My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse novel Chapter 289

"No need to blame yourself, Bell. It will happen regardless, and even with a warning, I would have still experienced the pain. What matters is the value of the information you provided. I appreciate it greatly, and I want to thank you for that," Kisha reassured Bell, trying to alleviate its self-reproach.

Kisha then turned her attention to Duke, who was gazing at her with pursed lips, clearly wrestling with whether to let her return or not. "Can you explain what caused the sudden pain you experienced?" Duke asked, his voice soft and coaxing.

He lowered his tone almost to a whisper, the warmth and subtle vibration in his voice, from his Adam’s apple, adding a touch of masculinity that made his concern feel even more intimate.

Kisha met his gaze with a look of genuine happiness before she began to explain. "As you know, I reassigned Gant and Mike from their duties caring for the animals. I did this to spare them the heartbreak of seeing the creatures they’ve grown close to being sent to the slaughterhouse for our survival.

Given their awakened abilities, it’s nearly impossible for them to care for the animals without forming strong bonds. I was on the verge of rejecting their pleas for this reason, considering they are still too young for such a responsibility, which could potentially shatter them emotionally."

"But then, Bell reached out to me with a solution. She mentioned a way to prevent Gant and Mike from forming emotional bonds with the animals they’re caring for, while still allowing them to use their abilities to aid the animals’ growth. To implement this, I needed to learn the technique myself so that I could teach it to the kids."

"Unfortunately, learning the skill the traditional way would have taken too much time and required a high level of comprehension. So, Bell decided to transfer the information directly into my mind. The sudden influx of knowledge overwhelmed me and caused the pain I experienced." Kisha sighed, a look of resignation on her face as if she had done everything she could to help the situation.

Duke’s brows furrowed in displeasure upon hearing how it happened. He resented the fact that Kisha had to endure such pain for the sake of others. His cold expression and pursed lips betrayed his frustration and concern. Unable to bear seeing him so troubled, Kisha reached out to gently smooth his furrowed brows, offering a comforting touch.

"I’m not doing this just to help others achieve their goals," Kisha said gently, her eyes locked on Duke’s with affection. "I’m doing this to create a safe and self-sustaining base for ourselves and our future family."

Duke’s displeasure softened at her words, and he felt a surge of conflicting emotions. His urge to scold Kisha for not prioritizing her well-being dissolved as he fixated on the phrase "our future family." His mind drifted to a vision of a little version of themselves, living happily within their safe base.

He realized, with a deep sense of resolve, that he too wanted to contribute to making that vision a reality.

"But I don’t want you to get hurt," Duke said, his voice thick with concern. "You should let me handle the hard work. After all, I’m your husband, and it’s my responsibility and duty to protect you." His eyes were full of worry and a silent plea as he looked at Kisha.

Kisha chuckled softly, brushing her fingers gently against Duke’s cheek. "You know I don’t like being at a disadvantage, right? This situation was an exception and unavoidable. Besides, Bell couldn’t share the information with you; it wasn’t connected to you in any way."