"I'm tired, Curt. Let's go," Brenda said.

Naturally, Curtis treated every word Brenda said like it was the law. He immediately picked her up princess-style and left, not caring about the fact that I wasn't done talking to him yet.

Curtis had only just taken a few steps away when I suddenly caught sight of Brenda mouthing the words to me in glee. "He's all mine."

I smiled back at her.

"Really? Let's find out."

…

After that day, I stayed home to prepare for the wedding. However, even though I had no interest in it, I still caught wind of plenty of gossip as it came my way.

"I heard that Hazel Falken made a fuss about only ever marrying Mr. Granger, but he disagreed with her and took off with Brenda."

"Isn't Hazel the commander's daughter? Why is she the one making a fuss about this?"

"Mr. Granger has been childhood friends with Brenda since they were young, but Hazel kept trying to break them apart because she knew she was a bigshot."

When my best friend, Jessie Ryder, told me about the rumors, I got so angry that my eyes turned red.

"If Commander Falken hadn't saved Curtis' life back then and brought him back to the base, Curtis would've been dead a long time ago!

"He was the one who also agreed to be one of your husband candidates in return. But look at all the rumors he's spreading! He's gone overboard!"

I smiled softly. Just as I was about to reply to Jessie, Curtis suddenly barged in.

"Hazel Falken! What have you done to Bree?"

I didn't understand what Curtis was talking about and looked at him with a clueless expression.

However, that only seemed to anger Curtis even further. He roughly grabbed me by the arm and said, "Bree's having a high fever! Don't tell me that you weren't the one who infected her with the zombie virus!"

I froze in shock.

"What zombie virus?"

"You got jealous of her because I liked her and not you, so you infected her with the zombie virus! Let me tell you this, Hazel Falken. Even if Bree turns into a zombie, I'll still marry her, not you!"

I felt my chest squeeze painfully when I heard his words. My eyes turned red, and my voice shook as I tried to explain myself.

"I didn't! And the person I chose isn't—"

However, Curtis wasn't interested in my explanation. Instead, he pulled me to my feet and forcefully dragged me out of my room.

When I entered Brenda's room, I immediately saw that her face was looking a little dark and purplish.

The doctor wouldn't stop shaking his head as he looked at her.

"I'm afraid that Ms. Carlton's been infected by the zombie virus. I don't know where the virus came from, but if she can't get the antidote in time, she'll transform into a zombie by tonight. I hope you'll prepare yourself for that."

Curtis' face turned ashen when he heard what the doctor said.

"But how could that be? Brenda has never left the base before!"

I glanced at Curtis suspiciously when I heard him say that. It was impossible for Brenda to have never left the base before.

The base was a shelter that the remaining people had built together during the zombie apocalypse. And to keep the base sustainable, the commander had laid down a rule that every adult had to go out and forage for food and supplies every week.

Even I hadn't been exempted from that rule before I had gravely injured my leg. So, how could it be that Brenda never left the base before?

Just then, I caught sight of the ring on her finger again. I immediately looked at Curtis as realization dawned on me.

Brenda would never have had to leave the base if someone else had foraged her share in her place.

It just hit me then, like a truck in my face.

That explained why Curtis was always the one putting himself in great danger and leading the way when he went out foraging for food and supplies each time.

The people who went out in the same team as him would always praise Curtis and call him a role model. I had also fallen in love with his bravery and responsibility toward the rest of the people at the base.

But now, I finally realized that he had only done all this for Brenda's sake…

Even though I was the one who had saved his life.

I was beyond shocked. My knees buckled as I staggered out of the room.

Curtis finally took notice of me.

"Hazel Falken. If I remember correctly, you have a dose of antidote with you."

I immediately turned around when I heard him and gave him a disbelieving look.

"My dad exchanged all of his military merits for that antidote so that I could save myself when I needed to," I said. "If I gave it to her now, what should I do if I get bitten by a zombie next time?"

Curtis hesitated for a brief second. "I'll protect you when the time comes."

I laughed coldly at his answer. "Protect me? How are you going to do that? Wouldn't you still be busy foraging on Brenda's behalf?"

Curtis shuddered. "You know about that?"

I didn't say another word and just cast him an icy glance.

Curtis saw the look in my eyes and suddenly looked like he had finally understood something. He clenched his fists, gritting his teeth.

"Brenda injured her leg when she saved my life back then. Please save her life. As long as you're willing to save her, I'll forget about the fact that you infected her in the first place."

My lips twitched. I didn't know how I was supposed to face the current situation.

So, even until now, Curtis was sure that I was the one who infected Brenda with the virus?

Anyone with a brain would know that the zombie virus could only be found on actual zombies. Did he really think that I found myself a fellow zombie pal and told it to bite her on my behalf?

Still, I didn't want to continue explaining myself to him anymore.

"I have three conditions. If you fulfill all of them, I'll tell my people to bring the antidote right away."

Curtis licked his dry lips. "What are they?"

"Firstly, you must get down on one knee and propose to me with everyone at the base as witnesses. Secondly, you must make yourself present at my wedding.

"As for the third condition, I will tell you on the day of the wedding itself. Complete the first two conditions first."

After telling him my conditions, I turned and left without another backward glance.

I bet that the one thing Curtis regretted the most in my past life was marrying me.

So, in this life, I was going to get back at him and take him down a few pegs by making him propose to me in front of everyone else at the base.

I wanted everyone to know that he was the one who got down on one knee and asked me for my hand in marriage.

However, I wasn't going to accept his proposal.

Just as I stepped out of Brenda's home, Curtis suddenly fell to his knees and exclaimed, "Hazel Falken, will you please marry me?"

Suddenly, the passers-by on the street had their eyes on us. They then pointed at us and began whispering among themselves.

That cleared up the rumors real quick. However, I didn't feel as happy as I thought I would be.

I reached out and gave Curtis the key to the room where the antidote was kept.

"Don't you forget to fulfill the other two conditions."

Curtis said in a hoarse voice, "I'll fulfill the conditions and marry you as promised."

I was stunned for a bit and nearly burst out in laughter.

Did Curtis really think that I had chosen him as my future husband?

I just wanted him to watch me marry someone else under his nose.

…

The entire base was joyful and lively on the day of my wedding, as if it wasn't in the middle of an apocalypse. Everyone was curious about whom I had picked as my husband.

Dad wanted to announce my choice to everyone at the base. However, I took the microphone from him before he could reveal it.

I went up to the stage and swept my gaze across the crowd.

Curtis' lips were pulled in a thin line, and his hands were balled into fists by his side. Meanwhile, Max and Samson just watched indifferently from the side, looking like they didn't care about what I was about to say.

On the other hand, Archer was still his quiet, introverted self, standing next to them. However, if I were to look a little more closely, I would notice that his eyes looked a lot redder than usual.

He couldn't possibly have been crying earlier, could he?

I found it a little hilarious. Without further ado, I said, "I hereby announce that I have chosen Archer Langdon as my husband."

At once, the entire venue turned dead silent, so much so that one could hear a pin drop.

Curtis looked at me in great disbelief.

I saw his incredulous look and couldn't stop myself from grinning back at him.

"My third condition, Curtis Granger, is for you to stay out of my sight for the rest of your life."