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, you must

the nearby soldier, "The patient is too agitated for questioning. Take her

gear, effortlessly subdued her and dragged

you will not die a good

"Ma'am, though I don't know you, I promise

examination room and noting the early hour,

where patients with milder conditions and stable emotions were allowed to exercise, assisted

and

intervened, separating the aggressor and confining them

idea of how

wasn't severe, but she had always lived by clinging to others, making it difficult for her to survive in such harsh conditions. For someone like her, life was the greatest torment, yet she lacked the courage to

she would

not to mention her encounter with Lillian to

There was no need.

scarcity of medicines. Limited resources had to be allocated where

this kind of

research on this subject, but she didn't oppose the decision from above either; she simply didn't follow

on, and the variety of herbs in the plantation

success of

from the yellow croaker and ribbonfish, ensuring they

the edible sea fish

no longer fought over a scrap

started to bloom

a nurse's knock abruptly

the two of them alone, it had been a long time since they had a chance for

got dressed, and headed out. "I need to

site injury, and this time it was a soldier, soaked in blood and

Stella donned her mask and headed to the operating room, her tone was clipped and professional. "Bring the patient in, and everyone else wait outside."

felt a tug at her

a man in worn

together.

"Big sis, it's me."

vaguely familiar, but the man's face

man said, "Am