18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 402

Daniel had never been one to spill the beans, which is probably why he'd climbed so high up the ladder.

"I'm the head nurse," Vanessa reiterated, her tone as firm as her position demanded.

Stella, however, was less than polite in her response. "I think you've got it wrong. You're not the head nurse; you're more like the neighborhood busybody-always sticking your nose where it doesn't belong."

The harshness of Stella's words took Vanessa by surprise, visibly shaking her composure.

Everything that needed to be said had been laid out clear as day. If Daniel was really sick and in the hospital, people would probably be queuing up to take care of him. Why should Stella trust this elusive woman standing before her? Her features were plain, but her forehead might as well have had 'schemer' written across it.

As Vanessa turned to leave, she urgently said, "Stella, I'm not lying. Mr. Daniel is in the hospital with a bleeding ulcer because he's overworked himself."

"And how is that my problem?" Stella retorted, unfazed. "It's not like I'm the one who worked him to the point of a bleeding ulcer."

"But you're his daughter-the only person he truly worries about and can't let go of."

Stella remained unmoved, her sarcasm biting. "What are you, the neighborhood busybody?"

Vanessa was taken aback by Stella's aggressive stance, but remembering her purpose, she gritted her teeth and confessed, "If it weren't for the sudden catastrophe, he and I might already be married."

The news hit Stella like a thunderbolt, pausing her in her tracks.

Vanessa's demeanor was awkward, yet she managed to speak with a semblance of calm, "I came without his knowledge. He's had a hard life, burdened with too much responsibility, and he's lost himself in it all. The only time he smiles freely is when he speaks of you. I hope you'll go to see him, to encourage him to take better care of himself."

After a meaningful look at Stella, Vanessa briskly walked away.

Stella stood by the door for a moment before closing it and heading upstairs.

her escape gear, then staring blankly at the

morning, she muttered to the ceiling, "The woman who came

their conversation the day

understood that not every emotion could be shared

role was to respect

it up, he asked, "Do you

I wouldn't have had the chance to get

get dressed. I'll

wasn't lacking in provisions. Yet Stella went to

the commander, she asked, "Do you have an appointment?" "No," Stella hesitated, "If it's too

the commander's secretary?" Right, it was the secretary's job to cater to the commander's needs. If she knew where to find

It was Vanessa.

is undergoing tests, but I can take you

Vanessa quickly delegated her responsibilities to other nurses.

had just returned from his tests, but outside his room was a crowd waiting to report to

a dozen people,

Mark hurried over to greet

ulcer, and he's still got all this work to do?" Stella's smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "Are you trying to nurse him back to health or work

to intervene, but life-or-death decisions needed the

was indeed dire, so Mark had

later, Stella

had struck Daniel like a collapsing mountain, and the stress of his work had finally taken its toll. His pale face was testament to his fatigue, and having just taken his medication, he had drifted off to sleep, hoping

she saw was a weary old

moved quietly, careful not

upon the half-open drawer of the bedside table, revealing

crammed with medicines; enough to substitute

picked up the records and lab results. Daniel's condition wasn't immediately fatal, but his vital signs were poor, and years of overwork and stress