When Jules sat back down, the room felt different.
Not because everyone suddenly believed every word she'd said.
They didn't.
Her father still wanted answers.
Her mother still had concerns.
Selina was still hurt.
And Jules still wasn't ready to tell them about her previous lives.
But nobody was trying to pretend those problems didn't exist.
Kaelen turned his laptop back toward her.
"All right. Here's what we're going to do."
Jules listened.
"First, we review every contract and outstanding order. I'm going to contact the suppliers myself and verify delivery schedules."
She nodded.
"Second, we're going to create an inventory. Everything you've already purchased, everything you still want, and everything we can obtain through legitimate suppliers."
"Okay."
"Third, we're going to prioritize. We can't purchase everything at once just because you're afraid we'll run out of time."
Jules hesitated.
Then nodded again.
Kaelen looked at her.
"And I want you to understand something. I'm not refusing to spend money. I'm refusing to spend it blindly."
"I understand."
"Good."
He turned toward Serina.
"What do you think?"
She looked down at her notebook.
"I think we should prepare for the medical emergencies we know are likely after major disasters. Contaminated water, injuries, dehydration, respiratory infections, interrupted treatment for chronic illnesses."
She glanced at Jules.
"And we can make a separate list of the unusual conditions Jules is worried about. But I need more information before I can develop anything resembling a treatment plan for those."
Jules nodded.
"That's fair."
Serina gave her a small smile.
"I can start contacting medical equipment suppliers. I've also considered opening a private clinic someday. I'll investigate what establishing one would require."
Kaelen looked at her.
"You're not resigning from the hospital tomorrow."
Serina raised an eyebrow.
"I wasn't planning to."
"Just checking."
"I do know how to make decisions without announcing them at breakfast."
Jules looked offended.
"Was that directed at me?"
Serina smiled.
"Who else?"
Tavian raised his hand.
"I've made several bad decisions at breakfast."
"We know," Daric said.
"Nobody appreciates honesty in this house."
Daric leaned forward.
"So what about the warehouses?"
Kaelen looked at him.
"What about them?"
"Jorin and I can help."
Jorin nodded.
"We'll make an inventory spreadsheet and check the delivery notices. Then we can go over there when it's allowed and someone knows we're coming."
Daric glanced at him.
"That's what I said earlier."
"No, you said you wanted to drive there."
"Because we need to see the place!"
"And I said we need records first."
Kaelen held up a hand.
"Both of you can help. Jorin, start with the records. Daric, you can help organize the inspection checklist. We'll arrange visits that follow the warehouse rules and your driving restrictions."
Daric considered that.
"Fine."
Jorin grinned.
"See? My idea."
Daric rolled his eyes.
"Don't start."
Tavian leaned forward.
"And what am I doing?"
Selina answered without looking up.
"Helping me finish the guide."
He stared at her.
"Seriously?"
"You wanted to help."
"Yeah, but I was thinking something exciting."
"Emergency preparation is exciting."
"To you."
She turned her laptop toward him.
"Then you can help make it interesting."
Tavian considered that.
"Can I add pictures?"
"Useful pictures."
"Define useful."
"Tavian."
"Okay, okay."
Selina glanced at Jules.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Jules said quietly, "You don't have to post anything you're uncomfortable with."
Selina looked surprised.
"I know."
"I mean it. I shouldn't have put that on you yesterday."
Her sister was silent for a moment.
Then she nodded.
"Thanks."
It wasn't forgiveness for everything.
But it was a start.
"Now," Kaelen said, "let's return to Pinnacle Tower."
Jules looked up.
"You'll consider it?"
"I'll consider making an inquiry."
She smiled.
"That's all I'm asking."
Kaelen raised an eyebrow.
"That is absolutely not all you're asking."
"Okay. It's a start."
"Better."
He opened the property listing.
"Explain why you chose this building."
Jules leaned closer.
She showed him the commercial podium, the separate residential entrance, the secured elevators, and the arrangement of the upper floors.
"The commercial section has five floors," she explained. "The residential floors are numbered separately, one through twenty-two. The penthouse occupies the entire top residential floor."
Kaelen studied the layout.
"You're thinking about controlled access."
"Yes."
"Storage?"
"That too."
"Backup power?"
"We'd need to install or arrange it."
"Water?"
"Also something we'd need to plan."
He nodded slowly.
"Those are reasonable considerations."
Jules relaxed a little.
"But none of them explains why the penthouse is essential rather than another apartment."
She hesitated.
"There's something about owning the top floor that matters to my ability."
Kaelen watched her.
"Something you can't explain yet."
"Something I don't fully understand myself."
That made him pause.
Jules continued.
"I know it sounds ridiculous. But I have a reason for wanting it. I'm not asking you to sign anything today. I just don't want us to lose the opportunity before we know whether it's possible."
Kaelen considered that.
Then nodded.
"An inquiry doesn't obligate us to buy it."
Jules sat up straighter.
"Exactly."
"And if it becomes available, we're reviewing the legal and financial details before making an offer."
"Okay."
"And the deposit on 18A stays where it is unless we negotiate something different."
"Okay."
He reached for his phone.
"Let me see who I can speak to."
The call took longer than Jules expected.
Kaelen introduced himself, explained that his daughter had recently placed a deposit on Apartment 18A, and asked to speak with someone handling premium residential sales.
After being transferred, he repeated the details.
"Yes, that's correct. Apartment 18A."
He listened.
"My daughter is interested in another property in the building. Floor 22."
Jules held her breath.
Kaelen glanced at her.
"Yes, I'm aware it's currently under contract."
Another pause.
