Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again. Chapter 2: A double rebirth.

Upon awakening, she realized she had been granted a second chance at life. The year was 2027, and the cataclysmic apocalypse loomed just one month away. As she stirred to rise from the bed, the man slumbering beside her opened his eyes and emitted a cough.

Sunshine instantly tensed, like a feline caught pilfering a delicacy.

She slowly turned her head, her gaze locking with that of Hades Thorne.

He cleared his throat.

She blinked.

He cleared his throat once more.

She blinked twice.

For the third time, he cleared his throat.

She awkwardly shifted, scratching the side of her neck.

Here was a woman who had once commanded legions in the apocalypse with a mere word, now rendered speechless.

"I'm parched. Could you assist me with some water?" Hades requested.

Sunshine moved to the side table, where a water bottle with an integrated straw awaited. She gently guided the straw to his lips, helping him drink until the container was depleted. Carefully, she placed the bottle back down. Turning to face him, a flicker of nervousness crossed her features.

"I..." she began.

"I understand your reluctance to marry me," he interjected, preempting her words. "I'm also aware that you didn't willingly come to my bed; you were drugged and placed here. This was undoubtedly the work of another. I suspect my parents orchestrated it. Yesterday, they approached your family with a proposal for both you and your sister to be married. One of you would wed me, and the other my son, Cassius. Your sister elected to marry Cassius, leaving you to be bound to me."

Sunshine’s memory stirred. Indeed, such a proposal had been made in her previous existence. Mr. and Mrs. Quinn had presented twin marriage offers to her aunt and uncle.

Two sisters, daughters of servants. One was to marry the elder, wealthy, yet newly paralyzed CEO, and the other his simple-minded adopted son, Cassius. They suggested that Sunshine marry Hades, while Moon would marry Cassius.

Moon, consumed by jealousy and the desire to instantly attain wealth as Mrs. Quinn, had drugged Hades's drink and climbed into his bed.

They were discovered together. Despite Hades's known quadriplegia, rendering him incapable of intimacy, Moon's naked presence in his bed ignited a scandal. She achieved her goal, becoming his wife.

Sunshine, in contrast, had chosen to marry the simpleton, Cassius. Their union was never solemnized, as the wedding, scheduled for two months hence, was tragically averted by the onset of the apocalypse.

The profound implications of this altered marital arrangement slowly registered in her mind.

"Did you just mention my sister is to marry Cassius?" she inquired, her voice laced with disbelief.

"Mmm," Hades confirmed. "I’m aware he is your boyfriend, and you must resent me for this forced situation. Rest assured, I will not touch you, nor do I expect anything from you. Wait until I recover, and I will grant you a divorce. I will provide generous compensation at that time."

"Boyfriend!" she scoffed. "Mr. Thorne, I am not Cassius's girlfriend. I merely treated him with kindness because we were friends before his accident rendered him... like this. There is no romantic relationship between us. I detest incompetence."

Hades was baffled by her response. He had observed their apparent closeness and naturally assumed a deeper connection than mere friendship. Why did he now detect a hint of animosity in her tone?

"If you say so," he exhaled, wincing internally as he exerted himself to turn his head away from her.

Realizing the futility of further explanation to her new husband, Sunshine excused herself and departed the room. Her thoughts were troubled by the unexpected burden of caring for a simple-minded fiancé during the apocalypse. Now, after her rebirth, she was faced with a paralyzed husband and the daunting prospect of tending to him during the end times. And his three sons!

Had she been reborn solely to become a caretaker once more?

Was her forehead stamped with the insignia of the world's most diligent nanny?

With a heavy heart, she followed the paved walkway leading to her aunt and uncle's residence, a detached bungalow situated conveniently near the servant's quarters and not far from the main house.

On her journey, Sunshine pondered the shift in current events. How could Moon have chosen Cassius over Hades? It seemed implausible that her avaricious cousin would reject the opportunity to marry Hades and forfeit the chance to become Mrs. Quinn, unless there was a compelling reason.

Could her sister also have been reborn, just as she had? Was this the reason for her change of heart? Perhaps she knew that Cassius was not truly foolish but destined to become one of the most formidable figures during the apocalypse. Did this imply her cousin had experienced rebirth before her? If so, what kind of advantageous head start did she possess? Questions swirled in her mind as she gently nudged the creaking door open and stepped inside.

"Aunt? Uncle?" Sunshine's voice trailed off as she stepped into the newly decorated house. The opulent furniture, gifts for her aunt and uncle, were a testament to their approval of the arranged marriages. Sunshine couldn't shake the feeling of being sold for material wealth, despite her aunt and uncle's generally kind demeanor. Yet, their longing for luxury, much like their daughter Moon's, was undeniable.

Faint sounds drifted from the hallway leading to her bedroom. Her aunt's frustrated murmurs reached Sunshine's ears. She immediately headed in that direction, her sole purpose for returning home being the recovery of her bracelet. This trinket, an alleged lucky charm, had once foolishly empowered a pretender in the apocalypse. In this new life, however, Sunshine intended to claim the throne herself.

To her astonishment, both her aunt and Moon were rummaging through her bedroom. The room, a cramped space converted from a storage area after Moon's refusal to share her own larger room, looked as though a tornado had passed through. Clothes, mechanical engineering handbooks, work boots – everything was strewn about. Even her mattress had been upturned and gashed with a knife.

Concealing herself, Sunshine peered into the chaotic room, wondering what they sought.

"Sweetheart, you can't ransack your sister's belongings just because you think she has a bracelet you lent her," her aunt admonished, her voice laced with worry. "You could have just waited and asked for it. What if she discovers you going through her things?" The aunt's apprehension wasn't solely for Sunshine's reaction; her husband's fierce protectiveness of Sunshine, and his fair treatment of both girls, contrasted sharply with her own favoritism towards Moon. She trembled at the thought of Sunshine's potential discovery.

"Too late." Sunshine entered her room, gathering her scattered books from the floor. She carefully placed them on the antique reading desk in the corner before turning to her cousin. "Moon, what bracelet are you speaking of? I don't recall you lending me anything of that nature."

Moon's brow furrowed, and she gnawed on her lower lip like a child caught pilfering sweets. Sunshine's unexpected return clearly caught her off guard.

"Sister Suni, have you forgotten? Is your memory failing, or is it mine?" Moon scratched her head. "It's a red bracelet with golden threads woven through it. Haven't you seen it? It's incredibly important to me." A choked, broken sob escaped her.

A wry twist touched Sunshine's lips. Her suspicions were confirmed: Moon had also been reborn, and she was after the supposed lucky charm.

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