The TV pulled me back to reality. The weather report was giving a warning.

[We’ve got some unusual weather coming up due to a cold front and a Montana cyclone. Expect strong winds and possible sandstorms over the next few days. Please stay calm, keep doors and windows shut, and avoid going outside if you can.]

My mother-in-law scoffed at the report, still munching on sunflower seeds. “This weather forecast is always off. Who are they kidding? We’re way too far inland for any sandstorm. Pfft.”

I stood by the door, smirking to myself. There was still a week until the apocalypse would hit, and the sandstorm would roll in.

Not just inland areas, but even the coast wouldn’t escape.

I needed to use this week wisely, stock up on supplies, and maybe even get some payback on this family.

On the sixth day before the end, I woke up to noises from the neighboring room.

The bed creaked and there were unpleasant sounds.

“Careful, don’t let Sophia hear,” came a sweet, whiny voice.

“Why should I worry? She can’t even get pregnant. Hayley, hurry up and give me that baby boy!” Luther’s voice was impatient.

In my previous life, I would have cowered in silence, lying in bed and crying quietly.

But this time, I managed to swallow my disgust, filled a basin with water from the bathroom, and stormed over to the door of the next room.

I threw the water straight onto the naked couple in bed.

The woman shrieked as the cold water hit her, and Luther flew into a rage.

I watched their panic with a smirk and said, “Getting frisky already? Thought you might need to cool down.”

“Sophia, are you out of your mind? If you can’t have kids, just get out!” Hayley snapped.

My mother-in-law, hearing the noise, rushed out and started scolding me immediately. “Sophia, Hayley’s staying with us for a few days. If you can’t handle it, you should move out.”

It was as if I was the intruder. I had once tried so hard to please them because of my guilt over not being able to conceive.

Now, she and Luther were quickly calming down the upset Hayley, sweet-talking her.

I looked at the three of them coolly. Moving out was exactly what I wanted, so I went back to my room and started packing my things.

Passports and bank cards were my top priorities. I quickly grabbed a couple of outfits and headed out.

My first stop was the bank, where I withdrew some cash and canceled the secondary cards I’d given to my in-laws.

I had a few hundreds of thousands in cash and transferred the remaining 500 thousand dollars to a different account. With the dowry from my parents and a few thousand dollars in wedding gifts from Luther, I had about 1 million dollars in total.

Then, I went to a villa not far from Luther’s place.

I’d bought it some time ago, planning to surprise him with it once the renovation was finished. But with the apocalypse looming, I needed to act fast.

I called the renovation crew and had them install security bars on all the floor-to-ceiling windows, fit the highest-grade security doors, add solar panels, and set up surveillance cameras at the entrance.

I also stocked up on essentials like a high-power generator, refrigerator, freezer, and water tank.

The villa had a basement, perfect for storing supplies.

With the sandstorm’s power likely to shatter glass and erode buildings, staying above ground wasn’t safe.

Just then, my mom called, “Sophia, how are you? The news says there might be a sandstorm. Stay safe and try not to go outside.”

Hearing her voice brought tears to my eyes.

I remembered how they’d disapproved of my marriage to Luther, but I’d been stubborn, choosing love and moving far away, rarely visiting.

Now, with the end just days away and me so far from home, I didn’t want to burden her with my in-laws’ issues. Instead, I urged them to stock up on supplies too.

I knew they might not fully believe me, so I sent them a detailed list and made them promise to buy everything.

The end had come so suddenly, and I had been too wrapped up in my own situation to think much about them until my mom’s call came, telling me that my dad had gone out for supplies and disappeared.

When I tried to call her back, there was no answer.

Since then, I hadn’t heard from her. I vowed to myself that this time, I would survive until I could be reunited with my family.

On the fifth day before the apocalypse, I set out to stockpile supplies.

I loaded up on various meats: 25 kilograms each of pork, beef, lamb, and chicken; 50 cases of canned meats; and 25 pounds of dried beef. I also grabbed 250 kilograms of rice, 250 kilograms of flour, 50 boxes of instant noodles, 100 boxes of compressed biscuits, and 100 bags of frozen dumplings and wontons.

I picked up 50 kilograms each of long-lasting fruits and vegetables, 50 barrels of cooking oil, and 30 bottles each of salt, soy sauce, and other seasonings.

All of this was arranged for delivery to my designated address. I then hit the supermarket for snacks, drinks, hotpot ingredients, and frozen foods like chicken legs and wings.

At a nearby hospital, I stocked up on medicines, cold remedies, ibuprofen, various antibiotics, and, crucially, masks. I also ordered several sets of protective gear, which should be ready in two days.

As night fell, I stored most of the supplies in the basement, leaving just a small portion upstairs. This reinforced house would offer some protection against the initial sandstorm.

On the fourth day, I bought 500 cases of bottled water, 250 kilograms of diesel, and 250 kilograms of cat litter for emergency sanitation. I also picked up 100 boxes of toilet paper, 30 sets of clothes for each season, 50 boxes of daily toiletries, and 10 power banks.

After a grueling day of shopping, I called my mom.

She had followed my list and bought many of the items, even sending me videos to prove it. I finally felt a bit more relieved.

On the third day, I focused on buying weapons and tools, including Swiss Army knives, stun guns, binoculars, gas masks, and radios, to prepare for any situation.

I also visited a fitness store and bought a treadmill, yoga mats, and an abdominal machine.

Staying fit would help prevent illness and keep me ready to defend myself.

On my way home, I stopped by a farmer’s market and remembered the importance of seeds. I picked up a variety of vegetable and fruit seeds to add to my growing stockpile.