"I understand. I'm not asking you to breach an existing agreement. I'm asking whether the developer would consider a backup offer if the current purchaser is unable to close."
Jules watched his expression.
It didn't change.
"Of course."
He reached for a pen.
"Two days?"
Jules straightened.
Kaelen wrote something down.
"And what would be required from us at that point?"
He listened again.
"I see. One more question. My daughter has already paid a deposit on 18A. If we proceeded with Floor 22, would management consider transferring that deposit or crediting it toward the new purchase?"
Jules leaned closer.
Kaelen held up a finger without looking at her.
She stopped.
"Understood. Subject to approval."
He wrote another note.
"Thank you. I'll expect an update."
He ended the call.
Jules immediately leaned forward.
"What did they say?"
Kaelen set down the phone.
"The penthouse is still under contract to Cortell Holdings."
Her shoulders dropped.
"But the developer is reviewing the situation. Apparently, the buyer's financial problems have complicated the closing."
"So it's available?"
"No."
"Oh."
"Not yet. And it may not become available at all."
Jules looked at him.
"Then what happens?"
"They expect to have more clarity within two days. If the current agreement is terminated or the buyer fails to meet the required conditions, they're willing to discuss a backup offer."
Jules's heart began beating faster.
"And the deposit?"
"Management would have to approve any transfer or credit from 18A. Nothing is guaranteed."
"But it's possible?"
"It's worth asking."
Jules smiled.
Kaelen pointed at her.
"Don't start celebrating. We haven't bought anything."
"I know."
"And I'm reviewing every document before anyone signs."
"I know."
"And you're not using my card to surprise me with another property."
Jules pressed her lips together.
"...Okay."
Kaelen narrowed his eyes.
"Jules."
"I said okay!"
Tavian leaned toward Daric.
"She's definitely thinking about it."
"I heard that!"
"Good!"
By early afternoon, the dining table had disappeared beneath notebooks, laptops, and lists.
Serina was organizing medical priorities.
Kaelen had started a spreadsheet for expenses, suppliers, contracts, and delivery schedules.
Daric and Jorin were arguing over the best way to organize warehouse inventory.
Selina was revising her preparedness guide.
Tavian was supposed to be helping her.
Mostly, he was suggesting increasingly ridiculous additions.
"Emergency snacks," he said.
"Already included," Selina replied.
"Backup emergency snacks."
"Tavian."
"Snacks for when the backup snacks run out."
She closed her eyes.
"Go away."
Amira sat beside Jules, drawing a picture of their family.
Kaelith had fallen asleep on Serina's lap, one small hand curled around his toy.
Jules looked around the room.
This was nothing like the plans she'd made in her previous lives.
Back then, she'd carried everything herself.
She'd counted supplies alone.
Chosen escape routes alone.
Made decisions she was too young to make.
And when things went wrong—
We ran.
We hid.
We lost them.
"Jules?"
She blinked.
Her father was watching her.
"You okay?"
She nodded.
"Yeah."
"You've been staring at that same page for five minutes."
"Sorry."
Kaelen closed his laptop halfway.
"Come here."
Jules hesitated.
Then moved to the chair beside him.
He looked at her for a moment.
"I meant what I said earlier."
"About the card?"
"About doing this together."
She looked down.
"I know."
"You're eighteen, Jules. I don't know what you've gotten yourself involved in, or how you know what you know."
He paused.
"And I'm not going to pretend I'm happy about all the things you're keeping from us."
Jules nodded.
"But I can see you're scared. And whatever happens three months from now, I don't want you making every decision by yourself."
Her throat tightened.
"I know, Dad."
"Then we're going to have to trust each other."
She looked at him.
"Even if I can't explain everything?"
"Even then. But trust goes both ways."
Jules nodded slowly.
"Okay."
Kaelen rested a hand on her shoulder.
"Good."
Then he opened his laptop again.
"Now, about these vehicle purchases you're planning."
Jules blinked.
"What about them?"
"Rezvani?"
She leaned closer.
"Yes!"
He raised an eyebrow.
"Armored SUVs?"
"Exactly."
"Multiple?"
"Preferably."
Kaelen stared at her.
Then slowly looked toward Serina.
"Your daughter is trying to bankrupt me."
Serina didn't look up from her notebook.
"She's your daughter when she's spending money."
"She got that from you."
"Of course she did."
Tavian raised his hand.
"Can I have one?"
"No," both parents said.
He sighed.
"Nobody in this family supports my dreams."
Daric threw a crumpled piece of paper at him.
Jorin laughed.
Selina told them both to stop making noise.
Amira held up her drawing and asked whether everyone liked it.
Kaelith stirred in his sleep.
And Jules—
Jules laughed.
For the first time since waking in her ninth life, the sound came easily.
The world was still going to end.
They still had less than three months.
There were supplies to purchase, contracts to negotiate, and a tower they didn't own.
Her father hadn't restored unrestricted access to his card.
Her mother still needed answers Jules couldn't give.
Selina hadn't forgotten how frightened she'd been the night before.
And the System remained silent.
Nothing had suddenly become easy.
But the family was still sitting together.
Still arguing.
Still making plans.
Jules looked at the spreadsheets, the medical notebook, Selina's unfinished guide, and the drawing Amira had placed in the middle of the table.
Nine people.
All here.
All alive.
For eight lives, she'd tried to save them by making every decision herself.
This time, she would have to learn something different.
How to let them make decisions with her.
She wasn't certain she knew how.
But when Kaelen asked her to pull up the vehicle list, she moved her chair closer and turned the screen so they could both see it.
"Okay," she said. "Let's start with what we actually need."
And together, they began.