Chapter 259 He Was Back
Chapter 259 He Was Back
Theresa grabbed a strip of cloth and tied the youngest child to Quentin’s chest,
“You’ll run back and forth–carry the kids to the car, thene back. I’ll wait here.”
Quentin nced down at the linle one strapped to him and gave a soft smile before heading out.
<b>The </b>moment he left, the woman began to panic.
“Don’t vell. He’s taking your child <b>somewhere </b>safe,” Theresa <b>said </b>calmly.
The woman seemed to understand. She watched anxiously as Quentin slipped down a quiet staircase, her child secured to his chest. She didn’t try to stop <b>him</b>.
Once he was out of sight, Theresa locked the door.
But the longer Quentin was gone, the more restless the woman grew,
She was worried–and honestly, so was Theresa.
What if Quentin bails? What if he just runs?
Trust never came easy to her. Not even with Kyle.
She was someone who kept strict boundaries.
She never gave her full trust to anyone–ever.
She gave Kyle food, water, <b>resources</b><b>, </b>even money <b>and </b>power if he asked. She never tested him without reason. Never used without proof.
<b>But </b>trusting him one hundred percent was out of the question. That was never going to happen.
<b>She </b>always made sure she could handle betrayal from anyone, at any time. She was always ready to strike back.
Like now–she’d handed the car to Kyle and the others, told them to wait. If they ditched her, she <b>could</b>. still get back on her own without a problem.
If Lucas or Theron ever turned on her, tried to take over her camp or alliance, she <b>could </b>wipe out both Kl and Ember Camp in three days easily.
That was because the core supplies were always in her hands. On top of the system, she had dozens of contingency ns.
Every step she’d taken so far, she made sure the core <b>resources </b>stayed in her own hands.
Any strength she showed to others <b>was </b>always something she could control.
The key to bncing power was ensuring that her strength matched her responsibilities.
She would never take in residents or expand her camp unless she had the strength to protect them. She’d
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Chapter 259 He Was Back
never form an alliance unless she could control the fate of every camp involved.
Theresa always yed it safe, always positioned herself in the most secure, central spot<b>. </b>
Every time she expanded, it was only because her strength had grown enough to support it.
Theresa lived by a simple code. Trust and doubt could never coexist.
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Trust, once given, shouldn’t be clouded by suspicion. Doubt, once present, meant the person was never meant to be relied on.
Keeping someone close required rity, not paranoia. Caution was necessary, but fear couldn’t be allowed<b>. </b><b>to </b>poison <b>loyalty</b>.
Anyone who triggered hesitation from the start had no ce in her circle. Uncertainty was a fuse–just waiting to blow.
But Quentin was the exception.
Theresa knew exactly what kind of man he was–cunning, cold, impossible to read, and incapable of real
trust;
No one ever knew what he was thinking or what he truly wanted–not <b>even </b>her.
A man like that, even if he stayed, loyalty was never part of the deal.
And at the moment, he <b>was </b>free.
He didn’t owe anyone <b>anything</b>. Loyalty and morals meant nothing to him.
Just then, through the sea of zombies outside the <b>hospital</b>, Theresa spotted a figure moving against the flowpletely out of ce among the undead.
“He’s back! He really came back!” the woman next to Theresa shouted, <b>ovee </b>with excitement at the sight of <b>Quentin</b>.
Theresa watched in silence, unsure how to feel.
But there he was–Quentin had actually returned.
“Where’s my baby?” the woman cried, rushing to open the door for him.
“She’s safe, Quentin <b>said </b>calmly. “She’s fine.”
“Where is she? I want to see her! The woman grabbed his arm, her voice shaking.
“Soon. Let me get all <b>your </b>kids out first, then I’ll take you to her.”
The woman seemed to get it. She turned around, grabbed the rest of the kids from the cart, and shoved them into his arms. “Take them! Please–<b>just </b>get them all <b>out</b>!”
Quentin approached Theresa. “I’m <b>back</b>.”
A wide grin spread across her face. “Atta boy.”
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Chapter 259 He Was Back
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“No reward for me?”
“Finish <b>the </b>job first. Then we’ll talk about rewards.”
Quentin chuckled and went back to tie the next child to <b>him</b>.
“<b>How </b>was it out there?” Theresa asked.
“Tons of zombies. A few caught my scent and started chasing me, so I had to run back, Quentin <b>said</b>.
“Keep it up. Pace yourself. A few more trips to go. I’m counting on you, champ, Theresa said, giving him a quic nod of encouragement.
<b>373 </b>
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