Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again. - Chapter 406

Chapter 406: Moon meets Cassius, finally.
Peter leaned forward. “Of course. I promised myself that I would succeed where you failed if I ever met her.”

“Have you forgotten what she is?” Cassius laughed. “She is a schemer, a gold digger. She will not hesitate to stab you in the back if it serves her interests.”

Peter shrugged. “I am no fool son. Moon is a schemer, yes. But she is also a tool, a weapon and a key. She knows things about the Green’s, things I can use to finally make that rich bastard bow to me. Not just him but most of the rich folks here. Think of the big picture son.

On the surface, we have the town under our control, but the waters here run deep. There are people that were here long before we arrived. People with more wealth than us. People that can use that wealth to topple our leadership.

With Moon’s knowledge and my cunning, we will turn the tides.” He looked at Cassius’ crotch. “Well, your philandering ways have helped us a little. Getting the Green girl pregnant was a wise move. Her father’s purse strings have loosened.”

Cassius pursed his lips. Even his bedroom affairs were now under his father’s control. He was only allowed to have useful girlfriends.

He often wondered if it was possible that his harem had been planned by his father in the past life Moon had talked about.

The thought crossed his mind as he looked at his old man. But a question formed. If Moon had met his father in her last life, how could she marry him now?

“Does she know our relationship?” He asked curiously.

Strauss laughed. “Obviously not. She would not have told me all about her terrible ungrateful ex-husband if she did. Now, go and prepare yourself for dinner. The two of you should finally meet.”

Cassius wondered if his father was playing a prank. How did he think things were going to work out if he met Moon?

****

It was almost time for the long-awaited dinner and Moon had finally got one of her wishes fulfilled. She was allowed to see Charmaine.

The man had a list of grievances, but Moon did not care. She had her own problems.

“I need you to be my driver and personal guard from now on.” She told him, extending her hand like a queen would to a servant.

He took it and escorted her to the private car which was to whisk her away to the Strauss family bunker. After they settled in the car, she asked, “What have you heard about Strauss’ son. I am supposed to meet him at this dinner, and I don’t know a thing about him.”

Charmaine was astounded, “Nothing at all! If the son does not like you….this reign of yours could end sooner than expected.”

Moon burst into laughter. Loud, mocking, careless laughter that filled the car and made Charmaine wince.

She flicked her hand dismissively. “If he doesn’t like me, I will get rid of him. I am the ace here, Peter will choose me,” she said confidently. “I’m his wife. His life.”

Charmaine winced so sharply it looked painful. “Moon, something about that man feels off,” he muttered.

Moon rolled her eyes and waved him off again. Peter was perfect. Men only seemed “off” when other people were jealous. “Charmaine kill those feelings that are developing for me…..a woman like me cannot like a man like you.”

Charmaine nearly laughed in her face for she was crazy. Getting involved with a woman like Moon would be like drinking poison out of your own free will. He would never do it. “I would never dream of it, and I am married.” he reminded her.

“Like that has ever stopped a man from philandering.” She laughed some more. “Too bad you are a blank slate on Strauss Junior. I don’t even know his name.” The car hit a pothole and she started cursing. “This town is fucking shittier than I remember.” She rubbed her fingers, craving a cigarette.

How she would have loved to light one. But she had promised Strauss to give up the habit.

The car rolled to a stop in front of the guarded area where the important people lived. It parked outside Moon immediately lifted her chin. She stepped out gracefully and the guards Strauss had prepared welcomed her.

As she walked toward the door, people bowed and greeted her with respect_ well, some with respect, others with fear, others with the tight smiles of people forced to be polite. But Moon didn’t care. Every bow widened her smile until her cheeks hurt.

The bunker was very large, divided into partitions. There was a living area, dining area, bathroom, bedrooms and entertainment area. It had obviously cost a pretty penny.

Peter met her in the living area, and she threw herself into his arms. “Peter, darling. I have missed you. How could you leave me all by myself in the apartment?”

He smiled, took her hand and led her to the dining area. “Apologies my dear.” He kissed the back of her hand. “You will be moving in here soon. When our house on the surface is finished, we will move there.”

Moon was about to fake more joy when she saw something that made her freeze.

Standing by the wine bar was Cassius!

Moon could not believe her eyes, her brain actually did that stupid thing where it froze completely before sending any thoughts, like a broken loading computer screen.

Why was he standing there? Why was he in Peter’s bunker? Why was life so determined to embarrass her? Her heart thudded so hard she could feel it in her ears, fear clinging to her like a tight, wet cloth she couldn’t peel off.

She wanted to run_ as fast as her legs could carry her but they could not move. The thoughts just kept piling in her head. How was he connected to Peter? The universe clearly had jokes, and she was the punchline.

Peter noticed the way her fingers dug into his sleeve, the way her breath hitched as though the air had suddenly turned toxic.

She held his hand tighter, like she was afraid her knees were going to give out, and she’d collapse right there in front of everyone, in her expensive dress, like a fallen chandelier.

But what surprised her most wasn’t her own panic, it was Cassius. He turned slowly with a bottle of wine in his hands, his movements deliberate and looked at her.

Really looked at her.

His eyes were expressionless, flat, unreadable_ those same eyes that once looked at her with fear and hatred.

Moon’s stomach flipped. This was it. The end. He was going to open his mouth and unleash everything: that she was his estranged wife, that she had treated him badly, that she had abandoned him, that she was greedy, shallow, fake. He was about to rip the mask from her face and show everyone who she truly was. She saw it in her mind_ the gasps, Peter’s betrayed stare, the way everyone would whisper, “So that’s who Mrs. Strauss really is.”

But then suddenly, Cassius did the most terrifying thing of all: he smiled. It wasn’t a warm smile or a wicked one, just… polite, like he’d been expecting her and found her vaguely interesting but not life-shattering.

He pushed himself away from the bar and began to walk toward them, unhurried, composed, dressed like someone who knew exactly what kind of power he held in every step.

Moon was confused, frozen in place like one of those broken mannequins in abandoned malls. Her mind raced while her body stayed perfectly still. Say something, she told herself. Run, another voice whispered.

Peter squeezed her hand. “Are you okay darling?” he asked softly, his brows tugging together in concern. He knew why she was like this, why she had beads of sweat rolling down her neck, but he feigned ignorance.

Moon managed a nod, a weak smile tugging at her lips even as her insides screamed. Deep down, she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her and maybe close again with a nice, neat lid. “Who… who is that man?” she whispered, forcing her voice not to crack, hoping Cassius hadn’t heard her.

Before Peter could answer, Cassius spoke, his voice smooth and calm. “Is this the woman you married?” he asked Peter, though his eyes remained fixed on Moon’s face, as if searching for something he couldn’t quite place.