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!

Bran and the Porras family

Poppy's terminology, "Uncle Bran is useful, but slippery as

preferred the straightforward, dependable uncle who was honest and

expression, Jasper felt reassured. "Rosie, in these times, you can't predict people's true intentions. No matter how well you

hard lessons, Rosie's character was

...

the docks to tally up supplies. Rosie was busy at

Stella took Cooper out for a walk, while Snowflake stayed home to

the handsome dog were a sight to behold,

took full advantage of his human companion, baring teeth at anyone

he might have

the 12 men hired by the Porras family to

was a lot easier than trying to make it on their own, so they were all diligent, afraid of losing

greenhouse, built of standard glass and reinforced with wooden frames to protect against sandstorms and hail, was a project spearheaded by Josef. Inside, sparse sunlight filtered through, allowing

had also set up various shelving units to maximize the planting space. The farm used organic fertilizers, and the crops and herbs were thriving. Visiting the farm, Stella saw the value in the trip; Rosie had indeed grown up. Just as she was

as when she first met him, but still carried an air of gentleness and refinement despite

upon his arrival. With him on board, she believed Griffith

the compound's structure

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

separated, with Mark now fully responsible for civil

outsider to

was controversial. Every deputy had earned their- stripes through blood and merit, and Mark's ascent to power hadn't come through the usual

Nevertheless, reform was

necessary, and Daniel anticipated

When initial

instead

realized that some

the timing was right, Daniel personally approached

admiration was established, and

Mark didn't achieve results within a year, even Daniel's support

opposing voices were silenced - after all,