18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 119

You just couldn't pull the wool over his eyes.

Feeling embarrassed, Stella played dumb, "I think there's been a misunderstanding, I'm not trying to hide anything from you." "Do you want to know?"

"Know what?"

"My secret."

No, Stella didn't want to know. She still wanted to live, not be silenced or dissected.

Jasper kept on planting potatoes, "Stella, I trust in time."

What the hell was he implying?

Stella sensed that something was amiss and awkwardly said, "I'm sorry, I'm just naturally suspicious and find it hard to open up to people."

Despite being given a second chance at life, her post-traumatic stress disorder hadn't disappeared. She was trying to control it, and it was much better than it was at the beginning.

Jasper repeated, "You're doing just fine. I would be the same."

Well, didn't he contradict himself there? Forget it, she'd just play dumb.

After planting potatoes, they headed to 1803 to cook.

They agreed to start cooking together on Christmas Eve, taking turns for lunch and dinner.

Stella's Christmas supplies weren't going to be enough for all three families, so they had to pool resources. She provided 5 pounds of frozen potatoes, a fish, and considering her dog was a big eater, she added some grains and pasta. Jasper contributed a bag of frozen pears, 10 salted eggs, and two pounds of pork belly.

Room 1803 provided the heat source, gas, rice and oil, and some drinks.

Christmas Eve dinner was the most important meal of the year.

in the kitchen, with Stella giving

smell picking up the scent of other families' dinners. Hmm, their food couldn't compare to what was cooking on

in the midst of a catastrophic winter, being able to celebrate Christmas

particularly generous, providing an extra pound of relief food per

amount allocated to each survivor, the total amount of food distributed was staggering due

were dishes of shredded pork, beef stew, fish soup, pork soup with radishes, and a

rituals. Lukas brought out a party popper, opened the front door and set it off. The colorful confetti fluttered down, marking the start of the Christmas Eve dinner. With

time. She didn't know what the future held,

said, "Cheers, Jasper, your cooking skills are getting

do you

by 'take care of'? Stella frowned, these

was calm, "Yes,

Cody and Lukas, her eyes twinkling with mischief, "Let's

smile, the two of them were sure to get a

was warm and everyone

of the dishes. Lukas and Angela boiled some lemon tea and

so she asked her dog to bring the iPad. She had downloaded a lot of movies, TV shows, and variety shows from various video websites before the disaster, all

slowly munching on snacks. Cooper squeezed in next to her, resting his head on her leg, his bright eyes staring at her.

Cooper used his eyes to signal her: 'Come on,

shelling peanuts for him. She didn't shell many, not wanting to spoil him. She would give him more

she was worried about bankrupting 1803. She deliberately controlled Cooper's

show lasted four hours. By the time it was over, it was already late at night. She went home, showered, put on her comfortable thermal

to fall asleep, her walkie-talkie rang,

was

just left 1803 together,

pause on the other end of the

and saw that it was just past

you and Rosie too. I hope you two have a great year

too, may you and

"Woof!"