18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 179

Having tidied the room, the two, accompanied by their dog, sat down to lunch in their humble abode in Arcadia. Rosie, however, was still fast asleep in the room. Knowing that time in Arcadia was precious, Jasper didn't rest. Instead, he helped Stella harvest the green beans in The Garden.

The beans were not yet mature, still in the green bean phase. The leaves and beans bore a vibrant green hue.

Given the long days ahead, Stella decided to turn them all into pickled beans. She figured it would be a good pastime to munch on them alongside some jerky. Cooper, the dog, was not one to be outdone. He bit into the bean sprouts and pulled them out at a remarkable speed, albeit with a lack of precision.

He was really competitive!

Harvesting the beans, washing them, adding pickling spices, and cooking them was their routine.

After teaching Jasper the process, Stella returned to her room for a nap. Waking around five, she was about to roll over when she felt a hand resting on her waist. Jasper was spooning her, fast asleep. Had she been that sound asleep? She hadn't even heard him enter the room. Was she too relaxed, or was he just that stealthy? Stella nudged him, "Quit pretending, I know you're awake."

Jasper opened his eyes, only to pull her closer. With their bodies close and eyes locked, she could feel the warmth of his breath against her skin. Stella felt her mind go blank, her gaze involuntarily shifted away. Suddenly, Jasper leaned in for a kiss. Stella froze for a moment, feeling her body betray her. She didn't push him away. And so, they found comfort in each other's presence.

He didn't push things further. He held her for a long while before his breathing steadied, "Stella, do you think the marriage office is still open?"

Stella considered, "Probably not."

"Once this disaster is over, we'll go and get our marriage certificate."

Stella threw a pillow at him, "I never said anything about marrying you."

Jasper gazed at her, "But I want to take care of you. Aren't you going to give me a chance?"

"Bark, bark, bark!"

Outside, Cooper was causing a commotion, calling for his trainer to start their practice. Jasper felt exasperated as his confession was interrupted.

on the bed, laughing so hard it hurt, "Go

followed by twists, jumps, and crawls. In the end, Cooper collapsed on the grass, panting and

around seven, Jasper initiated, "Stella, shall we go

wanting to say that. Time was precious, and she didn't want to waste it. At this

Stella caressed her cheek, "Sorry, kiddo. All for the

ready, they

was retracted back into Arcadia. Thankfully, it had landed on a flat area rather than the villa's rooftop. Otherwise, it would have rolled all the

took out her night-vision binoculars, but the tsunami had destroyed everything. The sea

away, beyond their field of vision.

Arcadia, Stella was about to return to the villa with her flashlight when Cooper suddenly tensed up, growling softly. Jasper furrowed his brows, "Someone's in the

people they were, that was another story. Jasper

on the task, staying

flicker of firelight. Having lived there for a month, Stella knew her way around. She saw that the villa's front door was wide open. On the ground was a fire pit for light, and there were about almost

by their appearances, they were

a soldier. Stella took a closer look and found him vaguely familiar.

they arrived at the beach

was actually the soldier

face was pale, indicating significant blood loss. Being

off about Jasper. She gently held his

"I'll go first."

a rusty knife from

to him looked scared and stuttered, "But, that man saved... saved

man smiled, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth,

without uttering another

flickered, casting eerie shadows on the man's face, making him

stepped forward with her assault rifle, "Well, what