18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 279

The past couple of years had not been kind to them, especially to Angela. Stella knew better than to pry, so she left it at that.

Jasper was already waiting for her at the curb. As they all piled into the car - the three of them and Cooper - Stella filled Jasper in on the situation. "Cody's doing alright, considering. But Angela's in a bad way because of her depression. Lukas might seem like he's all jokes and laughter, but I think he's swallowing a lot of pain. He looks like he's on the verge of a breakdown himself." Without Cody's comforting presence, Lukas might all be following in Angela's footsteps. End of the world or not, the brutality of reality, the torment of one's own mind - how many could maintain their mental health through all that?

Back in their gated community, a new notice was posted at the security booth. The Homeowners Association was holding its first ever meeting to discuss maintenance fees and plans for improving the green spaces. The meeting would be held promptly at eight in the evening.

No one was going to overlook Building 50 this time around.

After dinner, Stella and Jasper attended the meeting. Most of the other homeowners were already there, congratulating and complimenting each other. The atmosphere was so pleasant that one might mistake it for a cocktail party. The couple wasn't one for crowds, so they found a quiet spot in a corner.

From the corner of her eye, Stella spotted a familiar figure. Tracy, dressed in a classic dress, was arm-in-arm with a middle-aged man in a suit and tie, black leather shoes, and a slight beer belly. He was making small talk with everyone. This must be Asher, Julia's father.

"Jasper," Austin joined them at the meeting, settling down next to the couple.

The second-hand dealer had always loved gossip, using it as a way to quickly bring each other closer. Particularly, upon learning that Stella had fed shit to Julia, he was even more excited.

He glanced towards the crowd, lowered his voice, and started spilling the beans. "See that guy in the suit with glasses? That's the head of the Riley household. He might look decent, but he's a wolf in sheep's clothing. He has a mistress and even brought his illegitimate child back home for his wife to raise."

Stella frowned. "How do you know all this?"

work,

to be a spoiled rich girl, but her family fell on hard times. She married into the Riley family to save her family's company. Unfortunately, she had complications during childbirth and can't have

people were like that. They put on a show of being a

but

him

his eccentric appearance, was the object of adoration for all the women in the room. Their faces

walked over to the corner where Stella and Jasper were sitting. He plopped down in the seat in

only he would sober up a bit. Stella really didn't want her doorstep to be defiled

but Stella didn't return his smile. "Sorry,

"It doesn't matter.

when she worked under him, she'd come close to being humiliated.

attention was drawn to the man sitting next to him. He was in his early thirties, with a cold and aloof look on his face. He was wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a custom-made Armani suit. His long legs

since

was dressed in a dress and a fox fur shawl, looking both luxurious and elegant. Her words were also pleasing to the ear. Stella remembered her. She had led the ostracization incident last time. The meeting was simple, focusing on the calculation of maintenance

people, there would be disputes. Even the upper class had hierarchies. In the past, the members of the Homeowners Association made decisions together,

about the resources, but they were unhappy that Building 50 was gaining power. So, they proposed that the maintenance fees should be calculated based on the size of the

vice-chair didn't dare make a decision on her own. After a discussion,

was ignoring him, Bran started idly chatting with the man next to him. "Cousin, could you help me

generous. "I have a Land Rover.

was picky. "At least