Chapter 1

When the extreme-heat apocalypse arrived, surface temperatures reached 158°F, and the first group of people began moving to Frostpoint Base.

As a scientist, my wife had two spots to bring family members with her.

Everyone thought she would take me without hesitation.

But in the end, she put the name of her graduate student on the application. "He's my student, and he doesn't have his parents with him. I can't bear to leave him alone in a place this hot."

She submitted the application without a second thought. Her next words chilled me to the bone. "Ethan, you're different. You've been tough since you were a kid. I know you can survive until the second group is evacuated."

I forced a bitter smile and said nothing.

That night, as I watched the temperature continue to rise, I calmly made a phone call. "You once told me you would grant me one wish, no matter what it was. Does that promise still stand?"

Chapter 1

"Sure," the person on the other end replied without hesitation.

I carefully asked, "Could you help me get two tickets for the Noah Ark's Car? I want to leave with my mom in the first group."

These tickets were almost impossible to get. The person couldn't make any promises.

"I'll do everything I can," they said.

Just after I hung up, Sophia Coleman pushed open the door. Her eyes landed on my phone screen.

"Who were you calling?"

I had no desire to lie to her. I answered tiredly, "I'm trying to get someone to find me two tickets."

"There are only a few hundred tickets for the first group going to the base," Sophia said casually without even looking at me. "So you won't be able to get any. Otherwise, I would have found a way for you already."

I tightened my grip on my phone.

Of course she knew how hard it was to get a ticket. Yet she had still chosen to leave me behind and take the graduate student working under her with her.

When I didn't answer, she finally looked up. "Ethan, don't worry. I've already applied for a spot for you in the second group. You'll definitely survive."

The radio was reporting that the temperature was still climbing. I let out a cold laugh in my heart.

Everyone knew that in this extreme-heat apocalypse, every day you waited to leave lowered your chances of survival.

The end of the world was coming. Maybe I was just too anxious, but I still held on to a tiny bit of hope. "Sophia, could you take my mom with you first? You know she supported you for six years. She's old and in poor health. I'm afraid she won't last much longer."

The room fell silent.

The lights were off, so I couldn't see the expression on Sophia's face.

Sophia and I had been married for seven years. But we had known each other much longer than that.

We grew up in the same neighborhood and had been childhood friends. We used to play together all the time.

But during the summer before Sophia started middle school, her parents, Ryan Carson and Lila Carson, died in a tragic car accident.

My mom, Sienna Coleman, felt sorry for her because she had no one left. So she took Sophia in. Back then, supplies were already in short supply, but my mom still managed to raise two college graduates.

Sophia had always been shy. After she took her SAT, she promised me that even if the world ended someday, she would stay with me.

That summer was nowhere near as hot as it was now. But her palm had been warm as she held my hand. It had been enough to make my whole heart burn.

I squeezed my eyes shut, and the memory slowly faded.

After a long silence, Sophia finally spoke, "Ethan, Charles is my most trusted assistant. I have to take him with me. And you shouldn't take those silly promises we made as kids seriously."

I gave a bitter smile and almost lost my balance.

The world was clearly on the verge of an extreme-heat apocalypse. Yet every word she said made me feel colder.

The clouds soon cleared. Moonlight fell across her distant, cold face.

Sophia tapped a file folder against my chest. "Take this for now."

I opened it.

Inside was a divorce agreement.

Chapter 2

I stared at her in shock.

Sophia took a sip of coffee before explaining, "The first group has to provide proof for their family members. Charles and I are only professor and student, so that doesn't count."

I tremblingly picked up the divorce papers and gritted my teeth. "So?"

She nervously adjusted her glasses, but her voice remained as calm and cold as ever. "So you need to divorce me first and give him your place as my husband. That way, Charles can get on the Noah's Ark Car. Ethan, it's only a fake divorce. I'll only have a fake marriage with him. Don't take it too seriously. A piece of paper is just a title. You're the only one I care about."

I lowered my head and gave a bitter laugh.

