Chapter 86

"They already sent someone to check," the staff had said. "Richard Stone is alive and well."

The matter was dropped just like that.

After collecting her water, Suzy lingered nearby, waiting for Leonard to come pick her up.

A figure passed by her side—then suddenly stopped.

Under the dim glow of the streetlamp, Suzy recognized her.

Julia again.

Her hair had turned dull and brittle, her lips cracked from dehydration. She stared at Suzy with an unblinking, almost predatory gaze.

Without warning, she spoke. "Looks like your family’s doing pretty well."

Suzy lifted her eyes—and met the chill in Julia’s.

It didn’t seem like she wanted anything more than to needle her. After tossing out that line, Julia simply turned and walked away at an unhurried pace.

Suzy’s brows drew together as she watched her retreating figure.

She hadn’t expected that refusing her once would turn into this—being targeted, watched.

But she didn’t regret it.

People like Julia didn’t understand gratitude. Anyone with even a shred of reason wouldn’t hold a grudge over a simple refusal.

Suzy had already seen through her.

Even if she had agreed back then, it wouldn’t have earned thanks—only endless trouble.

What she hadn’t expected... was how quickly Julia had set her sights on their home.

"Suzy." Leonard’s voice called out from not far away.

She turned and saw him approaching—just behind two familiar figures.

Hannah and Olivia.

It had been a while since Suzy last saw Hannah.

Now, stripped of makeup and luxury, with dark circles under her eyes, she looked utterly exhausted.

Gone was the polished woman draped in designer brands. In her place stood someone plain, worn down by the heat and hardship.

Hannah and Olivia carried their buckets and headed straight for the long water line.

Leonard, meanwhile, walked up to Suzy and held out his hand. "Give it to me. I’ll carry it."

Suzy could have managed on her own, but Leonard insisted on coming down to help.

She didn’t argue—just handed him the bucket. They headed back upstairs together.

"Uncle," Suzy said, "I saw that woman again just now."

There was only one "that woman" they both knew—Julia.

Leonard immediately caught on. "Did she cause trouble?"

"Not exactly," Suzy replied. "But she’s got her eyes on us now."

Leonard lowered his voice. "We’ll talk when we get home."

The stairwell had been busy lately. With the elevators out of service, it had become the only way up and down.

Just as Leonard finished speaking, a man came down the stairs toward them. He hadn’t bathed in days—the sour stench hit them before he even got close. His cheeks were hollow, his expression dull and lifeless as he carried his water bucket downward.

He didn’t even seem to notice them.

Leonard quickened his pace.

Once they were back inside, the door shut securely behind them, he finally let out a breath.

Suzy took out a glass of chilled spirit-spring water and handed it to him.

He drank deeply, the coolness instantly clearing his mind.

Perhaps it was the exercise he’d been keeping up with—but lately, he could feel his strength steadily increasing.

Setting the cup down, he suddenly said, "Suzy... did you notice that man just now?"

"I did," she said. "Do you know him?"

They had only moved here recently—truthfully, Suzy didn’t recognize any of the neighbors.

"He’s from 301," Leonard replied.

Suzy immediately remembered.

301—Brian Dahn.

There had been quite a stir in the group chat because of him.

Back then, he had generously shared his water. The neighbors praised him endlessly, and he had even declared that anyone in need could come to him anytime.

And now? He was the one without water. When he asked for help in the group chat, it fell silent. Those who had once benefited from his generosity said nothing.

The awkwardness was suffocating.

In the end, Brian snapped—cursing them for their ingratitude.

Only then did he realize: some people were never worth helping. He began to regret every drop he had given away. If he had kept it, it would have lasted him much longer.

He also tried contacting his wife, Pamela. From what he learned through his daughter, Pamela was living comfortably back home—with plenty of water and food.

The thought gnawed at him. He wanted to go too. But his car had long since run out of fuel, stranded in the underground garage.

Walking over two hundred kilometers? That was impossible.

And now, Pamela had cut off contact entirely.

He didn’t even have the chance to regret properly.

"How did you recognize him?" Suzy asked.

"From his messenger profile picture," Leonard said. "It’s him."

Back then, Leonard had checked his profile during the group chat discussions.

Still, Brian looked very different now—he had lost weight, at least fifteen kilos. Once greasy and overweight, he now looked gaunt and worn.

After that, Leonard circled back to the main point. "So—what were you saying earlier? About that woman?"

Suzy replied, "She’s already targeting our place."

She recounted everything that had just happened.

Leonard’s expression turned serious. "We need to be careful these next few days. If we don’t have to go out, we stay in."

Their compound had held out longer than most—still with water and electricity—so unrest had come later here.

But from what Leonard had seen online, other areas had already descended into chaos.

Communities without water or power had started looting openly. And that... was only the beginning.

The authorities were still functioning—for now.

But manpower was stretched thin. There hadn’t yet been reports of outright killings or violent raids, but that fragile peace wouldn’t last.

As resources dwindled, human nature would only grow darker.

So far, Starlight Towers hadn’t seen home invasions. But now that someone had set their sights on them... It was only a matter of time.

...All it needed was a trigger.

Both Suzy and Leonard understood this.

"Don’t worry," Leonard said firmly. "As long as I’m here, I’ll protect you."

"Mm. I believe you," Suzy replied.

But in her mind, she was already planning.

Leonard poured their newly collected water into a large storage container in the kitchen. When he came back out, he added, "Oh—by the way, when I went downstairs, I walked behind those two women earlier. I overheard something... about Richard Stone."

He still remembered Hannah and Olivia clearly.

Beautiful, well-dressed, always eye-catching. At least—before all this.

Suzy’s eyes lit up. "What did they say?"

Leonard thought for a moment. "Sounds like Richard Stone isn’t playing the simp anymore. One of them was complaining—said he hasn’t replied to her at all lately."

Suzy wasn’t surprised.

His attitude toward Hannah had already started changing before.

Leonard continued, "They also said he’s been living very comfortably—air conditioning on all day, eating well, never short on water. Even sends her photos."