18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 576

Good news-Reagan had finally come around.

But he was as weak as a newborn calf, barely able to say a word.

Emily was right there, fussing over him like a mother hen. "Stella, I can't thank you enough for the medicine."

"Just doing what I can," Stella said, handing over a steaming bowl of chicken soup. "Uncle Hugh's as weak as a leaf, and porridge won't cut it. Luckily, the farm's chickens were ready for the coop, so I cooked one up especially."

Emily knew too well that porridge was about as nourishing as a wet paper towel compared to a hearty potato stew.

The aroma of the soup was tantalizing. Even someone of Reagan's stature hadn't had a taste in years.

Knowing her husband needed strength, Emily didn't hesitate. She figured she'd return the favor with a gift once her husband was on the mend.

Carefully, she spoon-fed him.

After a few comforting words, Stella got to her feet, suggesting Emily should drop by the farm whenever she could to pick up some chickens and help Uncle Hugh regain his strength.

Exiting the intensive care unit, the pair carried another bowl of chicken soup toward the monitoring room.

Nicholas was gone. Mrs. Shaw was there, a symphony of sobs escaping her as she kept vigil by her son's side.

After receiving medicine, Nicholas had woken up the night before, but he was in a

bad way.

He wasn't out of the woods yet, and from all the tests, it seemed the fever had triggered meningitis.

Even before the calamity, meningitis was a notorious killer, and without antibiotics, the survival rate was abysmal.

Nicholas had brain damage, his hearing gone, and he kept vomiting.

damage was often irreversible, and even with antibiotics to stave off the worst, life could be a living hell, not to

had to brace

the doctor, "Why is this happening? The meds were

calm, replied, "Please, Mrs.

have it. "You must

"The prescriptions were identical. Nicholas was present when they were administered. As for the traditional remedies, they were duplicated, and you're

meticulous, especially with Nicholas, a man

still, they faced

a thread, Mrs. Shaw lashed out, "It must

with the medicine. What are you waiting for?

doorway, kicked the door open, her face stormy

this brash intruder in

went pale as a

and

Shaw had not expected Stella to appear at the hospital, and her offhand

was the daughter of a high-ranking official,

off cold, "Mrs. Shaw, you can mess up your diet, but

Space for explanations,

Stella left no space

no doctor. It was Nicholas

for my help, even had his men block the port until I gave Out of respect for his service to the country and his relationship with

people oversaw the process, and the hospital vetted the medicine. And now you dare

some kind of panacea? Even if the nation's top physician stood here,

boiling over, Stella smashed the bowl of soup on the ground. The clay floor held, but the soup scattered, its aroma filling the

Stella

between following her and attending to her vomiting son, could only

She didn't give him the time of day and headed straight home,

there was still no word of familiar faces. Across the street at the police station, the officers were escorting a group back-young

woman in her forties, her clothes torn, her body marked with

didn't take much