I didn't know when it had happened, but Sophia and I had gone from talking about scientific research to talking only about houses, cars, and money.

Maybe it happened sometime after we got married. Or maybe it was the day Charles became her graduate student. I couldn't remember anymore.

This was the most she had talked to me in a long time.

And she was only talking this much because she wanted a divorce.

My feelings were a mess. I sniffed and signed my name without hesitation.

Sophia frowned when she saw how quickly I signed. Her voice held a hint of displeasure. "Ethan, after this extreme heat apocalypse is over, we can get married again."

I turned my head and waved my hand like I didn't care. "If this really is the end of the world, a piece of paper doesn't mean much. We don't even know if we'll still be alive next month. You should focus on figuring out how to save the world instead."

Her voice became serious. "That's not what I meant. Don't get upset with me because of some young man."

I ignored her. I went back to bed, pulled the covers over my head, and lay down.

Thankfully, it was already nighttime, so the room was dark. She didn't notice how sad I was.

Sophia soon lay down beside me. We turned our backs to each other.

She was as distant and cold as always. We were lying right next to each other, yet somehow, the distance between us had never felt greater.

I quietly wiped away my tears.

By now, air-conditioning systems in many places had already burned out. There was no guarantee that our own AC wouldn't be next.

The thought of being trapped in this heat with no way to cool down kept me awake until midnight.

Suddenly, a phone rang.

It was the special ringtone Sophia had set for Charles.

She quickly fumbled to silence it.

Maybe she was afraid of waking me. Even beneath the covers, I could feel the nervous look she gave me.

Sophia quietly walked into the living room and opened the door.

Then she asked in a whisper, "Charles, why are you here this late?"

Charles sounded like he was about to cry. "Ms. Carson, my AC broke down. I can't take this heat anymore. I had nowhere else to go, so..."

He was pulling a suitcase behind him and looked pitiful. "Could I stay here for a few days?"

I suddenly gripped the edge of my blanket.

Charles and I both waited for Sophia's answer.

But just like with those precious tickets, I always seemed to lose in the end.

Then I heard the door open wider.

"Come in," Sophia said. "Just don't wake Ethan. He's a light sleeper."

Charles finally smiled. "Thank you! You're the best!"

But before stepping inside, he suddenly stopped. "But will Mr. Coleman mind if you let me stay here?"

Sophia was silent for a moment before answering in a proud tone. "You don't need to worry about him. You're my student. There's nothing wrong with you staying at my house for a few days."

I felt completely hopeless.

After Sophia settled Charles in, she was about to return to the bedroom.

Suddenly, Charles grabbed her hand. He carefully asked, "By the way, you gave me your family ticket earlier. Did Mr. Coleman agree to that?"

Sophia gently explained, "Charles, you're my best student. I need you to help with my research. Ethan will understand. Everything I'm doing is for the good of humanity."

I let out a cold laugh.

She was so good at dressing up her selfish motives as something noble that I had no way to argue with her.

She always spoke so calmly and logically.

It was the same every time she silently endured my anger and questions, as if my emotional outbursts were nothing but a joke compared to her calmness.

Before I knew it, my tears had soaked my pillow.

At the same time, my phone suddenly lit up.

I received a text message. "Ethan, the tickets are secured. A private car will pick you and your mother up in three days."

Chapter 3

I finally breathed a sigh of relief.

But that bedroom door never opened again that night.

Sophia stayed in the living room and talked with Charles all night about the extreme-heat apocalypse.

I could already imagine what excuse she would use if I went out there.

Academic research? A professor-student discussion?

I had heard those excuses too many times. I was sick of them.

I was so disappointed that I no longer wanted to open that door.

The extreme heat was already hard enough to endure. Getting angry would only make things worse.

I needed to save my energy so I could get Sienna and myself out of there.

Besides, in a situation like this, love and marriage seemed far less important.

After thinking it over, I went to sleep.

But to my surprise, Charles didn't leave the next morning.

