18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 382

Tricia could only shake her head in disbelief at Julia's latest fiasco. "What do you want me to do about it? She's the boss's daughter. We've got to pick our battles, and the boss has done so much for the facility-and for my husband, too. I can't exactly tattle on her for this little mishap, can I?" "Let it go. She's not cut out for hard work. She'll quit on her own one of these days when she can't be bothered to show up."

"The number of jobs she's blown through... She's a walking disaster," lamented the store clerk, exasperated. "We're cursed, that's for sure. You shouldn't have stepped in today. Should've let those folks give her a piece of their mind. Scare her off so she doesn't dare show up here again."

Tricia couldn't help but smile wryly. "Enough backbiting. Let's just focus on our own jobs, alright?"

With a couple of days off, Stella grabbed the submarine's manual, determined to study it thoroughly once she got home.

Arriving back at her cozy little bungalow, she quickly cleaned herself up, slipping into some comfy loungewear, and treated herself to some well-earned comfort food.

Meanwhile, Julia was in tears as she bolted home, only to realize in her haste she'd left her bag at the mall. Without her keys, she had no choice but to knock frantically on the door.

Lillian greeted her with a cheery, "Hey, sweetheart, you're back?"

Seeing her daughter's tear-streaked face, Lillian's smile faded. "Julia, weren't you supposed to be at work? Why are you home so early? You can't keep leaving work early or showing up late. It's not a good look for you, and I can't explain that to your father." Frustrated by the day's events and now her mother's lecture, Julia fumed, "Mom, am I not your daughter anymore? Why do you always bring Dad into this?"

Lillian frowned. "Who upset you? There's no need for that tone. Your father promised he'd come home soon. You better check that attitude of yours; he'll be here any minute."

"You..." Julia was at a loss for words, her face flushed with anger. "He always says he's busy, but he promised this time, and he's a man of his word. He wouldn't go back on that."

"He's not coming back," Julia said, her body trembling with anger and shock. "Stella's here. Stella is at the base!"

Lillian was stunned, sinking into the sofa. "What? Why would Stella come to Kindle Society?"

Julia had no clue why Stella had come.

daily occurrence. Yet, somehow, Stella always came out unscathed. Now,

her, especially in how much she resembled

knew Stella's cunning all too well. If the truth came out, the consequences

"Mom, what do

having regained her composure. "Julia, from today on, you are not to mention Stella again, especially not in

"But..."

"No buts. The base hospital can't perform paternity tests.

had almost forgotten that the hospital didn't offer paternity

her mother stuck to their story, what could Daniel do, even if

and he's still so cold. He hardly comes home, and when he does, he

a key figure at the base. He's indispensable, and he's

convinced. "Mom, all the other leaders are busy too, but they still manage

was indeed busy, but in the past,

the estrangement between them was understandable. But after all these years, he remained as cold as

had he taken her and her mother

refused, insisting that she honor the Riley family who raised her and that

first love. It would have been natural for them to ignite a passionate relationship, but

always felt

seemed to see through everything,

intimidating aura of a high-ranking military officer that made Julia cautious around him, keeping her

worry about in the military housing complex, and because of her father's status, everyone treated

now, Stella

mother seemed confident, Julia had a nagging feeling that Stella would take away