After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World - Chapter 960

Chapter 960: Settling Rivals

Ansel felt her tension and he rotated her a bit so he could massage her shoulder.

The movements fell into Hana’s eyes and her heart fell. But then his next words made her heart stop completely.

“Does this feel stiff, too? I guess pregnancy causes pain all over… or was it due to our exercise earlier?” he asked, looking genuinely concerned. “Was I too hard?”

Winona blushed and pinched his thigh, making him flinch. However, rather than being angry, he laughed at her instead.

He leaned down and kissed her cheek before turning to their guest whom they seemed to have forgotten for a moment.

“Long time no see, old friend,” Ansel said with a handsome smile, though his words made Hana want to cry. “How can I help you?”

“I… nothing,” she said, “I just wanted to see you, for old time’s sake.”

“Hmn,” Ansel said. “I’m glad you’re alright.”

“The same with you,” she said. There was a moment of silence that was so awkward that it was painful to her.

Seeing that Ansel wasn’t planning on opening a new topic, Hana pursed her lips. “Ansel? I… I may need your help as well.”

If he helped her, maybe they’d have more chances to spend time together. Hana thought she just needed some time—time to remind him of their past.

Ansel was still massaging his wife’s shoulder at this time. “What kind of assistance would you need?”

“I… may need to borrow some money,” she said. It was embarrassing but she really needed it. Besides, which woman would feel comfortable when their husband handed another woman—a woman they had a past with—some money?

She could also use the terms of payment to spend a bit more time with him. For instance, she could pay bit by bit every week wherein she’d have a valid excuse of meeting up with him.

Ansel blinked and looked at her apologetically. “If you need help, I can. However, the family money is being controlled by my wife, so we need to go through her first.”

“What?” Hana asked, turning to look at the beautiful blonde staring back at her.

Hana gripped her skirt—which was new by the way, bought with her remaining money so she could look presentable in front of Ansel—

“Miss Winona? I… can I borrow some of Ansel’s money? I promise to give back when I can.”

Winona pursed her lips. She never asked this of him, but he learned from the best—Garan—and so he really did give her the money as soon as they got married.

Wedding gift, he said.

At the memory, her mood brightened again, and her smile became genuine as she looked at the other woman.

The sight gritted Hana’s eyes and heart.

“How much money do you need?”

“I… if you could lend us money for downpayment of a unit. Just a unit will do. There are only three of us. My boyfriend and his sister.”

She looked at him as she said the last part, but saw no reaction at the mention of her boyfriend.

Ansel answered her this time. “In the bank, as long as you make an oath and find a job, you can apply for a loan,” he said.

“It’s not big at first, but it would give you time to adjust to this new world and eventually save up for residency and downpayment.”

“But…”

“The interest rates are completely reasonable, you don’t have to worry,” Ansel said, cutting her off.

“But—”

Her voice and her disagreements died down when she saw Ansel stopped massaging Winona. He stood up and leaned down to kiss her forehead.

When he approached her, Hana’s heart beat erratically, not sure what to expect. “Alterra is very supportive of new residents,” he said. “You don’t need to lower yourself to make individual loans.”

Hana couldn’t speak anymore. If he said it like this, if she continued asking for money, what would she look like?

“Goodnight Hana, my wife is a bit tired,” he said, “I went too wild earlier, you see.”

“I… see,” was all she said, trying to keep her composure. “If you’ll excuse me—”

Hana left the house hurriedly, just wanting to be in her own space.

She hadn’t even gotten far from the villa areas when her knees buckled, and she burst into tears.

…

Hana didn’t come to their dorm until about an hour later. She was still sobbing a bit, but she didn’t want it to be obvious that she had been crying.

What would she say? That she went to her ex and was humiliated instead?

When she went back though, only Tilda was there. They were recent arrivals and were assigned to a new dormitory and didn’t have roommates yet. Where was Tim though?

“He was looking for you. He had been for the past two hours,” Tilda said, crossing her arms. “Where did you go?”

“I… I went to see old friends.”

“Just friends?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t lie to me,” Tilda said with sharp eyes, looking at her new dress, eyes flaring with jealousy. “Do you think I’m an idiot?”

“Do you want me to tell my brother you came home crying like a pitiful little girl? Don’t say you’re crying because you got lost; Even Tim wouldn’t want someone so childish.”

“I…” Hana began to speak, but nothing came out. She could only watch as the tall Tilda walked over, looming over her petite frame.

Tilda was in her mid-30s, tall and a bit pretty, but her features were as sharp as her words, making her very intimidating.

“Tell me.”

Hana pursed her lips. Her eyes began to become teary again and it made Tilda want to slap her instead. Fortunately, Hana did talk so that tragedy did not happen.

“I… Ansel… an old friend.”

Tilda’s already-sharp eyes fixed on her and it made her feel she was being stabbed. “You’re blushing. It’s an old flame, isn’t it?”

Hana’s eyes changed and Tilda knew she was right. She was about to slap her—how dare this parasite cheat on her brother after everything he did for her—but then she paused.

The name ‘Ansel’ seemed familiar…