Instead, he openly sat at the dining table and ate breakfast from one of my plates.

When he saw me come out, he politely greeted me, "Hello, Mr. Coleman. My AC broke down, so I came over early this morning. I'm really sorry if I caused you any trouble."

I glanced at the couch, where the blanket he had used was still lying there. I pulled my lips into a sarcastic smile.

But neither of them tried to explain. Maybe they simply couldn't be bothered.

"Ethan, come have some breakfast."

Sophia had actually cooked breakfast herself.

In front of Charles, she was playing the role of the perfect housewife.

When Charles picked up his fork again, I stared at the plate in his hands.

It was the plate Sophia and I had made ourselves five years ago on Valentine's Day.

She had carved a promise into the bottom. A promise that she would stay with me forever. That plate had always been special to us. It was almost like a symbol of our love.

And now another man was using it.

Sophia noticed where I was looking and casually said, "Oh, he likes it. Just let him use it."

I was so angry that I lost my appetite. I grabbed my car keys and headed outside to pick up Sienna.

Sophia grabbed my arm. "Where are you going?" she demanded coldly. "It's 70 degrees outside. Even if you want to throw a fit, don't risk your life."

Charles also looked at me with red eyes. "Mr. Coleman, it's so hot outside that even the asphalt is starting to melt. Driving in this heat is dangerous..."

I let out a heavy breath before shouting. "I'm going to get my mom! Let go of me!"

As we struggled, the plate in front of Charles slipped off the table.

It hit the floor and shattered into pieces.

Sophia froze.

I shoved her away and walked straight outside into the scorching heat.

The stray cats and dogs that used to wander the streets had all disappeared. The whole neighborhood was filled with an eerie silence.

I hurried to pick up Sienna. If I waited any longer, the AC in her home in the countryside might burn out too.

But when I returned home, I was met with their watchful eyes.

Sophia quickly hid her emotions, picked up Sienna's luggage, and politely greeted her, "Hello, Sienna."

Sienna gave her a warm smile.

After we settled in, Sophia pulled me aside.

Her face was serious. "Ethan, there's something I need to remind you of. This is the end of the world. Resources are running low, and the food we have at home won't last very long. Four people in one house might be too much."

I looked up in shock. I couldn't believe she had actually said that.

She was treating my mother like a burden.

I stared at her in disbelief, my heart filled with pain and disappointment. "Sophia, she's my mom! She supported you for six years! How can you say something like that?"

Sophia adjusted her glasses and replied calmly, "Ethan, I've calculated every meal and every ounce of food we have. I'm only telling you the truth."

She was still so calm and rational. My anger seemed to have no effect on her.

But I couldn't take it anymore. "Then make Charles leave! How can you think my mom is the one who should leave? That's too much, Sophia!"

The moment I mentioned Charles, her voice suddenly rose. "Isn't that what I'm trying to discuss with you?"

Sophia threw a schedule onto the table. "We'll have to eat smaller meals more often and survive until Charles and I leave in three days. After that, you'll have to figure things out on your own."

I didn't even look at the paper. I tore it into pieces.

Just then, Sienna was standing outside, looking at Charles with confusion.

She asked me nervously, "Ethan, who is this?"

For once, Sophia looked nervous.

She even stepped quietly in front of Charles, as if she were protecting him. She made sure he felt safe.

I watched them with disappointment.

Sophia had always been like a distant star—cold, far away.

But now I saw the truth. Her light hadn't vanished, she'd simply never let it shine on me.

I didn't want Sienna to worry, so I forced a smile. "Mom, he's one of Sophia's students."

Sienna visibly relaxed.

She smiled and said, "He seems like a smart and friendly young man. So we're all leaving together in three days, right?"

She was sharp. Even as she spoke, she kept her eyes on Sophia.

Sophia froze.

I answered for her, "Mom, go pack your things. Don't bring too much. Each of us can only take about 22 pounds."

Sienna narrowed her eyes with a smile and patted the back of my hand. "Okay. You should start packing too. It would be best if we could all leave together."

