I Kindly Took In My Childhood Friend and His True Love

: Previous Life's Culprits

2

"So you saw it all along?" Gareth Valerius stared at me with wide, disbelieving eyes.

I didn't answer, simply pouring them two glasses of hot water.

"I thought, with your personality, you'd never let Elara in after finding out something like this."

Gareth Valerius smiled in relief as he spoke, even growing nostalgic as he reminisced with me about the old days.

"Sasha Kaelen, I used to have feelings for you, but now, my heart belongs only to Elara."

Watching them hold hands, their fingers intertwined, the smile in my eyes deepened. "Well, isn't that a coincidence. I've only ever seen you as a friend."

Gareth Valerius stared at me for a long moment. After confirming I wasn't joking, he gave an awkward laugh. "That's good, then."

"I'm so happy you agreed to let Elara stay."

'Could I have refused?'

In my past life, I refused Gareth Valerius's request to take her in, pointing out that Elara Aveline was infected for the safety of everyone else at the base.

A few days later, a fully zombified Elara Aveline was shot and killed by my colleagues.

Gareth Valerius was despondent for two days because of it, but thankfully, he eventually pulled himself together.

"Sasha Kaelen, I've already lost Elara. I can't lose you too."

Looking at the heartbroken, stubble-faced Gareth Valerius, my brow furrowed in pity. "Don't worry," I said. "As long as I'm here, I will protect you."

But I never would have imagined that at the critical moment when the Zombies besieged the city, he would viciously force me to the top of the Rampart.

"If it weren't for you, how could Elara have died!"

The next moment, Gareth Valerius pushed me off the high wall.

Before my brain could even process the pain of my vital organs being pierced, the Zombies outside the wall tore me, still living, to shreds.

I snapped back to the present, watching the culprit from my past life and his girlfriend share a loving gaze. 'What a perfect couple,' I thought.

"Still, to be on the safe side, it's better if Elara doesn't meet with everyone for now."

I placed the key to the Westwood Villa in Gareth Valerius's hand. "You should understand what I mean by that."

The Westwood Villa was originally a place where the Lab stored miscellaneous items. With everyone busy making the Vaccine recently, everything was moved out, leaving the Villa vacant.

"It's relatively isolated there, so we won't go over unless we have a reason. That way, you two can also get some proper rest."

After seeing them off, I quickly returned to the Lab.

It was 2:00 PM. Elara Aveline had two days left until she fully turned.

I looked at the Vaccine sample on the table, and my mind was made up.