Apocalyptic World: Surviving with my husband and my cute little babies-Chapter 192: Convo with Grandpa Caldwell

The team quickly used their [Inventory] skill to store the thick layers of ice and snow that had built up on the rooftop.

At first, the strong wind made it hard for them to stay on their feet. They struggled to regain balance, and the sharp, heavy falling snow only worsened it.

But drawing from past experience, they each took out a sturdy object from their [Inventory]—something solid to grip or lean on. With this simple support, they steadied themselves and continued their work.

Seeing his parents struggle, Andrei reminded them gently to be careful and not rush.

"Mom, if you start feeling too cold or uncomfortable, don’t force yourself. Go inside Paradise right away," he said, clearly worried about both of them.

Jessa gave a soft nod. "You too, son. Be careful."

After that, the team continued working slowly, carefully storing the heavy ice blocks.

While others were busy on the rooftop, Elena sat downstairs, conversing quietly with Grandpa Caldwell.

Something had been weighing on her mind—she wanted to ask about her mother.

But first, she shared a bit of good news.

"Grandpa, I found a relative," she said with a smile. "Little Erick is actually my cousin."

Grandpa Caldwell was taken aback. He hadn’t expected that the boy Elena had welcomed into their group was related to her by blood.

"That’s wonderful to hear," he replied warmly.

"It’s always a blessing to find family in times like this. As for your mother... I honestly don’t know much. Your Grandpa Smith only ever mentioned that she was an orphan."

"I see... so my mother’s background is a bit of a mystery," Elena murmured, her smile fading slightly.

Grandpa Caldwell looked at her kindly, remembering her mother. She had been elegant and graceful—beautiful both inside and out.

Now, looking at Elena, he saw a reflection of her. The resemblance was clear.

"You know, you really look like your mom—especially your eyes," Grandpa Caldwell said with a fond smile.

"You were so young when your parents passed, so you might not remember, but she loved you dearly. Every time we visited, she proudly showed you off like you were her greatest joy."

Elena was quietly stunned.

Her mother had truly been beautiful—those old photos showed just how graceful and elegant she was back then.

It was heartbreaking that both her parents had died so young.

"Well... I don’t remember much about them. I was only six when they passed," Elena replied, a bit sad. "Can you tell me about them? What was my dad like?"

Grandpa Caldwell chuckled.

"Your dad? He was really something! Anyone who even tried to give you a little kiss—he’d scold them right away. You were his precious treasure. He carried you everywhere, like he couldn’t stand being apart from you even for a moment. If he could see you now, he’d be so proud of the person you’ve become."

Elena smiled gently, one hand resting over her belly. She missed her parents deeply... but above all, she missed her grandpa so much.

"And your grandpa—he might’ve looked strict, but he cared about you deeply," Grandpa Caldwell said with a sigh.

"On his deathbed, he even begged me to betroth Ethan to you. He was so worried that after he was gone, if you weren’t ready to take over the Smith company, someone might try to take advantage of you."

Elena was shocked. Her grandpa had always been proud—never the kind of man to bow to anyone.

Yet for her, he had begged. Her eyes welled up.

’Thank you, Grandpa... for everything. I love you, and I miss you. Don’t worry—I’ll live better this time.’

Grandpa Caldwell smiled gently and continued.

"You know, Ethan really loves you. Honestly, he’s kept an album of your pictures—from when you were little all the way to your college days. But shh, don’t tell him I told you—it’s one of his treasured books."

’Oh? Where does he even hide it? I’ve never seen it in any cabinet or storage room,’ Elena thought, blinking in surprise.

Grandpa Caldwell chuckled.

"When I told him about the betrothal—how your Grandpa Smith arranged it—that was the first time I saw him truly happy since his parents passed. You’ve both gone through so much. I just hope your life together will be steadier from now on... and that you’ll keep holding on to each other, no matter what."

"We will, Grandpa. You don’t have to worry about us," she replied with determination.

Ethan had been nothing but good to her. To Elena, he was the best husband in the world—kind, thoughtful, and full of love.

What she didn’t know was that Ethan had poured all the love in his heart into her. There was nothing left for anyone else.

Well, that might change once their baby girl arrives. He would surely adore their daughter, but Elena would always be number one in his heart.

Ethan firmly believed the baby was a girl. He secretly tucked away pink fabric and quietly asked Grandma Ford to sew cute little clothes for their baby.

Grandpa Caldwell then shared stories of Ethan’s childhood—how he was stubborn yet gentle, dreamed of becoming a hero, and would quietly follow him around, only to hide behind his mom when teased.

Elena laughed, imagining her serious husband as a shy, clingy little boy.

When Ethan returned from clearing the ice on the rooftop, he found Elena in a cheerful mood, gently smiling as she caressed her growing belly.

A wave of joy washed over him. He walked up and hugged her, wrapping them both in the warmth of his love—for her and for their unborn child.

The kids happened to see the sweet moment, and Ethan quickly came up with an excuse.

"The baby’s cold," he said with a straight face, "so I’m giving her a warm hug."

Elena rolled her eyes and let out a soft chuckle as the kids nodded seriously, completely buying his silly excuse.

Days passed quietly, and in the blink of an eye, a week had gone by. The snowstorm had finally ended, though light snow still continued to fall.

The Paradise shop stayed busy. Firewood became the top-selling item, as residents needed to keep their homes warm around the clock.

But the peaceful days didn’t last.

Rumors began to spread—terrifying ones.

In the Golden Tower, which stood in the same area as the Camel Tower, a beast had broken in and slaughtered the residents inside.

Panic quickly spread through the nearby buildings, as no one knew what kind of creature it was—or if it would strike again.