As I sat at the dinner table, I asked nonchalantly, "I overheard something about Howard, school, and a house earlier. What's the story?"

Christopher and Sally locked eyes, sharing a silent conversation.

With a heavy sigh, Sally said, "Howard's my grandnephew. You wouldn't believe the tough breaks my niece has had. Her man has left her, and she has to raise their kid alone, jobless. And with the kid needing school but having no house to call home, he can't even get into a decent one.

"I feel so powerless as her aunt, unable to help my own kin."

Sally dabbed at her eyes in a show of sorrow.

I dropped my utensils with a clatter. "Well, a man who ditches his kid is lowly, but a woman who won't stand up for herself isn't much better. They're both as sorry as the other."

Christopher's face soured at my words, and I fixed him with a look. "Honey, you agree, don't you?"

He managed a strained nod.

I rose, heading for the bedroom. "I'm done eating."

Sally called after me, "You barely touched your food."

I said, "I've lost my appetite thanks to the pathetic display from those two."

The sun had barely risen when Christopher slipped out the door, murmuring something about work.

However, I knew better. He was off to see that mother and her child.

He had confessed as much in my previous life while cutting into me with a knife through flesh.

He had even warned me that my fate would be grim, apocalypse or not.

I scoffed at the thought.

With all my jewelry stashed in a backpack, I made a beeline for the local pawnshop. The manager did not bat an eye at my request, and just like that, three million dollars landed in my account.

I spent the rest of the day on a shopping spree, dropping 1.5 million on enough food, water, medicine, and supplies to fill ten trucks.

I then led the caravan to my secluded vacation home in the suburbs.

The drivers and movers worked diligently, stowing everything in the basement as I had instructed. Their eyes flickered with curiosity and confusion, but I ignored their silent questions.

The apocalypse had not arrived yet. How could they possibly understand the urgency I felt?

I was not concerned about looters post-apocalypse either. The villa's security was top-notch; any would-be thieves would need more than just guts to breach it. They would need explosives.

With the supplies secured, I hit the road again, heading for Lascora, a place I had found online that seemed perfect for a funeral.

Anxiety gnawed at me during the drive. Sight unseen, how could I truly be sure?

However, as Lascora came into view, relief washed over me. It was ideal. The land stretched for miles, barren except for a few homes to the west. The ground was a blanket of yellow sand, devoid of vegetation, a natural barrier against the threat of wildfires.

I confronted Andrew Smith right there on his property, telling him I needed to lease his land.

Andrew, a savvy businessman, saw my desperation and hit me with a jaw-dropping price of 1.5 million dollars.

I clenched my jaw and accepted.

However, I was no pushover. I demanded he get me five massive iron boxes for the burial gifts within a week.

I made it clear he had to cover for me if there was any flak for the bonfire I had planned for the funeral.

Andrew agreed without batting an eye, and I handed him a 750-thousand-dollar deposit right then and there.

Once everything was set, I could finally relax.

The funeral and logistics were sorted, then it was just about keeping an eye on things, which was the easy part.

Next on my list: getting my money back from Christopher.