My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse - Chapter 120

Chapter 120: Chapter 120 Shotgun Wedding?
“Oh? It appears my wife has already consented to marry me?” Duke teased, his smirk widening as he raised an eyebrow at Kisha. He had expected to employ a few more tactics to win her over, but to his delight, it seemed unnecessary. Suppressing a laugh, his eyes crinkled into crescents, brimming with satisfaction.

One thing led to another, but the result left him deeply satisfied. Duke had been aware of his burgeoning feelings for Kisha for some time, but he exercised caution, not wanting to frighten her away. He couldn’t help but attribute part of the outcome to the Scarlet Honey. Not only did it assist in their awakened abilities, but it also unexpectedly propelled his relationship with Kisha to the next level. However, he couldn’t deny that his shameless antics played a role in the mix as well.

“How could I refuse when you’ve practically dragged me into a shotgun wedding?” Kisha quipped, her protest half-hearted as she playfully threw the remark at Duke.

“A shotgun wedding, you say?” Duke arched an eyebrow in amusement, but Kisha ignored his teasing. Resting his chin on his fingers, he continued, “If you’re suggesting this is a shotgun wedding, how about we start by making a little dumpling first, and then I’ll consider going for the real deal? Hmm?” Duke teased once more, eliciting laughter from his parents and grandfather at their playful banter.

As Duke’s words sank in, his family members tilted their heads in confusion, and the Patriarch voiced the question lingering in their minds. “Didn’t you two just do that inside the room, which led to this abrupt wedding?”

Duke cleared his throat, gathering his thoughts to explain to his family. “Grandpa, it’s not what you think. We were just dealing with a situation related to our awakened abilities and conducting some experimentation. As for the wedding, well, I’ve reached an age where marriage seems fitting, especially given the current state of the world. I figure securing a wife now ensures a stable future for our next generation. Plus, I can’t risk some random guy snatching Kisha away if I leave her on her own,” Duke explained, unable to resist teasing Kisha at the end, eliciting an eye roll from her.

When Kisha heard the word “experimentation,” she couldn’t help but recall what they did inside the room. Her stomach churned, and her toes curled inside her shoes. She couldn’t tell if Duke had chosen that word intentionally or if he was simply explaining his point, but either way, it had a strong effect on her.

Duke’s cold fingers on hers snapped Kisha back to reality. She looked down to see him slipping a stunning ring onto her finger. It was a rare blue diamond, cut into a perfect rectangular shape, surrounded by smaller rare pink diamonds. The intricate cutting technique of the blue diamond created a mesmerizing, abstract glimmer as the light hit its many facets. All these exquisite gems were set in a delicate blend of white and pink gold, giving the ring an ethereal appearance.

“This is my grandma’s prized possession, the Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond Ring. When Grandpa had it designed for her, it was estimated to be worth around $25.8 million,” Duke explained as he gently slid the ring onto Kisha’s finger. He admired the sight of the ring on her hand, a symbol of their union and a cherished family heirloom. “I hope you don’t feel like I’m mistreating you because we’re not having a formal wedding just yet,” Duke said, looking up at Kisha with a playful glint in his eye. He kissed her hand where the ring rested, honoring his late grandmother and showing respect to his new wife, his eyebrows raising teasingly.

Kisha snorted at him but accepted his gesture. She had promised herself to be braver this time, but when it came to Duke, she couldn’t help but always take a step back, fearing that his rejection would hurt far more deeply than anyone else’s. However, now that he had taken the first step, she had no intention of backing away.

Deep inside, she felt a flutter of excitement and still couldn’t believe how quickly everything had changed because of a spoonful of Scarlet Honey. She imagined telling this story to her children or grandchildren someday—they would probably think she was making it up. The reason for their union wasn’t sweet or romantic; it was actually quite comical.

After Duke slipped the ring onto Kisha’s finger, there was a moment of silence as everyone tried to process the whirlwind of events that had just transpired. But soon, the room erupted in applause, followed by a chorus of congratulations from Duke’s subordinates. The Winters family also expressed their happiness, pleased to see Duke take this significant step. Despite the haste and lack of traditional romance, Duke’s promise of a proper wedding once they returned and settled down reassured everyone that he was taking this seriously.

Deep down, they all suspected that something had happened in the room to prompt this sudden decision. However, seeing Kisha’s evident embarrassment, no one wanted to challenge Duke’s explanation.

Mrs. Winters stepped forward and held Kisha’s hands tenderly, her eyes brimming with tears of joy. Despite the tough life they led, constantly surrounded by danger and pursued by their enemies, there were still moments to be grateful for—and Duke and Kisha’s union was one of them. The Winters had not expected this, and Mrs. Winters could hardly contain her happiness for her son and his new wife.

“Kisha, welcome to the family,” Mrs. Winters said warmly, gently tapping Kisha’s hands. “If Duke ever gives you any trouble, just let us know. We’ll make sure to teach him a lesson.”

Hearing his mother’s words, Duke couldn’t help but purse his lips in disbelief. “Mom, who really is your child? You just got a daughter-in-law and you’re already forgetting your son?” he teased, glancing between Kisha and his mother.

This playful banter was a stark contrast to Duke’s usual stoic and cold demeanor. In the past, he rarely exchanged more than a few words with his parents while he was busy building their business empire. But now, thanks to Kisha, he had started to open up. He only realized it now, and his family was glad to see Kisha’s positive impact on him.

Of course, Kisha was still not used to her new title. Every time Duke called her his wife, it felt like her funny bone was being tickled, and sometimes she wondered if it was all just a dream.

But this happy occasion had to come to an end because there was still work to be done. After the festivities, Kisha and Duke exchanged a look, nodded, and led their team back into action. Splitting into their usual two groups, Duke took the vanguard position. Once they were ready, they burst out of the door, efficiently clearing the zombies that had gathered outside the apartment due to the noise from their sudden celebration.

No one was upset to see the dozen zombies piling up outside the door. Instead, they were delighted because more zombies meant more crystal cores, and the more crystal cores they collected, the easier it would be for them to level up. After witnessing Sparrow and Vulture’s recent level-ups, everyone felt motivated to work harder. They wanted to be prepared for their own potential awakenings, just like Sparrow, Vulture, Mrs. Winters, Duke, and Kisha. Seeing what these individuals could achieve had significantly boosted everyone’s morale.