18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 531

Chapter 531

As Stella zoned out, the car had already pulled up in front of a quaint standalone property with a spacious yard, roughly half an acre in size. A two-meter-high stone wall marked the perimeter, and in the center stood a modular home made up of five rooms, all topped with solar panels. This modest abode was the residence of the chief officer of Griffith Base.

Before the catastrophe, it would have been seen as nothing more than a construction site shed, but now it represented the height of luxury. Light spilled from one of the rooms, and upon hearing the noise outside, someone hurried out to greet them.

The figure, with a neat bob haircut, wearing dark trousers and a light-colored short-sleeved shirt, appeared to be in their forties. "Old Gus, did you pick up Stella?" they called out.

Stella blinked in surprise; it was Vanessa. Seeing her dressed so casually, Stella figured she and Daniel must have finally hit it off. Under the cover of night, it was hard to discern Daniel's expression as he simply grunted in affirmation.

Vanessa approached warmly, moving to help with the luggage, but quickly recoiled when something leaped out from the shadows. "Aunt Sue, this is Stella's wolf and dog," Mark explained.

Keeping a wolf and dog in the post-apocalyptic world? Vanessa was taken aback but figured Stella must have been living well. As long as Stella hadn't suffered, Old Gus could rest easy.

carried effortlessly by Jasper. "You're finally here, Stella," Vanessa said with a smile, stepping forward. "It's all that matters, Old Gus has been so worried these past

Come on in." The room wasn't large, just big enough for a metal frame bed a little over a meter wide, dressed with fresh linen, pillows, and blankets. Only in the chief's home could one find such luxuries as semi-new towels-Vanessa had

Of the five rooms-one a master bedroom, another a

had

attend to their needs, Vanessa offered,

Stella stopped her, "We've already

playing stepmom, and she was on edge, worried she wasn't doing enough. Back at the base, Stella had even resisted her own father, let alone an outsider like Vanessa. Standing next to Daniel, Vanessa kept quiet, reading the atmosphere between father and daughter. When Stella remained silent and Daniel at a loss for words, he finally managed to say, "Stella, if you need anything, let your Aunt

need for a late-night snack or anything else, Daniel suggested, "It's getting late. You should all get some rest." Vanessa was considerate, "I'll heat some water for you to wash up and sleep better." Soon enough, she brought over a jug of warm water mixed with a bit of cold.

they discussed in the yard, Stella didn't know, but Jasper returned several minutes later, carefully closing the door behind him. Covered in dust and sweat from their journey, Stella and Rosie headed to Arcadia for a refreshing bath. Once clean, Rosie took her loyal pets to the neighboring room to rest. Lights off, Stella joined Jasper

care of you is natural," Jasper reassured her, pulling her close. "But he does care, Stella." Stella felt a pang of defiance, "Are you siding with him?" Jasper couldn't help but chuckle softly, "Stella, whether we stay or go, I'll respect your decision. But if you don't

as sharp as before but still had its flaws, largely due to the absence of her parents in her early years. If there was a chance to heal, the rest of her life could be happier. "Of course, if

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