18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 461

Stella glanced up and saw a gaunt woman standing across the fence. Her sallow face was marked with several nasty scars, and she walked with a pronounced limp. She was so thin that her eyes appeared abnormally large, staring intently at Stella, who was wearing a face mask.

Stella frowned, wondering who this could be.

"Stella, is that really you?" The woman clutched the fence tightly, her voice a mix of emotions. "It's me, your mother."

Stella nearly choked.

Lillian? She was unrecognizable.

Her emaciated frame made the scars on her face look even more grotesque, and her body bore several lumps and bruises. Her clothes were tattered and worn.

It was obvious, even at a glance, that she had fallen on hard times.

She seemed on the verge of collapse, like a camel about to buckle under the weight of its burden. Yet, when she saw Stella, her eyes sparkled with a plea. "Stella, I'm your mother. I gave you life. You have to save me... save me..."

Lillian had always been a clinging vine, dependent on men to survive. Eventually, Daniel had her transferred to the Goldbridge official facility.

Stella had imagined a grim existence for her...

And it seemed her life had indeed been rather grim.

But one had to admit, her vitality was stubborn.

However, Stella wasn't interested in Lillian's miseries, nor did she harbor much satisfaction or resentment in her heart.

Looking at the unrecognizable Lillian, Stella was as calm as if she were facing a stranger.

What did it matter that she had given her life? It wasn't out of Lillian's desire, but necessity.

Her own upbringing had been far from joyful. Only after meeting Jasper did she feel warmth.

For a woman so selfish she contemplated murder to keep her lies from being exposed, Stella thought it was already generous of her not to take her life.

Now, it was fine this way; to live on, living in pain, and hopefully, for a very long time.

expression, Stella said, "I'm sorry,

inquire further but instead told the nearby soldier, "The patient is too agitated for questioning. Take her away, please." Lillian, in her agitation, desperately

protective gear, effortlessly

"Stella, you will not die a

assured her, "Ma'am, though I don't know you, I

examination room and noting the early hour, Collin went

F had several activity zones where patients with milder conditions and stable emotions were allowed to exercise, assisted by counselors to help them regulate their feelings.

violent and began to beat another

intervened, separating the aggressor and

a vague idea of how Lillian might have gotten

to survive in such harsh conditions.

would

chose not to mention

There was no need.

of medical staff and an even greater scarcity of medicines. Limited resources had to be

abundant medical resources, breakthroughs for this kind of mutation were

but she didn't oppose the decision from

and the variety of herbs in the plantation

success

yellow croaker and ribbonfish, ensuring

sea fish greatly alleviated the

still scarce, survivors no longer fought over a scrap of food, and gaunt faces began to

started to bloom

napping in her dormitory when a nurse's knock abruptly woke her. "Dr. Jiang, there's a

a long time since they

pushed Jasper away, got dressed, and headed out. "I need to

was the usual construction site injury, and this time it was a soldier, soaked in blood and brought in by his

her tone was clipped and professional. "Bring

tug at

instinctively to see a man in worn military garb looking at her with eager

knitted together. Who could this

"Big sis, it's me."

the man's face was

hurt, the man said, "Am