. Memories of the past flashed in her mind. She remembered how she had taken a liking to Marcus, and how he had treated her nicely too.
Their relationship was blissful, but he later fell. He left her coldly, not caring about her.
He didn’t even know that their only time together had resulted in her pregnancy.
Now, they had met again, under different circumstances. He was apologizing, begging her to give him a chance to redeem himself. He wanted them to be a real family—just as they had planned in the past.
’Should I...? Nora needs her father.’
She remembered the struggles of a single mother. Life was hard—extremely hard. Especially since no one was willing to accept her who already had a child.
’But if I agree... Leon. What about Leon?’
She took a long glance at him, trying to read his expression. However, he gave nothing away. Right now, he was surprisingly hard to read. And it worried her.
If she chose to stay behind with Marcus, wouldn’t that mean she was betraying him? After all, she had promised to be loyal and follow him.
Hence, she was stuck in a dilemma.
Both men saw her expression and read her mind, then turned to each other.
Marcus’s face was cold, while Leon was expressionless.
"What were you saying earlier? That my wife is your subordinate?" The bald guy asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Leon shook his head gently and said, "Wrong wording. The title ’subordinate’ comes before ’wife’."
Instantly, Marcus’s expression darkened. He stepped closer to Leon, their faces inches apart.
"Don’t you dare try anything to ruin my family. I am trying hard to bring it back and correct my mistakes. Don’t you want the girl to have a father? Are you that heartless?"
Leon stepped back and shrugged, "A father isn’t absolutely necessary. I didn’t have one while I grew up. Besides, are you fit to be a father?"
Marcus clenched his jaw hard, reining in the urge to start fighting. He couldn’t ruin his image in front of his own child.
Before he could say anything, Leon continued, "Our argument is unnecessary. The choice still lies with Marie, does it not?"
This made them both turn to the woman who had been quietly watching their exchange.
She avoided their gazes, her head dropping low. Leon’s voice washed over her like something inevitable.
"Tell me, Marie, do you want to stay?"
Behind him, Thyra’s eyes widened, ’You can’t seriously be ready to...?’
