18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 566

Jasper was never really clued in on matters of the heart. In two lifetimes, he'd only ever fallen for Stella. He had no intention of confessing, content to keep his feelings buried, especially since the apocalypse was hardly a time for romance.

But then Stella surprised him by asking straight out if he liked her.

In that moment, he was stunned. Admitting it could change everything, maybe not for the better.

In a moment of madness, he said there was "a little" something there.

And she turned him down.

Driven by instinct, and after a lot of ups and downs, they eventually found their way to each other.

Love was indeed beautiful, but when he reflected on it, he didn't want his sister to follow in his footsteps.

Because if he hadn't loved Stella, he wouldn't have risked his life to protect her.

In a world gone mad, where human nature was complex, he had found the right person. But what if he hadn't?

Everyone has their own self-interests. Even if it is true love, he didn't want his sister making the same mistakes.

Love was fine, but it should wait until after the apocalypse when humanity's moral compass had been reset.

When Rosie insisted, "Bro, I swear I'm not hiding anything!" Jasper felt a surge of urgency.

The disaster had lasted twelve years. She admired her brother and sister-in-law's love, but had seen the darkest sides of human nature: couples turning on each other, families torn apart, siblings betraying siblings, children killing their own parents...

At the Griffith compound, all the men who came around offering their help had their own agendas.

"Alright, if you say so," Jasper trusted his sister. "Rosie, you're not even of age yet. If you ever think about dating or marriage, it can wait a few more years."

Determined, Rosie replied, "Brother, I have zero interest in guys."

Jasper frowned, considering her words for a moment before asking, "What do you think about Bran?"

His wife had asked her just the day before, and now here was her brother, asking the same thing. Rosie might have been innocent, but she wasn't clueless.

It was so frustrating!

game that was being played. Bran and the Porras family were tacticians, their interests intertwined. The Porras

useful, but slippery as an eel. I'd rather not deal with

uncle who was honest and hardworking without any

felt reassured. "Rosie, in these times, you can't predict people's true

years of hard lessons, Rosie's character was

...

for the docks to tally up supplies. Rosie was

quick bite, Stella took Cooper out for a

were a

of his human companion, baring teeth at anyone he sensed malice from along

have torn a few folks

by the Porras family to manage the daily workings of the

was a lot easier than trying to

sandstorms and hail, was a project spearheaded by Josef. Inside, sparse sunlight filtered through, allowing for the cultivation of crops like asparagus, leeks, and even some Western

and herbs were thriving. Visiting the farm, Stella saw the value in the trip; Rosie had indeed grown up. Just as she was about to leave, she saw Mark approaching with a group.

as straight as when she first met him, but still carried an air

on board, she believed Griffith would

Mark's integration, the compound's

top brass with five deputies in the military sector, and now Mark made an additional

separated, with Mark

to the military,

their- stripes through blood and

Nevertheless, reform was

necessary, and Daniel anticipated

initial

he didn't push further, instead allowing the deputies to take

soon realized that some

the timing was right, Daniel personally

admiration was established, and a one- year agreement was

Daniel's support wouldn't justify his continued presence in the

approach, opposing voices were silenced - after all,