18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 413

Jasper knew he had to walk a fine line, balancing relationships with the deftness of a tightrope walker. Both he and Stella had been through the wringer, twice over. They'd seen the darker side of human nature, and it left them wary. Stella eyed Jasper, concern clear in her gaze. "What if one day Rosie and I have a falling out over Arcadia? What then?"

It was a loaded question, without a doubt.

Jasper couldn't provide an answer to a hypothetical, and there was no standard response. "Stella, Arcadia is yours. Don't borrow trouble."

She didn't press him further. Why consume themselves with what-ifs? It would only lead to paranoia and unnecessary problems.

The world was in chaos. Continents collided, landscapes fell, and nothing was the same anymore.

The terrain shifted, ocean currents rerouted, and predictability became a thing of the past. In the morning, you'd drift east; by afternoon, the currents would veer south, changing moods like a temperamental child and keeping everyone on edge. Stella encountered various survivors at sea-lifeboats, makeshift rafts, kayaks, and life rings.

It was like a maritime free-for-all, everyone working their own kind of magic.

Some drifted away with the current, while others passed close by, slapping the sides of their lifeboats, crying out, "Help, help me!"

Blonde hair and blue eyes-no telling where that foreigner hailed from.

Stella had enough on her plate just keeping herself safe, so she turned a blind eye.

After days adrift, the tumult of the sea calmed, and the sun broke through the clouds. Stella pulled the curtains closed and took a midday nap.

By the time Rosie awoke, the lifeboat was securely on board a yacht, which floated serenely on the water's surface.

Stella emerged, stretched in the sunlight, and planted her feet on deck, so full of joy she couldn't help but jump around.

Cooper, previously wilted, sprang to life, wagging his tail and circling them with energetic barks. "Woof!"

They were alive again.

Adrift without a destination, they had no plans to cruise about in the yacht. They'd just float wherever the sea took them, saving a good deal on fuel.

But they didn't drop anchor either. The ocean's mystery was unsettling, and they feared a sudden catastrophe might not even afford them time to weigh anchor. With no wind or waves, the yacht crept along sluggishly.

at her side.

sunscreen to Stella, who giggled uncontrollably at the ticklish sensation. Rosie covered Cooper's eyes with her hands and

and enjoying a relaxed lunch in the sea breeze, Stella retreated

peaceful, but Jasper was always cautious. He stayed on

fish?" Stella asked,

from Director Feng's study. It smacked of luxury, likely

for fishing but was open to giving it a

for him, warning with a grin, "Just don't

"If I get dragged off by a shark, you'll be

his chin affectionately and went off to

the luxurious yacht, the bed was a dream, rivaling

two-hour nap, Stella, concerned about Jasper's safety, slipped into casual clothes

there, and it looked like

to be wrestling with his catch at that exact moment. His warning came too late, "Watch out!" Already too late, a fish leaped from the bucket, aiming straight for Stella's nose. Used to rough seas, her reflexes were sharp, and she

splashed back into the bucket, water spraying onto

on earth

of distraction, it

couldn't believe it. Since when were yellow croakers so aggressive that they'd go for

with a net and peered in

way, this wasn't a yellow

a protruding jaw lined with serrated teeth and topped

was the stuff of

It thrashed against the bucket every time Stella

"Take another look. Is it a barracuda

just grossly enlarged and deformed, making

ugly; it was wildly aggressive. It attacked anything

do, engaged

lean in,

back,

to have

fish succumbed to exhaustion,

acting like a kid?"