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.

said,

further but instead told the nearby soldier, "The patient is too agitated for questioning. Take her away, please." Lillian, in her agitation, desperately resisted and tried to lunge at Stella, aiming

protective gear, effortlessly

distress, "Stella, you will not die

don't know you, I promise to live

examination room and noting the early hour, Collin went to

allowed to exercise, assisted by counselors to help

become violent and began to beat another survivor

quickly intervened, separating the aggressor and confining them to an

of how Lillian might have gotten

lived by clinging to others, making it difficult for her to survive in such harsh conditions. For someone

would

chose not to mention her encounter with Lillian

There was no need.

shortage of medical staff and an even greater scarcity of medicines. Limited

medical resources, breakthroughs for this kind of mutation were rare, let

research on this subject, but she didn't oppose

variety of herbs in the plantation

the success

yellow croaker and ribbonfish, ensuring they were safe to

edible sea fish greatly alleviated the

fought over a scrap of

to

was napping in her dormitory when a nurse's knock

a long time since they had a chance for an intimate conversation.

Jasper away, got dressed, and headed out. "I

it was a soldier, soaked in blood and brought in by

and headed to the operating room, her tone was clipped and

tug at her

man in worn military garb looking at her

brows knitted together. Who could

"Big sis, it's me."

vaguely familiar, but the man's face was so gaunt it was

of hurt, the man said, "Am I really so