Luke and Selene disappeared into the woods to talk — probably the kind of conversation that needed space and privacy.
Alice and Jill stayed near the helicopter, watching them go.
Alice folded her arms, expression unreadable. "So, Jill," she said casually, "you finally made your move?"
Jill didn't even try to deny it. "I think I already waited too long," she said, leaning against the chopper. "With the world falling apart, it's hard to find a reliable man like Luke."
Alice raised an eyebrow. "You do realize he's already married, right?"
Jill shrugged. "Does that matter anymore? This isn't modern society. The world we knew is gone — so are its rules."
Alice blinked, studying her for a moment. "I didn't expect you to be this bold," she admitted.
Jill smiled faintly, the kind of smile that carried more confidence than mischief. "Bold times call for bold choices," she said lightly.
Then, with a teasing glance, she added, "You might want to hurry up too. Otherwise, it might take you another year just to admit what you're thinking."
Alice tilted her head, a small smirk tugging at her lips. "You think so?"
Jill gave a knowing look. "I know so."
Alice didn't reply right away. She looked toward the forest, where Luke and Selene had vanished through the trees. For a moment, she seemed to actually consider it.
She sighed quietly. "Maybe you're right."
Jill grinned. "Told you."
For a while, neither of them said anything.
In the woods, Luke knelt while Selene watched him with that calm, unreadable stare.
"Umm—dear, didn't we already talk about this?" Luke said, trying for casual.
Selene's eyes sharpened. "What about your harem?" she asked, voice flat but probing.
He shrugged, grinning. "Look, we're both effectively immortal. Who knows how long we get? Wouldn't it be better to have a big family — sisters for you?"
Selene considered him for a long beat. If Luke wanted it, she couldn't stop him — the fact he was still asking for her permission meant something. It showed he cared, even if his plan sounded ridiculous.
She'd noticed other things too: lately he'd been… energetic, more than usual. Maybe a bit more company wouldn't be terrible.
But rules mattered. If he ran wild, the women lining up for him would form a small country.
"Okay," she said finally, voice softening. "But with conditions. You keep your hands — and that charm — mostly to yourself. No flirtatious nonsense with every woman you meet."
Luke blinked. "That's it?"
She gave him a look that was equal parts warning and amusement. "I will put a leash on you myself if I have to."
He laughed, relieved. "Fair enough. I'll behave… mostly."
When Luke and Selene came out of the woods, the first thing Jill noticed was the look on his face.
He was smiling — wide, bright, almost too bright. The kind of grin that said something definitely went his way.
Jill folded her arms. "I take it she said yes?"
Luke's grin got even wider. "From now on," he declared proudly, "Jill will also be my—"
He didn't get to finish.
Selene's shadow lashed forward like a whip, wrapping around his waist and yanking him clean off the ground.
"—girlfri—WAIT—!"
Splash!
Luke hit the sea with a satisfying thud, sending a small wave splashing across the sand.
Jill blinked once, then looked at Selene, who was calmly dusting her hands like she'd just done some light housecleaning.
"Was that necessary?" Jill asked, half-smiling.
Selene gave her a small, polite nod. "Yes."
Then, without missing a beat, she turned to Jill. "Walk with me. We need to talk."
Jill hesitated but followed, curious.
Alice, who had been quietly observing from near the helicopter, looked at the scene — Selene's calm exit, Jill's amused smirk, and Luke flailing in the water — and muttered under her breath, "So… she agreed to it?"
The night fell calm over the island.
Later, Luke was back on dry land — towel around his shoulders, hair dripping wet — muttering something about "bad communication methods."
By the time things settled down, the three of them ended up in the same room.
It wasn't exactly planned that way, but after everything that had happened, no one had the energy to argue about sleeping arrangements.
And honestly, you don't need to ask what happened. We're all adults here — we can imagine the rest. Everyone knew exactly what that kind of night meant.
*****
A/N: For those who want to read ahead of the Webnovel schedule, you can read up to Chapter 126 on my Patreon.
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