Chapter 178


    Although Ste was not happy about it. She and Jasper almost had to go out by car every day, and


    she knew that unwanted trouble or deliberate refugee presence would be a losing game.


    This was no joke. Just two weeks ago, a family in the neighborhood was robbed. The thief had


    come and gone like it was his own home, with no sign of forced entry. The family woke up the next


    afternoon to find all their belongings gone. They were bbergasted.


    Everyone knew it was an inside job, but without a local police station to report the crime, their


    comints fell on deaf ears.


    Luckily, Ste was vignt. Not only had she installed an electric fence around her property, but she


    had also politely declined the security guards'' offers to help with moving goods and other services.


    In these dire times, trust was a luxury they couldn''t afford.


    Moreover, during a previous conversation, Rob had mentioned that his family had perished in the


    harsh winter. So, where did this supposed parentse from?


    He may have kids. Rob was rumored to have not only seduced local widows but also courted young


    women with gifts of salt and other goods. His targets always varied.


    No matter how desperately Rob pleaded, Ste remained unmoved.


    There were only three spots left in the escape pod, but a horde of desperate people were moring


    outside for them. Who should she let in? Who should she deny?


    If she opened the door, she would not only lose the three spots in the escape pod but might also


    lose her own spot and pay the price with her life.


    So, regardless of their pleas, tears, or the exorbitant offers they made, Ste remained steadfast.


    Five thousand pounds of food was a tempting offer, but you needed to be alive to enjoy it. And why


    should she help someone who had abandoned his own family in the face of disaster?


    As the escape pod door remained closed, the crowd''s pleas turned into anger.


    "Why are they safe inside while we''re out here?" they roared, their faces twisted with rage.


    Their anger ignited, they began to pound on the ss. Someone swung a baseball bat at the pod''s


    door, shouting, "If we can''t live, then you can''t either!"


    The baseball bat swung high, incessantly battering the ss.


    Cooper bared his teeth, wanting to tear them apart, but was restrained by his trainer.


    Seeing so many hostile faces, Rosie couldn''t hide her fear. "Jasper," she whimpered. Jasper


    comforted her in a low voice, offering her a piece of toffee. "Don''t be scared."


    Unfazed by the hatred and violence outside, Ste knew the escape pod''s ss was made of


    aerospace material. It wouldn''t break, not even if they used a sledgehammer.


    The ss was tripleyered. Even if they managed to break through the firstyer, there would be


    two more to get through, which would take at least a day.


    "Damn it!" The crowd grew more frantic, nning to push the escape pod off the roof.


    Ste watched silently as the rich, who were usually on their high horses, showed their true colors


    in the face of disaster.


    They underestimated the weight of the escape pod. Designed for earthquakes or tsunamis, the pod


    was made of special material and was incredibly heavy.


    As a result of their collective efforts, the pod showed signs of movement, but the second wave of


    the tsunami hit, washing over the escape pod.


    Under the force of the tsunami, the escape pod rolled backward, crushing several people who were


    unable to escape in time under it. The wave washed the scene clean.


    Those who survived barely had time to catch their breath before a wave higher than the mountain


    range came crashing towards them.


    The world went quiet. People, like bubbles, vanished without a trace. Even the escape pod was


    swept away.


    With Rosie in tow, Ste hadn''t nned on entering the Arcadia. She had brought out the escape


    pod as a precaution, not expecting the tsunami to be so severe, effectively blocking her way out.


    In the blink of an eye, Ste had no choice but to bring everyone, along with the escape pod, into


    the Arcadia.


    Inside the Arcadia, there was no tsunami or waves, just a serene garden.


    Ste unbuckled her seat belt, and Cooper, her dog, dashed out of the pod, stunned by the sight


    that greeted him. It was familiar, yet so different.


    Carrying a sleeping Rosie, Jasper followed.


    Ste was taken aback. "What happened with Rosie?"


    "She''s alright. I gave her a bit of a sedative. She''ll wake up after a good sleep."


    "You... how long will she sleep?" Ste asked, bbergasted.


    Jasperid Rosie on the bed. "24 hours."


    24 hours? That was quite a dose.


    Sensing Ste''s concern, Jasper reassured her, "There might be some minor side effects, but as


    long as she doesn''t take it regrly, it won''t harm her."


    Ste was torn. She didn''t know what to say.


    Jasper didn''t want her to feel guilty. "Ste, Rosie is young. She has a long journey ahead of her.


    She''ll experience many things, and meet many people. I can''t guarantee that she''ll stay the same."


    People were unpredictable. He could only control himself, not Rosie''s life. So, he had to consider


    not only Rosie but also Ste''s safety, trying to strike a bnce and not leave potential problems for


    the future.


    Ste understood his intentions. She walked over and hugged him gently. "Jasper, you''re a good


    man."


    Jasper held her close. "Everything’s gonna be okay."


    Cooperpleted his patrol and was puzzled by his owner and trainer''s embrace. He tilted his


    head left and right before settling by Rosie''s bed, letting out a soft whine.


    Jasper exined, "Rosie is sleeping. Don''t disturb her."


    Cooper immediately fell silent, lying down next to Rosie''s bed, keeping guard.


    Meanwhile, the tsunami continued to rage outside. It seemed like they would have to stay in Arcadia


    for some time.


    Having the bed in the living room was not practical. Ste decided to prepare a few rooms. There


    was plenty of space in Arcadia. It was time to move things around.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Jasper chose arge room on the second floor. "Our room?" he asked.


    Ste wanted to punch him.


    He began to set up the room, picking a king-sized bed, afortabletex mattress, and fresh


    bedding.


    With a wardrobe, bedside table, tablemp, curtains, and more, the room was taking shape.


    Ste couldn''t help but notice, that despite his few words, Jasper was quite the strategist. He had


    cunningly arranged for Rosie and the pup''s room to be quite a distance away.