Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again. - Chapter 408

Chapter 408: Memory loss.
At some point, Denise excused herself to the rest room, and Moon felt the opportunity snap into place like a loaded trap. The chance had come to get answers from her former best friend without arousing the attention of others.

She counted to ten and stood up, “Please excuse me, I need to freshen up,” she said, adding a practiced smile and then walked away with as much elegance as she could muster.

Peter noticed everything even her trembling legs and he smiled. He wanted her like this, trembling and in fear. As long as she was afraid, he could control her easily.

Perhaps this would bring her down a peg. Moon was too confident. Too sure of herself. And he did not like that.

Cassius watched her go with a look that nobody could decode. His women thought that she had caught his fancy. The two of them tugged at his arm to distract him.

As soon as she out of their view, Moon hastened her steps. She followed Denise down the hall, her heels clicking sharply on the metal floor, each step fueling her anger.

She pushed open the bathroom door with unnecessary force and stepped inside, breathing like a beast that was ready to go on rampage.

Denise was standing before the mirror, reapplying lipstick carefully like she was preparing for a photo shoot instead of the end of the world. “Took you long enough,” she said, without turning to look at Moon. “I thought you would make me wait forever.”

Moon didn’t bother with greetings. She crossed the room in quick strides and grabbed Denise roughly by the arm. “What the hell is going on here?” she hissed.

Denise yanked her arm free with a little gasp. “Be careful,” she snapped, one hand flying to her belly. “I’m pregnant, in case you have not noticed.”

Moon looked at Denise’s swollen belly, then slowly laughed, a low disbelieving sound that echoed off the bathroom floor. “Oh, I can clearly see that,” she said sarcastically. “I can’t believe you slept with my husband and even got pregnant. What a way to cheapen yourself.” She crossed her arms across her chest. “Really Denise, the same man you called a fool!”

Denise rolled her eyes so hard it was almost impressive. “We both knew that he was not a fool. And before you accuse me of anything, remember that you didn’t want him. Technically, your marriage was a sham,” she said, dusting imaginary powder off her cheek. “You were only with Cassius for his money. Everyone knew that. And he told me that the two of you never slept together. He was not sexually attracted to you. Not even once. So, spare me the righteous anger.”

The words stung because they were too close to the truth. Moon’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I thought we were friends,” she said quietly, feeling that old familiar ache of betrayal under all the anger. She once thought she could count on Denise the way Sunshine counted on Nimo. So much for being the best of friends.

Denise let out a derisive laugh. “Friends? You have always treated me like your servant!” She turned, leaning back against the counter like she had all the time in the world. “And it got worse when the apocalypse came. You turned me into Cassius’ maid. Wipe his shit, give him baths, feed him, babysit him. All without any benefits.”

“I gave you food, status and safety.” Moon spat out.

Denise laughed sarcastically, “Safety! If we were friends, why did you leave me behind at Rainhounds Mountain when shit hit the roof? You ran off to save your own skin and didn’t look back. We were all sent away from the mountain after you left. I suffered with other survivors out in the cold.

Do you know how hard it is to survive in the apocalypse as a pregnant woman? I barely made it here alive. I was lucky to reunite with Cassius.” She touched her belly, caressing it gently. “And in case it isn’t clear, I’m his first and official wife. The others came after.”

Moon’s jaw clenched. First wife, second wife, last wife_ she didn’t care. It all felt like an ancient, crumbling story now. All that humiliation, all that mess, did not belong to her.

She exhaled slowly, pushing aside the past like a heavy curtain. “You can keep the title if it helps you sleep better at night. I’m not here to fight over him. What I want to know is why Cassius isn’t telling Peter about me. What is he planning?”

Denise turned back to the mirror, uncapping her lipstick again, as if this conversation was a mild inconvenience between makeup steps. “He encountered a group of marauders on the way here, they beat him up badly,” she said casually, dragging the color over her lips with practiced precision. “He got a head injury. A bad one. He doesn’t remember anything from his past.”

Moon blinked, her thoughts grinding to a halt. “Anything?” she questioned. “Are you sure? Like he doesn’t remember anything about… me and him?”

Denise shrugged one shoulder. “Nothing. You. The marriage. The Quinns. The bracelet you probably still won’t shut up about in your head. All gone. The doctor said that those memories would never return.”

There was a tiny flicker of something like satisfaction in her tone, and Moon wanted to punch it off her tongue. She was safe. All was well.

“Except one thing,” Denise turned with a sly look on her face.

It made Moon’s skin prickle. “What one thing?” she demanded.

Denise turned to the mirror again. Her reflection met Moon’s gaze in the mirror, and she smiled slowly, like she was about to deliver the final, perfect blow. “The love of his life,” Denise said slowly. “Sunshine Raine.”

A flicker of jealousy made its way into Moon’s heart. What about Sunshine was unforgettable? She had an ordinary face, and a smile that was too wide. Also, she liked to act tough all the time.

What did men see in that?

Moon sneered for a second and relaxed. Regardless she was happy that Cassius had forgotten all about his short time with her.

Her only problem was Denise. “I hope that you will keep your damn mouth shut. We both have a lot to lose here…..”

“You more than me.” Denise cut in, she placed the lid back on the lip stick. “You do not have to worry about me…..after all I would not want to cross Peter….no one has crossed him and lived to tell the tell.”

“Good.” Moon answered.

Denise looked at her through the mirror. “If Cassius ever remembers who he really is…..who you are…..”

“Don’t worry about me.” Moon told her. “You should worry about how you are going to get my bracelet back from Cassius.”

Denise spun around. “You do not get to order me around Moon, those days are long gone, and I am no longer afraid of you.” She answered. “But if you tell me how the bracelet works…..then perhaps I will bring it to you such that we share it’s benefits.”

Moon sneered and walked out. On her way back to the dining area, the smile on her lips grew wider. She was free from Cassius for now. Her plans could proceed.