18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 399

Thinking about the tough times Stella went through in the orphanage, Daniel couldn't shake the guilt.

The truth was out in the open. Lillian, with tears streaming down her face, finally broke down, "I'm sorry, I did lie to you. When I was on that operating table, realizing the child had your blood, I just couldn't go through with it. I kept hoping you'd come back and help me through it, but you never did. The Thompsons took me in and I couldn't bear to see the family fall apart. So, I had to agree to the arranged marriage. But the Rileys, the old guard, would never accept this child. I couldn't wait any longer, my parents kept pressuring me, so I had to secretly give birth and send her to the orphanage.

When you came back, I wanted to tell you the truth, but the Thompsons had already suspected something was up. If I told you, it would've blown everything. From the start, it was always you I loved, wanting to marry and have kids with you. But can you save the Thompson family?"

Her words were gut-wrenching, her tears showing her pain. But Daniel couldn't believe her anymore.

"You chose to hide it because you were scared I'd mess things up with the Rileys."

She knew he wasn't the type to cling, but she heartlessly left Stella to fend for herself in the orphanage to avoid any complications.

"I didn't, you've got it all wrong."

"Even if you feared the Rileys finding out, what about after the wedding?"

Her tears kept flowing, but they no longer moved him; instead, they fueled his anger. "You had thirty years to tell the truth. Why didn't you?"

Lillian was speechless, trying to speak but couldn't find the words.

She had chances, but how could she say it? Admit to Daniel that even after getting married, she couldn't forget him? If he knew she abandoned their daughter in an orphanage, would he think she was selfish, cold-hearted?

truly scared. The more she feared, the less she dared

a tiger doesn't abandon its cubs, yet you threw Stella into an orphanage. Why did

haven't lived with her; you don't know her temperament. Back in Griffith, because Julia's alpaca spat at her, she beat her publicly and forced her sister to eat filth. How malicious must one be to push someone to the brink of death, never showing any family

a grudge. At the base, she thought to give Stella a taste of hardship, so she hired some outsiders. Who knew they'd misunderstand and try to kill Stella to gain favor? You saw what happened today. Not only

last flicker of hope in his eyes went out.

But time had tempered his rage; it couldn't

chance to meet her. She was independent and strong, surviving the apocalypse and finding a life partner. With disaster looming, he had his own duties and couldn't be the father Stella needed. Moreover, he knew Stella didn't need familial

decided whether to acknowledge Stella or how to handle Lillian

longer giving her a chance to explain. "Lillian, should I bring out the evidence of

a video, asked, "Did you install surveillance

hadn't, but he let her believe he had.

more formidable. No matter what she said, he wouldn't believe

and sighed, "Right, I'm not a good mother, and I have no face to show Stella, but did I have a choice? I wanted the Thompsons to prosper, I wanted to marry and be happy with you, but who gave me a choice?" Lillian wept silently; who had driven her to this point, and who could

laughed, staring blankly at his face, "Daniel, do you

flesh and blood, even cruelly seek

"Does it

to believe it, now fully

then finally spoke, "Pack your bags. Tom will take you to the official

to hold back any longer, pushing open the