"Sure," I casually answered and headed toward the bedroom.

Sophia followed close behind and slammed the door shut.

She angrily ran a hand through her hair. "You told your mother she was leaving with us, didn't you? What am I supposed to do now? Where am I going to find two more tickets? You're lying to her!"

I only smiled. I wasn't lying to Sienna.

We really were leaving. And after that, Sophia and I would have nothing to do with each other ever again.

Chapter 4

Sophia frowned. "Ethan, what are you smiling about? Are you deliberately forcing me to take your mother with us?"

I opened my suitcase without even looking at her. "Don't worry. My mom and I won't take either of your two spots on the Noah's Ark Car."

After saying that, I kept tossing my belongings into the suitcase. I also took all the little keepsakes from our cabinets and threw them into the trash.

Once the apocalypse came, they were all nothing but garbage. Even the memories of our love meant nothing anymore.

Sophia picked up a small stuffed toy from the trash. It was a gift we had bought to celebrate our third wedding anniversary. Her face darkened immediately.

I didn't want to say anything else to her, so I carried my things straight to the guest room where Sienna was staying.

Over the next three days, supplies really did become scarce. Each person was given only one cup of water with every meal.

But on the night before we were supposed to leave, I got up in the middle of the night and saw Charles drinking a can of Coke with ice.

I said nothing.

But Charles immediately turned red around the eyes. "Mr. Coleman, I'm just used to putting ice in my Coke... I'm sorry. I won't do it again."

Sophia came running over when she heard him.

She calmly said to me, "Ethan, he's young. Don't be so hard on him."

I was completely confused.

Just yesterday, she had complained that Sienna was a burden. Now I realized she had been saving our supplies for Charles.

I looked at Charles. At first, he looked hurt. But in the end, his smile didn't look like simple happiness. There was something more behind it.

I was too tired to care. I took the supplies meant for Sienna and me and went back to our room.

Sophia seemed like she wanted to stop me, but she eventually lowered her hand. That same feeling of frustration filled her again.

Soon, the third day arrived. I dragged my suitcase along and held Sienna's hand as we waited outside for the Noah's Ark Car.

The moment Sophia saw me, she quickly pulled me aside.

She looked anxious. "Ethan, do you really have to leave with me? I already told you. You and Sienna are supposed to leave with the second group. Don't you understand what I said?"

She paused before continuing, "And even if I didn't take Charles, if I took you instead, would you really be willing to leave Sienna behind and go with me? Everything I'm doing is for your own good!"

Once again, she had so much to say because of Charles.

I gave myself a bitter smile. "I'm not leaving with you. I already told you that you don't need to worry about my mother's ticket or mine. I have my own way."

Sophia frowned and grabbed my arm. "Ethan, you haven't worked in years. What could you possibly do to get tickets? Can you please stop being stubborn?"

I almost laughed from anger when I heard that.

There was only one spot available at the research institute that year. I had given up my place so Sophia could have the opportunity that led to everything she had achieved today.

I pulled my arm free. "Sophia, please don't make me regret the choices I made for you all those years ago."

She looked down at her hand. Her brow furrowed even deeper. Then she shouted. "Ethan, everything I've done was carefully thought out! Why can't you listen to me just one more time?"

I didn't want Sienna to hear us arguing. So, I lowered my voice. "This has nothing to do with you."

I coldly pulled my suitcase away from her.

Sophia was about to say something else. But then the Noah's Ark Car arrived.

I helped Sienna onto the vehicle.

Sophia suddenly panicked. "Ethan, have you lost your mind? You don't have a ticket! Are you really trying to force your way onto the vehicle?"

Then she gave Charles a look. "You go ahead. Don't let anyone take your seat."

Charles pressed his lips into a smile and started to board. But the staff member looked down at the passenger list.

Then he stopped Charles. "This vehicle was arranged by Ms. Larson to pick up Mr. Coleman and his mother. Please don't interfere with official business."

Sophia's face turned pale.