Part 1Reborn back to the apocalypse, I built a safe house with handsome security guards

I was reborn.

In my last life, I only lasted three days before a zombie bit me.

This time, with foreknowledge of the zombie outbreak, I sought out the tall, stoic security guard in my apartment complex, determined to build a safe house just for him and me.

“Alice, I’m sorry, please don’t blame me…”

Kyle shook off my hand and shoved me hard, pushing me directly into the horde of zombies behind me. Before I could even react, a sharp bite tore into my arm.

*Crunch*. My arm, already bony, instantly revealed a section of white bone.

But I couldn't even feel the pain.

The zombies, drawn by the smell of blood, swarmed me, tearing at my flesh.

My vision blurred, slowly drowning in a sea of red.

The man who’d told me he loved me since high school, the one I’d been with for six years, didn't even turn his head to give me a second glance…

I woke up with a jolt, finding myself lying on the bed in my shared apartment.

I checked the time. The zombie outbreak was still a month away.

I understood. I had been reborn.

My phone buzzed. The push notification was about reports of people having violent outbursts and inexplicably biting others in public parks.

People wouldn't realize that this seemingly trivial local news story was the precursor to the upcoming zombie apocalypse.

My phone rang. The number was unfamiliar, but I knew who it was.

Because in my previous life, I’d received the exact same call today. It was a lawyer, informing me that my grand-uncle had passed away, leaving a will that bequeathed me a property in an upscale apartment complex in the city and ten million dollars in cash.

I was an orphan. My grand-uncle had left our hometown to seek his fortune when I was very young, and we hadn’t been in contact since. I was raised by my widowed grandma, who peacefully passed away the day I received my university acceptance letter.

From then on, I moved to the city alone to work. Besides Kyle, my boyfriend since high school, I had no one else in the world to care about.

So, in my last life, when I first received this call, I even thought it was a scam, and I hung up immediately.

Fortunately, my grand-uncle’s lawyer, Mr. Davies, was very dedicated. A week later, he found me at my workplace, presenting various documents. Only then did I realize that a plot twist straight out of a novel was actually happening to me.

Because I had grown up without support and was always cautious, the inheritance process in my last life was handled very carefully, which inevitably took a lot of time. By the time all the paperwork was finally complete, there were only three days left until the zombie outbreak.

After years of drifting, I finally had a place of my own. I eagerly moved into the apartment my grand-uncle left me. Kyle even proposed to me on moving day. At the time, I thought I was the luckiest person in the world. Kyle and I sweetly planned our honeymoon and our wedding…

Until three days later, when the zombies attacked the city, and in the last moments of my life, I finally saw that man’s true colors.

They say couples stick together through thick and thin, but when disaster strikes, it's every man for himself. Even if he had abandoned me to save himself, I wouldn’t have hated him this much.

But what did he do?

He used me as bait.

And to ensure I attracted all the nearby zombies, he even slashed my arm with a knife before ditching me.

“Hello? Ms. Reed, are you there?”

The lawyer’s voice on the phone pulled me back to reality.

“Yes. Let’s start the inheritance process immediately. The sooner, the better.” I replied.

This time, it only took five days for me to receive the cash and the keys to the apartment my grand-uncle left me.

The apartment was located in an upscale complex in the city — a spacious penthouse-style apartment with a private elevator, one unit per floor. The population density was low, and the building quality was excellent. For the impending zombie horde, it was a perfect sanctuary.

Of course, I knew this was far from enough.

The day I got the keys, I contacted a renovation company and began modifying the apartment. I replaced the entrance door with a bulletproof one, installed stainless steel security grilles on the windows, soundproofed the entire apartment, installed a solar power system, and converted two of the rooms into cold storage.

The renovation workers didn’t understand why I was installing security grilles on a high-rise apartment and even asked if I had children. I didn’t explain much; after all, I was just an ordinary person, unable to stop the approaching apocalypse alone. If I said too much, they’d just think I was crazy.

All I could do was protect myself and try to survive.

I paid double the price, and the renovation company expedited the work, completing all modifications in just one week.

Next, it was time to procure supplies.

Kyle, who hadn't contacted me for days, suddenly called. I scoffed inwardly.

I was so foolish in my last life, not noticing his coldness until I inherited my grand-uncle’s property, at which point he suddenly came begging to propose. Looking back now, his intentions were crystal clear. I only blamed myself for being blinded by love.

“Hello, Alice? Where have you been these past few days? Why haven’t you called me?”

Just then, I reached the complex entrance and saw the tall, reserved security guard on duty today. A small smile touched my lips.

“Kyle, we’re breaking up.”

“What? Alice, how can you…”

I couldn’t be bothered to hear another word from Kyle and hung up immediately.

“Good afternoon, Ms. Reed.”

The property management in this upscale complex was top-notch. The security guard nodded slightly as I approached.

I glanced at his name tag clipped to his chest. It read: Mark Davies.

So, his name was Mark Davies.

In my last life, when he was bitten by zombies trying to protect me, I didn't even know his name.

“Can you do me a favor?” I asked, smiling as I looked at the man’s handsome features.

But a voice in my heart was saying—

Mark, this time, I will make sure you survive.