18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 255

Austin couldn't help but chuckle at their timid behavior, "Why are you all looking at me like that? Just take it."

He wasn't keen on doing so, but they all had families to take care of. He couldn't let his pride lead their families to hunger. When Monkey came to receive his ration, Stella smiled and asked, "Did you get a house?"

"I did," Monkey grinned, "I couldn't have done it without you."

Their points were sufficient, but they were short on food. Austin had covered it for them.

Monkey was pleased, "Miss, our house is right across the police station. Once it's all fixed up, you should come and visit."

They never thought they could afford such a hot spot. It was Austin who had used his connections to get the deal done.

Stella almost choked, "You folks who engage in speculative buying and selling chose to live right across a police station? You've got balls. Aren't you afraid they'll raid your place?" Monkey boasted, "You're missing the point. The most dangerous place is often the safest."

Fate indeed. Stella never expected that she, along with Jasper, Monkey, his buddies, and the residents from the Eastwood Eden would end up owning the entire building.

At least they knew each other very well, lessening the chances of major chaos.

The major work was temporarily done and Monkey and his group shifted their focus on renovating Austin's villa.

To Stella's amusement, they copied everything down to the last dot. Not just the structure but even the brand of cement Austin used was the same as that of Stella's.

Stella had a lot of finishing touches to do and had already paid their wages in food, so she didn't need to go and help.

The outer walls of the house were thick. Jasper decided to install two doors, an electrically charged stainless steel door on the outside and a heavy wooden door inside. It was like the ancient city gates, not even a battering ram could break it down. However, they didn't have the right materials. Stella quickly came up with a solution, "Let's install the steel door first and later we can have Patrick custom-make the wooden one."

They planted vegetables and raised rabbits in the backyard. In the front yard, they built two flower beds where they planned to plant honeysuckles.

Stella laid out the pebbles they

the roof and

air conditioner, heater, induction cooktop and gas stove.

lives. They

a door at the stair entrance. It could be left open but when guests or rowdy children were around, it was best to keep it

find: in the post-apocalyptic world, it wasn't safe. Having an extra layer of protection by installing the door added an

second floor was more luxurious with a sofa, a tea table and, to top

they could just grab something. Rosie, who was eight, still had a lot to learn about cooking. It took a

was next to that. The windows were double layered with thick, anti-peeping glass

soundproofing, which

gave up his own room, dragged his bean bag to

sensitive and clingy

eggs from Arcadia, 10 each of chicken, duck, and goose,

they had stored were almost gone, as

for six to seven years. As long as they raised their poultry

out tomorrow, and I'll build a coop for the chickens

him, "Are you sure you can do

anything

of grinding had turned Jasper from a kitchen disaster and planting failure to a home chore expert. Now, he was a wall mason. What else

her lips, "I've got

going. Before she knew it, the door was locked, the curtains

weren't like this

to retrieve something,

he appeared to be an upright, serious man. But in reality? He

their fun, they woke up late. By the time they were done washing up, Rosie had already cooked a soup with meatballs, garnished with green onions. The