Apocalypse Rebirth: Crazy from Day One

Chapter 434: Chapter 444: A Stab to the Heart

"What is going on between you two?"

Selene Larkin asked directly. Rather than standing there guessing and letting her imagination run wild, it was better to just ask for a clear answer.

After asking, she looked over at Stella Sterling, only to see the other woman still looking at her with that same, somewhat pitying gaze.

Her brow furrowed deeply. This wasn’t the first time the woman had looked at her like that; she had done the same several times before.

It filled her with displeasure.

Hearing her question, River Larkin quickly turned to her, his face a mask of sincerity. "Selene, I wasn’t entirely sure who she was at first, but now I know."

"She used to be my upstairs neighbor. Oh, she had quite the reputation in our apartment complex—notoriously bad. Domineering, cold-blooded, and selfish. Everyone in our building used to say she was a demon, a wicked woman."

"She probably sees my situation now and isn’t happy about it. She doesn’t want to see me doing well."

As he spoke, he shook his head helplessly. "I don’t even know how I offended her, but she just wants me dead."

"Judging by her personality, it’s not hard to tell she was an arrogant and conceited person back then."

After hearing his words, Selene Larkin nodded. She didn’t like this woman either, and from what she had seen today, the woman was indeed arrogant and looked down on everyone.

So, it all matched what River Larkin had said.

The coldness in her eyes faded as she said to River Larkin, "Don’t worry. You’re my boyfriend. There’s no way I’d ever hand you over to her."

River Larkin looked at her, his face filled with emotion. "Yes, I know. I’ve always believed in you, never once wavered!"

Listening to the pair across from her, Stella Sterling felt a cringey shiver run through her body.

’River Larkin sure has a way with words,’ Stella thought. ’He’s lucky this woman, Selene, genuinely loves him.’

She shook her head. She had said her piece, and if they didn’t believe her, there was no need to explain further. She just looked at Selene Larkin and said, "So, it looks like you’re rejecting my request."

Selene Larkin’s gaze grew even colder than before. "You’re pushing your luck. I was giving you a chance to live, and I didn’t want to waste your abilities. It’s one thing for you not to cherish this opportunity, but to make such an outrageous demand on top of it? I could never agree to that."

Stella Sterling nodded, unsurprised. ’She never sincerely intended to recruit me,’ she thought. ’She just said all that to make me lower my guard. Since the offer was fake, of course she wouldn’t agree to my request.’

She gave a helpless wave of her hand. "Well, in that case, there’s nothing left to discuss. But are you sure you want to give up a talent like me for a man like him? Is he worth it?"

Selene Larkin looked her straight in the eye. "I’m sure. He’s worth it!"

Hearing this, Quinn commented with some exasperation, "She’s pretty, but hopelessly blind and foolish!"

Selene Larkin frowned. Before she could speak, Stella Sterling spoke up again, her gaze falling mockingly on River Larkin. "Tell me, you pursued me once, didn’t you? Seeing me in this situation now, aren’t you going to say a few words on my behalf?"

After speaking, she watched Selene Larkin’s reaction. Compared to getting her own hands dirty, she much preferred to stir up internal conflict with just a few words.

And with that one sentence, the composure Selene Larkin had struggled to regain shattered once more.

River Larkin’s expression turned frantic. "What nonsense are you spouting? When did I ever pursue you?"

He then turned to Selene Larkin, rushing to explain, "You have to believe me! We had no real relationship in the past. She’s just talking nonsense! You’re the only one who’s ever been in my heart, no one else."

However, he didn’t realize that the more desperately he tried to explain, the more suspicious Selene Larkin became. After all, he had never acted like this before.

’And I remember now,’ she thought. ’From the moment he saw this woman’s back, River seemed to find her familiar. He’s been at the base for a long time, which means he hasn’t seen this woman in ages. To be able to recognize her from just her back after all this time... their relationship must have been anything but ordinary.’

’If they were just ordinary neighbors, how could he possibly recognize her like that!’

She also recalled how River Larkin had acted strangely several times today, losing his composure. All of it started after he saw this woman.

’If there was nothing between them, it would be really hard to believe!’

Meanwhile, Stella Sterling continued, "Back then, you did quite a bit to suck up to me just to get close. What’s this? Now that you have a new target, you want me dead?"

Stella Sterling’s last sentence made Selene Larkin’s suspicions deepen even further.

Indeed, River Larkin’s actions made it seem as if he wanted this woman dead.

But if they truly had no history, if they were merely upstairs-downstairs neighbors as River claimed, then there was no reason for him to act this way.

River Larkin looked like he was desperate to silence a witness.

River Larkin knew that if he let Stella Sterling keep talking, Selene Larkin would definitely start to suspect him. So he said, "I don’t know what you’re talking about. When did I ever pursue you? It’s true I tried to get close to you back then, but it was only because I wanted to travel with you!"

"When the apocalypse first started, I saw that you were skilled. Since we lived close to each other, I thought we could become comrades and face the dangers together. But later, I saw how ruthless your methods were, and how cold-blooded and selfish you were, so I gave up on that idea. Don’t you dare stand here and spout nonsense now!"

The onlookers were already stunned. They hadn’t expected this masked woman who had suddenly appeared at their base to actually know their own River Larkin, and from the sounds of it, there was quite a story between them.

Hearing his words, Stella Sterling scoffed, "Wasn’t it you who tried to suck up to me time and again, only for me to reject you? If I remember correctly, I rejected you several times, yet you still came crawling back with that shameless face of yours."

"How can you twist the truth like that? You can’t just deny everything you did just because I rejected you."

After saying this, she gave Selene Larkin a meaningful look. "Think about it. He once tried to get close to me just because he thought I was strong. Don’t you think it’s possible he’s only with you because of your status and position?"

This time, Selene Larkin didn’t answer right away. She thought about the time she had known River Larkin. She had indeed provided him with a lot of conveniences. Could that have been his real motive for getting close to her?

At that moment, Stella looked at her and asked the same question as before: "So, do you still think he’s worth it?"