My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse - Chapter 363

Chapter 363: Chapter 363 The Real Mistress Of The House
Kisha paused, scanning the faces of the gathered warriors and soldiers before continuing. “And remember, when you get home, make sure to use the substances we’ve provided and follow the training exercises. Not only will they help you rejuvenate, but they’ll also make you stronger—especially for those of you with awakened abilities.” Kisha smiled warmly at them before turning to walk back with Duke, leaving Vulture and Aston to handle the final details.

When Kisha and Duke arrived at the villa, Marcus and the children were already busy preparing dinner in the kitchen. Daisy was setting the table with plates and utensils, while the twins assisted Marcus with cooking.

By 6 PM, the others began arriving one by one, and Kisha felt a warmth that reminded her of life before the apocalypse. The routine of going out to work early in the morning and returning home before dinner created a comforting sense of normalcy.

It warmed her cold, broken heart and brought back memories of her family in City A. She prayed that this peaceful existence would last, cherishing the fleeting semblance of normalcy.

While waiting for dinner, Kisha and Duke retreated to their room. Once settled, Kisha called Keith. She was confident that her grandparents had awakened and were adapting to their new abilities with Keith’s help.

She knew that, just as she was busy managing the base in City B, Keith and his team were equally occupied with mastering their powers. Almost everyone had awakened, and some of Duke’s subordinates had also safely reached their hidden base.

Despite her busy schedule, she periodically checked on the development of their hidden base. Now, she wanted to call Keith to hear about it directly from him, even though she was already well-informed about the progress.

“Hey, baby brother!” Kisha greeted cheerfully. Duke, sitting beside her with his left arm wrapped around her waist, watched the holographic video call intently. The display fascinated him, a testament to the advanced technology in use.

Keith’s eyes widened in surprise as the familiar panel appeared before him. Thankfully, he was in his room, recovering from the grueling training session. “Sis! I missed you!” he exclaimed, his voice dripping with affectionate playfulness. Noticing Duke sitting close to Kisha, Keith couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow in mild annoyance, his gaze flickering between them.

“Sis, why is Duke sitting so close to you? Aren’t you two a bit too cozy?” Keith shot the question with a hint of jealousy, his eyes narrowing as he pouted. The displeasure was clear on his face as he glared at Kisha, his protective instincts flaring up at the sight of someone encroaching on his sister’s space.

Kisha flinched at Keith’s comment about her closeness with Duke, realizing she hadn’t mentioned anything to her family about their relationship. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she cleared her throat and decided to play dumb. “Ahem, where are Grandpa and Grandma? Aren’t they with you?”

“Grandpa’s busy patrolling the perimeter with the others, and Grandma’s in the kitchen helping Mrs. Evans and Eliot,” Keith said with a deep, annoyed sigh. “Listen, sis, Melody’s been a real piece of work. Her mother just recovered from being sick, and not only did she avoid helping her family out of fear they’d turn into zombies, but now that they’re better, she’s clinging to the newcomers and avoiding her own family.”

“She’s trying to butter them up so they’ll think better of her and is acting like the mistress of the house. I’ve never seen anyone as annoyingly manipulative as she is. Even her own family is disappointed in her.”

“Mrs. Evans has been crying from time to time after being ignored by her daughter. That’s why Grandma’s been helping out more, and they’ve actually grown closer recently,” Keith explained, rolling his eyes in frustration.

Instead of Kisha responding, Duke took over. “No matter how much she plays the role of the tiger while the real tiger is away, she’ll never be more than an impostor. Just wait until your sister and I get back. Everyone will see who the real mistress of the house is,” he said, his voice calm but laced with irritation. It was evident that he, too, was annoyed by the situation. If only the internet and electricity weren’t down across the country, they’d be able to stay in touch more frequently with the base.

Kisha understood exactly what Duke was implying to Keith. Despite Melody’s attempts to play the role of Duke’s future wife, the reality was that Duke was already committed to Kisha and had made her his wife.

Kisha didn’t feel any jealousy; instead, she was reassured by Duke’s sincerity. His irritation at the situation was evident, and it was enough for her to know that their bond was strong and unwavering.

In her previous life, during her 99th rebirth, Kisha’s old lover would often accuse her of being insecure and controlling whenever he got too close to another woman, manipulating the situation to make it seem like it was her fault.

Now, with Duke, she saw the contrast clearly. She realized that her old lover was gaslighting her, twisting things to make her believe she was the problem. In truth, it was they who were ungrateful and deceitful.

Kisha felt a surge of warmth as she squeezed Duke’s hand, her heart brimming with emotion. Her thoughts swirled with a mixture of gratitude and reflection. Duke, misinterpreting her reaction, assumed she was feeling jealous and began to soothe her.

Meanwhile, Keith, observing their interaction, felt a pang of shock and discomfort, his expression visibly contorting in response to the scene.

In a rush of realization, Keith thought, ‘I knew it! I felt it then, but now I’m sure—Duke is really trying to steal my sister away!’ His mind raced with the revelation, but as he replayed Duke comment inside his head, a dawning confusion set in. His eyes widened as he realized something was amiss.

“Sis! What’s going on? Are you actually dating this guy?!” Keith’s voice was filled with anger and disbelief. Kisha, caught off guard, stiffened and bit her lower lip, her gaze shifting between Duke and her brother.

Duke, unfazed, responded with a confident smile, “What do you mean ‘dating’? Your sister and I are married. That makes you my brother-in-law, which means you’ve got a stake in how we run the base—within reason, of course.”

He was so proud of his relationship with Kisha that he would have broadcasted their marriage to the world if he could. In a more peaceful time, he would have happily splurged on a public announcement, showcasing his pride in being married to Kisha.

Kisha remained silent as the two bickered, choosing to let them sort it out on their own. Keith, however, was stunned by the revelation. His mind buzzed with disbelief—only a little over half a month had passed since his sister and Duke had set out to find his people, and now they were already married? The news was almost too much for him to process.

Keith’s mind raced with disbelief, struggling to accept how quickly everything had unfolded. It felt like something out of a novel—’A Flash Marriage with the CEO,’ perhaps. He glared at Duke, convinced that his new brother-in-law must have played dirty to win his sister’s hand.

To Keith, Kisha was not only his hero but also incredibly beautiful and kind; any man would be lucky to have her. He was a true siscon, fiercely protective and possessive of his sister.