Lisa's slender fingers pointed at Ella outside.
Despite her zombified state, Ella's figure and facial features revealed that she had once been a striking beauty. Now, this once-gorgeous woman was chained outside like a rabid dog under Miles' cold command.
Lisa was an observant woman.
In the short span of an hour, she had noticed more than once the deep hatred and icy disdain in Miles' eyes whenever he glanced at Ella. It was clear—there was history between them.
Miles caught her meaning but smiled nonchalantly. "You're perceptive, but perceptive women should also know their place, so—"
Before he could finish, Lisa stood up slowly. Under the dim light, she let her robe slide off, revealing her stunning form in its entirety. The ethereal glow of her skin under the warm light left little to the imagination.
Miles abandoned any pretense of restraint and unleashed his desires without hesitation.
The night stretched long, filled with carnal satisfaction.
The apocalypse had stolen the stars and veiled the moon in an ashen shroud. The predawn hours were wrapped in an oppressive darkness.
Lisa lay languidly beside Miles, her arm draped across his, pressing it against her full and supple form.
Miles, however, quietly withdrew his arm and slipped out of bed. Once outside the bedroom, he locked the door.
This was only the first time. Sharing a bed felt premature.
Even though they had stripped away all pretenses, trust was still a distant luxury, and he wouldn't gamble on it yet.
Retreating to the upstairs guest room, Miles grabbed a spare blanket and promptly fell asleep.
When he awoke, the outside world was still shrouded in gloom. Snowflakes drifted lazily, though less fiercely than before, blanketing the frozen ground with layers of impenetrable ice.
He glanced at the clock—twelve hours had passed since he'd collapsed into sleep.
After checking on Lisa, he opened the door to find her still curled up in bed. One leg was draped over a pillow, revealing more of her than modesty might permit. The sheets bore the faint traces of crimson—a poignant reminder that last night had been her first.
Miles couldn't help the small smirk tugging at his lips. So that explains her reaction last night… no wonder her cries were so raw they even startled Ryan outside.
He had ignored Ryan's curious walkie-talkie messages during the chaos, too preoccupied with the moment to care.
Pulling food from his spatial storage, Miles laid out a light breakfast of dim sum and soup dumplings. Knocking on the bedroom door, he called out, "Come eat."
Rustling noises came from inside, followed by Lisa emerging in a loose-fitting robe. The warmth of the villa allowed her to wear minimal clothing, though after the night they'd shared, there was little point in pretenses.
She sat cautiously at the table, waiting for Miles' nod before delicately beginning her meal.
Miles, meanwhile, sipped his milk by the window, watching as snow continued to fall in the distance.
The apocalyptic freeze had sculpted a new reality—a true ice age.
His gaze shifted to Ella, chained outside. Her condition had visibly worsened overnight. Her clothing hung in tatters, her once-human appearance now twisted into something grotesque. Yet, inexplicably, she seemed impervious to the cold.
Could mutation really alter the body's physiology so profoundly?
Miles turned back to Lisa and said, "Finish eating. Then get to work. The medical equipment is in the basement. I don't keep idlers here."
A flicker of disappointment crossed Lisa's eyes.
"Yes, Master," she replied, her tone subdued.
She had hoped that after last night, Miles might show her a hint of tenderness. But it seemed he was utterly indifferent—a man who took what he wanted and gave nothing in return. Her first time clearly held no value in his eyes.
Lisa forced herself to accept it. She didn't love him, nor did he love her. Their relationship was transactional, void of any genuine affection.
Yet, as she glanced at his sculpted physique and chiseled features, she couldn't entirely regret it. At least he provided her with unparalleled safety and comfort in this treacherous world.
Miles, too, kept his emotions tightly bound. Last night had been nothing more than a release of pent-up desires. Any flicker of sentiment that might have arisen was swiftly extinguished.
Minutes later, Lisa pushed back her chair with a satisfied sigh. But when she noticed Miles' icy stare, she quickly sat upright.
"Get to work," he ordered coldly.
Lisa followed him to the entrance, where he punched in a series of codes and produced an intricately crafted key from his spatial storage.
The door creaked open, letting in a blast of icy wind. Miles shivered before summoning two top-tier protective suits from his inventory.
He was once again reminded of his foresight in preparing this fortress. Without it, even his boundless resources wouldn't shield him from the elements.
Pulling out a surgical kit, Miles handed it to Lisa. "You're up."
"Me?" Lisa asked, her voice quivering with dread.
"Who else? If all I needed was a warm body, I could've brought in a starlet from the gated villas nearby."
Miles' blunt dismissal of her worth stung. This was a community teeming with celebrities and heiresses—women who could easily rival her beauty.
Lisa swallowed her pride, took the surgical tools, and approached Ella with hesitant steps.
The zombie immediately thrashed against her chains, emitting a guttural snarl that sent Lisa stumbling back in fear.
Miles watched from the doorway, his expression unyielding. There was no trace of pity, only cold indifference.
Taking a shaky breath, Lisa steeled herself. With a swift motion, she drove the scalpel into Ella's abdomen.
The zombie let out a blood-curdling shriek but momentarily froze, its movements faltering. Seizing the opportunity, Lisa deftly carved out a chunk of tissue and deposited it into a container before retreating hastily.
Miles observed with faint amusement. The once-timid doctor had revealed a ruthless streak. Her precision and efficiency spoke of a steely resolve beneath her delicate exterior.
Indeed, the most venomous creatures often wear the softest masks.