18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 383

Lillian grabbed the supplies the Riley family had hidden away and hired a bounty hunter for protection. With her daughter Julia by her side, they made their way to the Kindle Society sanctuary. But things took a dark turn when they reached Swan Hill. The bounty hunter turned on them, and if it hadn't been for a patrolling soldier, Lillian and Julia wouldn't have made it. Clearly, getting to Kindle Society safely was no small feat.

When the soldiers questioned her, Lillian lied.

She told them they were relatives of Daniel and that Julia was his daughter.

It wasn't a huge stretch-Daniel had remained single for her sake, and she hadn't forgotten him all these years.

Hearing they were Daniel's kin, the military base helped make contact.

After over two decades, they finally reconnected through a satellite phone call.

Hearing his voice, Lillian was filled with regret.

If she had known this day would come, she never would have caved to her parents' wishes, never would have left Daniel to marry someone else to save the Riley family's business. She had fallen for Daniel at a friends' gathering and had pursued him persistently until they became a couple.

But their happy times were short-lived. Daniel received a classified mission and vanished. She had promised to wait a year for him, to marry him when he returned.

And now, she was pregnant.

The Rileys must never know. If they did, the alliance would crumble, and Lillian's family would be ruined.

So, she considered an abortion.

However, the doctor warned that her uterine walls were thin, and an abortion could leave her infertile.

With no other choice, she decided to have the baby.

Lillian's family kept it a secret, and after Julia was born, they quietly gave her away.

blood-how could she not grieve? But there was no better choice; Daniel's status

idea that love could conquer all was

found out that Julia had

the wedding, Daniel returned from his

pregnant again, this

to go on, and her

bankrupt, you weren't there; I was pregnant, you weren't there; I miscarried, and you still weren't there; now I'm getting married,

placed a hand on her belly, "I'm

would never forget the look in Daniel's eyes-pain, guilt, and finally,

anyone, especially when faced with life-and-death

then. Our child didn't miscarry; she's alive and

end, then arrangements were

their love was no longer pure,

he had

never reciprocate her advances over the

a stranger to her, inscrutable

had entered the

radio crackled, pulling the mother and daughter

I've got a ton on my plate today; I

mature and steady, polite

"No matter how busy you are, you need to eat. If you can't come home, should I bring

and it's a military zone. No

And that was it.

expression darkened, her hands

if he didn't return home, he'd send a thoughtful gift or at least a blessing through his

was nothing, not

a chance, why had

her and Julia's

with a chill, "Stella's arrival must have