Magic Space: Struggling to Survive in the Apocalypse

Chapter 148: Dense Fog 9

"The fact is, you hugged Wyatt Vaughn, and you pulled her. Since you had physical contact with her, you have to be responsible for her."

The man speaking lived over by the office building. The men who came with him to pressure Officer Graham were all his underlings.

It all started three days ago. Officer Graham was out digging for coal when he heard a call for help. He found a girl—the one now crying in the corner, named Wyatt Vaughn—who had fallen into a pit three or four meters deep. She couldn’t climb out, and Officer Graham, not being the type to leave someone to die, naturally pulled her out. Of course, he used a rope.

But from Miles Vaughn’s mouth, this simple rescue turned into an embrace and hand-holding.

"Miles Vaughn, are you just trying to pick a fight?"

The survivors living in the office building were now under Miles Vaughn’s charge. He and Officer Graham had crossed paths before and had their fair share of friction. Suspecting that Miles was using this despicable tactic for revenge, Officer Graham grew livid.

"Me, pick a fight? You’re a widower in your thirties with baggage, and my sister is only twenty. I’m letting you take responsibility for her, and you’re not even happy about it?"

"Who the fuck are you calling baggage?" Officer Graham grabbed a shovel, ready to bring it down on Miles Vaughn’s head. The people beside him quickly held him back. Uncowed, Miles Vaughn leaped up and cursed Officer Graham for getting a sweet deal and still playing innocent.

Just then, Taylor Vance and two others arrived. Once they understood what had happened, Taylor Vance found the situation to be a real headache.

"Miles Vaughn, Chester Graham was just being kind!" Taylor Vance said, his anger flaring for once. "He saved her, and in return, you’re trying to shove your sister on him? Are you out of your mind?"

At these words, Miles Vaughn flew into a rage.

"Taylor Vance, you’re just protecting Chester Graham! You’re the one being unreasonable! My sister is a young woman, and she was taken advantage of. I don’t care if he meant well or not. The bottom line is, he touched my sister, so he has to be responsible for her."

Miles Vaughn was just being difficult, leaving everyone speechless. But he was the type who wouldn’t listen to reason, and if he didn’t get his way, he would likely keep causing a scene for a very long time.

Evelyn Ford and Ronan Kendrick stood in the crowd. Although Evelyn was just as speechless and exasperated as everyone else, she knew this was something Officer Graham had to handle himself. An outsider’s help would only make things messier.

Of course, if they actually tried to attack Officer Graham, she would be the first to jump in and help.

Officer Graham walked over and shoved Miles Vaughn, then shoved the other men with him. While everyone was still baffled, he let out a cold laugh.

"I’ve touched all six of you now. Does that mean I have to be responsible for you, too?"

Miles Vaughn...

The onlookers...

"No, Daddy! I don’t want to be in the same family as that ugly uncle!" Wendy suddenly burst into tears, and Officer Graham scooped her into his arms.

"Don’t worry," he said. "Daddy’s about to send them packing."

Miles Vaughn was so angry he could have coughed up blood. ’Was he, a grown man, just being toyed with?’

"Chester Graham, you have a death wish?"

Officer Graham ignored him. Miles Vaughn glanced at his underlings, and they grabbed their makeshift weapons, ready to fight again. Just then, Zion Lowell stepped forward, pulling out a homemade crossbow.

Everyone was instantly frightened and scrambled back. Even Miles Vaughn became much more subdued.

"Rule number one of the safe zone: no fighting. Are you all blind or deaf? Miles Vaughn, of all the men in this safe zone you could have picked a fight with, you chose Chester Graham? Consider it a mercy he hasn’t already killed you. And you."

Zion Lowell had someone drag Wyatt Vaughn forward. "Do you really want to marry Chester Graham?"

Wyatt Vaughn shook her head. "I don’t! My brother is forcing me."

’Well now, that’s a bombshell.’

All eyes turned to Miles Vaughn, but he remained completely unfazed, the very picture of shamelessness.

"What do you mean, I forced you? He touched your hand, so he has to take responsibility for you."

"Then you marry him!" Wyatt Vaughn retorted. "You two were just grappling a moment ago!"

As soon as Wyatt Vaughn shouted back, the crowd’s complicated gazes landed back on Miles Vaughn.

"You traitor! I’m trying to help you and you turn on me!" Miles Vaughn raised his hand to strike Wyatt Vaughn, but Zion Lowell quickly stopped him.

"Miles Vaughn, are you trying to get kicked out of the safe zone?"

Miles Vaughn fell silent. After he and his cronies were led away by security, Zion Lowell looked at Officer Graham and sighed in resignation.

"You know, maybe you should just find a new partner," Zion said. "Someone to help take care of Wendy. I mean, how many times has this happened this month alone? All the widows and single women in the safe zone have their eyes on you."

You couldn’t blame them. Officer Graham was just that exceptional.

He wasn’t just tall and well-built; he was also an incredible worker who could farm, mine coal, and hunt. There was seemingly nothing he couldn’t do. Compared to him, the other single men in the safe zone seemed pathetic.

In an environment like this, many women were looking for someone reliable to depend on. A man like Officer Graham was, without a doubt, the ideal choice.

The fact that he took such good care of his daughter only made him seem more perfect.

Officer Graham looked exasperated. "I’ve said it before. I’m not going to be with anyone else for the rest of my life. Not even if I die. My wife is the only one in my heart."

Even though she was already dead.

"All right, all right, I won’t press the issue. You can’t force love. And everyone," he said, addressing the crowd, "stop staring at just Chester Graham. There are other people to consider. The safe zone encourages people to partner up, but that doesn’t mean you can mess around. If anyone causes trouble, my crossbow bolt might not be so discerning."

Zion Lowell scanned the crowd, making his point crystal clear while also subtly warning the men and women who were nursing their own little schemes.

Wyatt Vaughn shot Officer Graham a timid glance, muttered, "I’m sorry," and ran off.

"When is it my turn for a little romance?" Quincy lamented, beating his chest and stomping his foot in frustration.

"Maybe you’d have some romantic luck if you got a normal haircut," Evelyn Ford said.

Evelyn looked him up and down. "Seriously, though. The way you look, anyone who didn’t know you would think you were a felon who just broke out of prison."

"Evelyn, why are you always so harsh with me?" Quincy clutched his chest, putting on a heartbroken expression.

"Because you’re my brother from another mother."

"It looks like my dream of finding a beautiful sugar mama is doomed. I’m already thirty... sigh. How many good years does a man have left at this point?"

Evelyn glanced at Officer Graham. "Mr. Graham is pushing forty, and he’s still in high demand."

With one sentence, she had wounded two people. Officer Graham didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as he looked at them.

"All right, you all can head back. It was a small matter I could’ve handled."

Evelyn glanced at Wendy. "Your daughter said you were about to be beaten to death, so of course we came running."

"Wendy, why would you spread false rumors?" Officer Graham patted her little head. "Didn’t Daddy tell you? I can beat them all up. I just told you to stand back."

To think that the honorable and imposing Officer Graham would teach his child like this... It was certainly an eye-opener for everyone.

On the way back, Quincy was still complaining endlessly.

"Why doesn’t anyone like me? I can’t even get someone to try and frame me for a relationship."

Evelyn was about to offer a few words of comfort when someone walked over, looking at Quincy with excitement.

"Mr. Quincy, what do you think of me? I’ve had my eye on you for a long time."

Quincy took in her appearance and asked with some difficulty, "How old are you, ma’am?"

"I just turned forty this year. I also have two sons. They can start calling you Daddy right away."

Quincy... was dead.