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.

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

had to brace for

this happening? The meds were the

replied, "Please, Mrs. Shaw, every patient is different, and treatments

wouldn't have it. "You must have botched it, swapped

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

had been meticulous, especially with Nicholas, a man known

they faced

thread, Mrs. Shaw lashed out, "It

with the medicine. What are you waiting

the door open, her

about to scold this brash

pale as

and a healthy glow, it

hospital, and her offhand accusation had reached the last

the daughter

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

Space for explanations,

Stella left no space

doctor. It was

of respect for his service to the country and his relationship with my

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

of panacea? Even if the nation's top physician stood here, he wouldn't dare guarantee a cure for your

of soup on the ground. The clay

hadn't expected such ferocity from Stella and

attending to her vomiting son, could

the hospital entrance and ran into Nicholas, who had come hurrying over. She didn't give him the time of day and headed straight home, expecting

station, the officers were escorting a group back-young men in their

torn, her body marked with the evidence of

take