18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 505

Back in the day, when Stella and Jasper were just friends skirting around the edges of something more, she was pretty resistant to getting involved with anyone. Looking back now, she couldn't quite wrap her head around how Jasper had managed to stick around through all her hesitations.

It was wild to think that it had already been ten years since the disaster turned their world upside down.

These days, Stella's only company were her three furry friends: Jasper, Rosie, and Cooper. Jasper had been a constant through a decade filled with countless heartbreaks and losses.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, Stella found herself tearing up.

Jasper, surprised, asked, "Hey, what's wrong?"

She'd just turned another year older, that's all.

Stella never fussed much about her wardrobe, always choosing comfort over style —after all, in a post-apocalyptic world, standing out too much was a bad idea.

But when it came to skincare, she didn't skimp. She had access to all sorts of face masks, creams, and luxury beauty products, and she used them liberally. So, at thirty, she still looked remarkably young, though not quite as fresh-faced as she did at twenty.

It wasn't until they got together that Jasper realized how much women could worry about their age. But he never cared, always telling her, "Stella, everyone gets older. Whether it's ten years or twenty, I'll be right here with you, growing old together."

His words always brightened her mood.

Over time, Jasper had changed too. Stella had always been drawn to his looks, and while he had matured from a fresh-faced young man to a more seasoned one, he had become like a fine wine-less fresh but rich in character.

The way they looked at each other had grown more intimate, a love deepening with every shared moment.

Gifts? Whether they were things Jasper had stockpiled or items they'd scavenged over the years, they all ended up in their cozy haven, Arcadia.

These days, Jasper was as clean as a whistle, financially speaking.

But a decade of sharing a bed had seen both their emotional intelligence and resilience grow.

In a smooth move, Jasper pulled Stella onto his lap and with a playful tilt of his hips, he teased, "Your gift is right here, haven't you noticed?"

Stella almost burst out laughing.

The cheeky guy was getting smoother by the day.

appreciated his charm; after all, in a decade of scarcity, who wouldn't welcome

initial passion had mellowed compared to the fiercely

love. But now, breathing each other's air day

they hadn't really connected in quite a

chill of the Arctic, they

Stella suddenly felt

check the goods. If they're not up to standard, I'm returning

was still in shape, his abs

been

container home wasn't soundproof, and between Rosie and the nosy

Stella wasn't

was overwhelming, and it took her quite

they emerged from the room, it

years, Stella had transformed from a delicate blossom into

slowly crawling

while the second, Hugo, had Snowflake's cool and aloof eyes. The mixed-breed puppies were strikingly

Union Base fell, life in the Arctic had become more peaceful.

all keeping to

closest living

in igloos made from the snow, leading to a

"Bro, sis, the folks in the white robes seem to be cozying up with the Russians. Just saw one of them riding a snowmobile over here, looked

through supplies quickly. They carried an

one had

where life was either blanketed in snow or whipped by fierce

ingredients needed, and

baking the cake and

but thankfully, due to the distant neighbors and a well-ventilated

casual for so long, but sometimes a touch of ceremony

her hair. Her body was toned from

take

all dolled up,

if Stella had transformed into

his daze, said, "Sit down, let's