Apocalypse: Reborn with a Soul Sync Farming Space System-Chapter 129 Family Dinner (5)

The young man sitting beside Margaret, remained quiet, observing everyone at the table.

"Yes, you should step down," Vera said, breaking the silence.

Tina pursed her lips, her eyes drifting over the faces around the table. "Aunty Laurel, do you want a piece of cake?" She handed a slice to Laurel.

Laurel, who was already seething in anger, couldn’t help but soften her gaze the moment they landed on her. "Sure." She gestured for her to put the cake on her plate.

Seeing that Laurel had accepted, she beamed in satisfaction, then she crossed her hands over her chest. Pumping her cheeks to appear very angry. "Why are you all ganging up on Aunty Laurel? She is doing a good job as the leader... she even made a barrier that could protect us... why are you all being ungrateful... Grandma told me to always be grateful for anything I got... even when I get the smallest piece of cake, I’m still grateful, at least I have something to munch on."

A red hue tilted their faces at her words before they opened their mouth to chide her for being uncultured.

"After dinner, you all should return to your respectful district. If you don’t like my decision, once the red mist goes away, I’ll ask Mr. Wayne to send you out... he might have another safe zone just for you." Laurel said, rising to her feet. "I’ll take my leave now."

Grandpa Wayne’s gaze hardened slightly. He was surprised to see Laurel in a new light. He understood her decisions, but how could he possibly bear to lose face in front of his family?

"Laurel," he said slowly, "a leader must understand that strength alone does not hold people together. A family must feel respected if it is expected to stand behind that leader."

Then his gaze shifted toward Alexander. "And a husband must understand that when his wife carries authority, his actions can either support her... or place her in conflict with those around her."

Alexander lowered his gaze slightly... he was wrong again.

Grandpa Wayne folded his hands together on the table and continued speaking in the same steady voice. "When the world collapsed, difficult choices had to be made. Everyone here understands that." His eyes moved slowly across the table, pausing briefly on Laurel. "But power," he continued quietly, "is something that must be handled with care."

His tone remained calm, yet his words carried a quiet warning. "A leader who distances herself from her family too much may eventually find herself standing alone. And a family that forgets who protects the walls around them may one day discover those walls are no longer open to them."

The meaning settled heavily over the table. Grandma Wayne was already stressed with worry that the family was splitting apart. And that fear only made it difficult for the food to pass through her throat.

Laurel looked at him thoughtfully before giving a small nod. "I understand what you are saying, Grandpa Wayne."

She turned to leave but stopped mid-way when Grandpa Wayne cleared his throat again.

"As for the divorce... forget about it. You are already a Wayne, and you can’t leave the family. I’ll talk with Alexander." Grandpa Wayne said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

Laurel’s fingers twitched by her side. She had always had respect for Grandpa Wayne, in her past life, she had even feared him... a mixed feeling of heaviness and bitterness intertwined in her chest.

"Grandpa Wayne, I’ve already..."

"Think over it again." Grandpa Wayne cut in, his voice calm, but Laurel could hear the warning beneath the tone.

Laurel gritted her teeth, her fist balling into a fist. "I’ll take my leave now."

"Grandpa, are you going to let her send us out again? Grandpa." Vera began to cry. "I don’t want to live there."

Laurel stopped at the entrance. "You’ll be assigned to various sectors by dawn."

"NO!" Vera screamed. "You can’t expect to work, do you want to ruin my flawless skin..."

"ENOUGH!" Alexander finally lost it. "This is exactly the reason why you are not needed here. You will all do as Laurel says, or I’ll throw you out myself. If you all have any idea what is happening beyond these walls, you would appreciate this opportunity more... Dinner is over. Everyone should leave!" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Alexander’s voice rumbled through the air.

Shivers ran through Vera and Felicia’s spines, they lowered their heads, afraid to look up or speak. Even Margaret had to remain quiet, none of them could afford to get on his bad side.

Laurel glanced back at him, clearly unimpressed. She turned around to the table, and she patted Tina’s head. "I almost forgot the cake you gave me. Thanks for it, Tina."

Tina giggled at her words. "I was about to eat it." She grinned with a teasing expression.

Laurel flicked the tip of her nose lightly. "Too bad I came back."

Tina held her hand. "Can I spend the night with you? I promise I’ll be nice." She deployed the full-power puppy look, slightly raising the inner corner of her eyebrows.

Laurel puckered her lips, ready to reject her, because she was going to spend some time in her space room...

"Let her spend the night with you, she must already be feeling bored with staying with both old people." Grandma Wayne said with a faint smile.

"Please, Aunty Laurel." She widened her big eyes as they became glassy with unshed tears.

Laurel sighed in defeat. "Fine, you get to spend the night with me."

"Yah!" Tina jumped up from her chair already hopping towards the door.

...

Outside the Severance Cult’s Base

"Ahhhhh."

"Grrrrrhhhh"

The sound of gunshots, bodies ripping apart, blood spraying in the air, bones breaking, and the sound of the body dropping to the ground filled the air.

Right outside the gate of the hotel, bodies had littered the ground. The infected kept on swarming towards the hotel’s gate, and the team sent out to defend against them was now less than half its original strength.

Scott and Benjamin stood side to side. Attacking and defending against the infected running towards them.

"Benjamin, cover me." Scott yelled as he quickly reloaded his gun.