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.

enough to 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

staff quickly arranged

several hours, their turn finally came. Loading seventy tons

were loaded

fully-loaded truck

there, night was

voice crackled over the radio, "Sis, we're

convoy, had spotted a shadowy figure on a nearby path in the dim light and quickly

"The

it," Rosie kept watch. "Seems like some

the outside world;

bulletproof vests, helmets, and even the truck windows were

was approaching, and whether it came to defending themselves or

the nearby military trucks also transporting coal or had

of heading back to the base, Stella

and as the military convoy split

a bend in the road, and Stella stepped out to

of them, along with Cooper, sat down for a break, munching

"Once we deliver the coal tomorrow, we

safe. Let's call it a day; we've earned

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

but a faint noise made

pitch darkness, he saw nothing and dismissed it

feel the cold touch of metal against

standing beside the tent, her expression chilling in the dark as she toyed with a weapon. And pressing against his head was a gun. Beside her stood a muscular dog, drooling at the

tent, the

realized then-it was

this group was tough, so they'd brought

Stella and Jasper had used

her voice