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.

not grieve? But there was no better

idea that love could conquer

found out that Julia had been sent

the wedding,

pregnant again, this time with

go on, and her past

you weren't there; I miscarried, and you

placed a hand on her belly, "I'm pregnant,

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

can change anyone, especially when faced

fell freely, "I'm sorry, I lied to you back then. Our child didn't miscarry; she's alive and well. She has your

a long silence on the other end, then arrangements were made for

him, but their love

he had moved

would he never reciprocate her advances over the years,

to her, inscrutable

had

pulling the mother and daughter

sorry, I've got a ton on my plate today; I won't make

was mature and steady,

you are, you need to eat. If you

and it's a military zone.

And that was it.

darkened, her hands

home, he'd send a thoughtful gift or at least a blessing

year there was nothing, not even a

had he allowed her to come to the Kindle Society in the

recognizing her and

he just doesn't love you," Julia said with a chill, "Stella's