18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 392

After Cody and his crew left, Stella sank into the couch, leaning quietly against Jasper's shoulder.

Jasper wrapped an arm around her. "What's up?"

"I'm just really happy, content," Stella said, hugging his neck. "Jasper, thank you."

He chuckled. "Thank me for what?"

"For everything." Stella smiled at him. "For meeting, getting to know each other, falling in love, being understanding, forgiving..."

Everything felt so perfect. She wanted it to last forever, to grow old together without parting.

Jasper held her close, his heart filled with contentment.

In the kitchen, Rosie pretended not to notice her brother and sister-in-law's intimacy as she washed the dishes. She saw nothing, knew nothing.

But Cooper, the rascal, was sneakily peeping from the doorway. Rosie dragged him back by his ear, "Not allowed."

The next day, waking up naturally, Stella savored Rosie's homemade oatmeal and chatted with Jasper. "We don't have much on today. How about we haul the coal back?"

The base was about fifty kilometers from the coal yard, and with many places needing coal, trucks made the trip regularly, which was relatively safe.

Jasper had no objections; it was better to bring it back early and store it in Arcadia to avoid any potential issues.

After their home had been tampered with, they couldn't take any chances. Anything of value needed to be secured.

Jasper plucked a few hairs and stuck them in the door jamb as they left.

The road to the coal yard was clear, but the muddy track was so rutted and bumpy from repeated use that it nearly shook their guts out.

Armed soldiers guarded the coal yard, which was operated by the Kindle Society, and all the office staff were military dependents.

be executed but still required to pay their debt through labor. If manpower was short, survivors from the base would also be drafted to work. The difference lay in the workload: offenders had heavier duties and were only provided with food and shelter, no

arranged for the pickup. Machinery was scarce; they had to

hours, their turn finally came. Loading seventy tons of coal wasn't a quick

they were loaded and ready to

fully-loaded truck meant

there, night

crackled over the radio, "Sis,

on a

frowned, "The Cyclone

it," Rosie kept watch.

outside world; she had no time to make

up in bulletproof vests, helmets, and even the truck windows were swapped

whether it came to defending themselves

the thugs were wary of the nearby military trucks also transporting coal or had other plans, they kept

back to the base, Stella directed

fell quickly, and as the military

at a bend in the road, and Stella stepped

three of them, along with Cooper, sat down for

eating, Stella pitched a tent. "Once we deliver the coal tomorrow, we can

agreed. "It's secluded here, should be safe. Let's

to the tent, and soon, a symphony of snores filled the air, human and canine alike, with Cooper's deep rumbling snore sounding as if not even thunder could wake him. Silent figures crept closer to the tent,

approached the tent flap, but a faint noise made

the pitch darkness, he saw

the cold

standing beside the tent, her expression chilling in the dark as she toyed with a

tent, the

then-it was

this group was tough, so they'd brought

Stella and Jasper had used

aimed, her voice icy: "Talk.