Chapter 114

Thinking it over, Jasper said, "I grew up with loving parents, got a good education and landed a steady job. Nothing extraordinary."

Yeah right, Jasper was playing coy. He obviously had a story to tell.

Nobody believed his brief summary, not even the dog, who barked as if in disbelief. But with his strong presence and Stella's silence, no one dared to probe further.

"Eat up," Stella urged. "The food's going to get cold."

Taking the hint, Cody quickly added, "Yeah, let's dig in."

They all tucked into the juicy, succulent pot roast, feeling like it had somehow elevated their spirits in these end times.

Lukas, lost in the delicious flavors, asked, "Stella, Christmas is coming up, how are we planning to celebrate?"

Stella didn't mind. They could celebrate however they wanted.

Angela suggested, "How about we all gather and light a fire? It'll be more festive."

Angela, unlike the others, had a home to miss. Even if she couldn't return, she longed to celebrate Christmas in her own way.

Lukas felt a pang of sadness. His wife had promised to take him to meet her parents during the holidays, but then disaster struck. Thinking of his wife's feelings, he quickly agreed, "We've had enough hardships. Let's celebrate together. Who knows, maybe things will be back to normal next year."

Stella preferred quiet, as any commotion could attract danger in these times. But she had spent so much time cooped up in the apartment. Even though she practiced with Jasper every day, he was a man of few words. Besides providing professional training guidance, he didn't say much.

her hands in excitement, "Great! I

hair, "Yes, this year I won't be working, so I can spend Christmas with

more to come.

really need Stella's cooking skills to enjoy such

get used to it," Stella warned,

meat left, but without your cooking

the pot roast; it had nothing to

him, said, "One day you have

visibly cringed at the thought, "I'm

settled down with a book and a box of chocolates Jasper had gifted her. They were expensive, imported chocolates, smooth

box was heart-shaped. Probably just

to gather some firewood for the celebrations. But the nearby Griffith Mountain had been stripped clean of trees. The closest woodlands, Ivywood Estates, was a day's trip away.

rather freeze," Stella

her sentiments, "Rosie and

gather firewood, Katie suggested, "Wood is heavy, so why not turn into charcoal and

didn't know

and explained how

familiar with such things, was lost. But Cody, who was

practical to travel back and forth daily. Room 1803 residents took a snow shovel and a tent, vowing not to return without several hundred pounds of charcoal. "Stella, Jack, I entrust the

and don't sleep too

carried a crossbow and guns with them, capable of taking down anyone. Besides, they had Angela, the seasoned boxer, which

The dog wanted to go out and have some

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