18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 547

Daniel felt like his head was spinning, the world tilting on its axis, but the moment he heard her voice, his mind snapped into clarity. Was this some fever dream, or...?

He couldn't quite believe it, yet the person holding him was quivering in his arms. He wrapped her in his broad embrace, murmuring, "Daddy's here."

When Stella came to, she was actually quite embarrassed. She had thought that having lived two lifetimes, she had seen through the mirage of emotions, those elusive tendrils that seemed so useless in a world ravaged by catastrophe. She had sealed herself off, faced the broken world with indifference, believing she would be immune to pain. But when her hard exterior shell was cracked, she found that at the end of the day, she was still a creature of emotion, unable to control herself after all.

She let go and stepped back, turning away to wipe her damp face haphazardly. Daniel snapped back to reality, scanning their surroundings. Shocked, but somehow not completely surprised.

"Where are we?" he asked.

Stella's head buzzed, at a loss for words for a moment. She took a deep breath, and after a while, she managed to say, "You can step through that door."

Daniel pondered, "Are you sure?"

Arcadia had a connection to him, but the beneficiary was her alone. Daniel, ever so sharp, mused, "Perhaps, but it could all be just a dream within a dream."

Stella understood what he meant, but since he had already figured it out, there seemed little point in keeping secrets. "The view outside is not bad."

Daniel pushed the door open, and a vista of lush farmland and herb gardens greeted him. He saw helicopters, cruise ships, submarines, fishing boats, an array of military trucks, various types of shipping containers, and even a Kindle Chest. Countless supplies were stacked with precision, dazzling to behold. Even as a leader accustomed to extraordinary situations, he was still profoundly moved. Daniel looked at her, his eyes betraying a hint of tenderness. "Was gathering all this tiring and dangerous?"

never said such a thing. Her heart numbed, warmth rushed to her head, making

to regain her composure, she asked, "Do you know how Arcadia came

Daniel did not.

revealed the truth, "A couple of

its origins, Arcadia is technically yours, but it became bound to me through a twist of fate. Maybe you can find

family, passed down through generations. Yet, it ended up creating Arcadia in your hands. That's the bond between you and it. Since it chose you,

is yours. Having missed your upbringing, I've failed as a father. If it keeps you safe in this apocalyptic

something, but didn't know what to say. After calming down a bit, Stella spoke again, "You've spent your life serving the country and its people, don't you want to use the supplies from Arcadia

long moment before responding, "Of course I do, but

refrain from asking, but

desires can no longer be met, resentment follows. Daniel wouldn't risk his daughter's life on a gamble.

that despite everything, you've maintained

on the shoulder. "As long as

back, struggling to stay composed. Did he know something? It made sense. She had traded rare metals for

into a deep sleep. Unlike his usual stern demeanor, his lips were upturned in a relaxed smile. Stella cracked open the door to find

surprised;

He wasn't surprised by Daniel's decision either. Having completed his duty to the nation, with Australia no longer as it once was, its culture and people would persist, passed down through generations. Having

base Griffith, some seeds had already begun to sprout. The love of a parent for their child entails far-reaching plans. And Stella, after this event, had truly accepted Daniel in her heart. Jasper was genuinely happy for her; this was something she had lacked in both her lives, and now she finally had the

returned at noon to find Daniel awake, her tears uncontrollable. Stella didn't intrude but went into the kitchen to cook with care. The meal that shouldn't have been but