Elizabeth insistently refused, and it eventually ended with her giving each household a pound of arrowroot powder in exchange. In addition, Austin gifted the 18th-floor residents a homemade "exercise bike." The bike had a heating mechanism at the back, which generated heat through a thermal tube when pedaled. It served as both a workout device and a way to warm up their apartments. Austin adjusted his glasses with a polite smile. "I'm still looking for the right parts. Once I find them, I can modify it into a charging station." The 18th-floor residents, who were always dripping with sweat from their workouts, had no immediate use for it. Nadia declined with a wave of her hand. "For now, just leave the bike as it is. Once it's upgraded for charging, we'll take it." Elizabeth felt utterly ashamed and embarrassed after seeing Nadia off."I didn't expect the other two from our floor to be so selfish. They were clearly home but pretended not to be. If they keep this up, they're bound to run into trouble. You all need to be careful—try not to have much contact with them." Elizabeth's concern wasn't unwarranted. The collectors had been wiped out; their gang certainly wouldn't let it slide. Retaliation was inevitable. The 18th floor might be capable, but they weren't known for charity. Sure, they hadn't said much this time, but what about next time? If pushed too far, they might just let the 17th floor fend for itself while they held their ground. Still, Elizabeth didn't criticize the others too harshly. After all, who wasn't afraid of dying? Selfishness, however, often proved to be a death sentence in the apocalypse. … That day was a mix of triumph and despair. The Thatchers' apartment had been completely looted. Survivors, long crushed under Hunter's extortion, showed no mercy. Those who got their hands on supplies fled gleefully, while those left empty-handed took out their frustrations by beating the family. Even their thick winter clothes were stripped from their bodies. The residents on the 16th floor, slow to react, got nothing but frustration. Worse still, they were left to clean up the mess, tasked with collecting the bodies. Furious at the ordeal, they installed a barricade at the staircase to keep any future battles from spilling into their territory. When Nadia returned to the 18th floor, Jasmine was waiting for her in the hallway. Pulling her into the apartment, Jasmine asked curiously, "How did you figure out their guns were fake?" "I didn't," Nadia admitted honestly. "I wouldn't have dared to go out there without confirmation from an expert." That's right! Harrison's the expert here. He could tell at a glance whether the guns were real or not. Still, something felt off to Jasmine. "But he stood behind you without saying a word. How did you two communicate?" Nadia blinked, caught off guard by the question. After a moment, she replied matter-of-factly, "We've lived on the same floor for a while and been through life-and-death situations together. Isn't it obvious?" Three sets of eyes turned toward Nadia, their expressions laden with hidden meaning. "You're impressive," Jasmine said, not holding back. "I've shared a room with Levi for ages, and I still don't know what he's thinking. Can you secretly read Harrison's mind?" Levi, hearing his name, instantly declared his loyalty. "I'm all yours, Honey! I see no one else but you!" Caleb, the eternal bachelor, grumbled from the side. What did I do to deserve this emotional damage? Nadia, catching on to the undertone in Jasmine's words, frowned slightly. "What are you trying to say?" Levi, with zero filter, jumped in. "How far have things gone between you and Harrison?"Home run, probably. Nadia wasn't oblivious, but the apocalypse had left deep scars. After witnessing the depths of human selfishness, greed, and cruelty, she had no room in her heart for romance. The thought of forming a close relationship in this post-apocalyptic world didn't even cross her mind. To put it bluntly, she didn't want to get close to anyone. Even with Caleb and Levi, they were friends and partners in survival—people she could fight alongside in danger. But living and sharing everything with them? That was a boundary she wouldn't cross. Her personal space was her sanctuary, a place where her body and mind could find a rare moment of relaxation. So, when Jasmine and Levi started teasing her, she was genuinely baffled. "Are you misunderstanding something?" Sure, she had the domain, but she wasn't some omnipotent cheat. She didn't even know how long she'd survive. And in the apocalypse, the scariest thing wasn't the disasters themselves but the unpredictability of human nature. Wayne's betrayal had been proof enough. How could she ever trust in love again? Seeing her genuine confusion, Levi was momentarily stunned. "Harrison's interest in you is so obvious, and you don't see it?" "Obvious how?" Levi groaned. "If he wasn't into you, why would he help you train Colby?" "I'm also tutoring Lily." "Out of all of us, why is he only teaching you hand-to-hand combat?" Nadia quirked a brow. "Do either of you have the aptitude for it?" Levi and Caleb fell silent, unable to argue. "When you slipped on the rooftop, he pushed me aside to help you up." Nadia blinked but said nothing. "And remember that freezing night? He nearly broke down your door to bring you a mink coat and a charcoal heater. Same group, same situation, but none of us got anything." Again, Nadia had no response. "And don't forget when we went to chop wood. He got hit with a brick saving you, and then you took care of him, treating his injuries and cooking breakfast." Nadia hesitated, unable to refute any of it. The points were so straightforward she couldn't ignore them. "Have you ever seen him care about anyone else that much? I'd be a Dutchman if there's nothing between you two." Levi, ever the romantic, wrapped an arm around Jasmine and boasted, "Since I first landed my eyes on you, honey, no other woman could excite me again." Caleb, the perpetual bachelor, groaned again. Will this ever stop?! Despite the banter, all three agreed: there had to be something between Nadia and Harrison. How else could they explain their silent understanding of each other?Nadia, reflecting on her past actions, replied after some time, "I don't know if he feels that way, but I can tell you for sure, I don't." She admitted to herself that, in a different life, without the apocalypse, she might have fallen for someone like Harrison—a capable, good-looking man with a calm demeanor. She might have even pursued him. But now? Survival came first. Levi thought for a moment, then asked, "Is it because of Wayne? Have you given up on trusting men altogether? Nadia, listen to me. It's better to have someone by your side. Look at me. If I hadn't met Jasmine, my life would've been a waste." Nadia rolled her eyes, refusing to indulge in his romanticism. "You're you. I'm me. Don't lump us together." Everyone had their path to take. Levi, for instance, was the type to thrive in relationships. If it hadn't been Jasmine, it would've been another "Jasmine"—Jasmine Smith or Jasmine Brown. At least things were clearer now: Harrison was interested, but Nadia didn't reciprocate."Are you really not considering him?" Levi asked, his tone sincere. "He might seem cold, but he's capable and responsible. Women are practically drooling over him." It was true—even without romance, pairing up in an apocalypse made survival easier. Harrison and Nadia made a great team, and together, they stood a better chance of making it. But Levi didn't push the point, knowing Nadia's stubborn nature. Nadia, for her part, was certain. She didn't have feelings for Harrison. Even if she did, she couldn't afford to act on them. The cost of exposing her secrets was too high. The apocalypse had stripped away certainty. People who once seemed strong often broke under repeated blows from relentless disasters. Who could say their heart wouldn't change over time? Nadia couldn't even trust herself to stay the same. How could she place her faith in anyone else?