18 Floors Above the Apocalypse
Chapter 400

After leaving the dispute resolution office, Stella silently made her way back to her detached house in Section B. Her face was a blank slate, but even Cooper could sense her mood was off. Her siblings, Jasper and Rosie, picked up on it too. They were sharp. When they found out Lillian was the wife of a high-ranking official, they finally pieced together Stella's complicated past. Lillian and Julia had plotted to create chaos that would get Stella killed by military crossfire.

Being abandoned at birth was one thing - you could call her parents selfish and cold-hearted and leave it at that. But Lillian colluding to have her own daughter killed? That was beyond heartless; it was monstrous.

Even though Stella had never acknowledged Lillian as her mother, she wasn't a robot. She was human, capable of laughing when happy and crying when sad. The coldness and abuse from her uncle's family still haunted Rosie with scars that hadn't fully healed. Now, Stella's birth mother wanted to kill her, all to protect her own lies and self-interest. In that moment, all Jasper, Rosie, and their dog Cooper could do was offer their companionship and protection.

Back home, Stella headed straight for the bedroom to take a shower, the sound of running water filling the space. She had skipped lunch, and now it was evening. Jasper told Rosie to whip something up so Cooper wouldn't go hungry.

He followed Stella into the bedroom, quietly shutting the door behind him. Jasper picked up a bathrobe and walked into the bathroom. Wrapping his arms around Stella from behind, he whispered, "Are you upset?"

"No."

Not upset, but definitely not emotionless. She felt a suffocating repression that bizarrely made her crave some good old-fashioned barbecue - the kind that could soothe any soul.

Jasper sensed her bottled-up feelings, his warm lips brushing against the nape of her neck, "How about we make some BBQ then?"

Without hesitation, Stella murmured an agreement.

As he leaned in for a kiss, Stella pushed him away, "Shower first."

The bathroom door closed firmly, leaving no one inside.

After an indefinite amount of time, a flushed Stella emerged from the steamy Arcadia, her breath finally steadying after a few moments. She fell into a deep sleep, utterly exhausted.

Now, there was no room for emotion—even if the sky fell, she wouldn't have the strength to open her eyes, let alone get up.

Jasper, on the other hand, was wide awake. He kissed her forehead tenderly and reassured her, "Get some rest. Everything will be behind us when you wake up. Whatever happens, I'll be right there with you to face it."

He tucked her in before heading out for dinner. The meal Rosie had prepared was cold by now, so Jasper heated it up again in the kitchen. Cooper approached, looking up at him.

"Don't worry," Jasper smiled as he stroked the dog's head. "Stella's fine now."

Reassured, Cooper curled back up to sleep.

Waking naturally the next morning around nine, Stella stretched lazily, still feeling sore but oddly relieved. Jasper entered, "Hungry? I made you some oatmeal."

Stella rolled over, "I don't want to move."

Sitting by the bed, Jasper asked, "Mark's downstairs waiting. Do you want me to send him away?"

Daniel's secretary?

Stella considered for a moment, then sat up feeling limp and collapsed against Jasper. He caught her, holding her close, "Stella, no matter the outcome, no matter your decision, I'll support you unconditionally. But I hope you choose what makes you happy and at ease, not out of spite or impulse."

He didn't say it outright, but she knew what he meant.

She glanced up at him, "You don't trust me?"

"Of course I do," Jasper kissed her forehead. "I just want you to be sure, so there are no regrets later."

"You're such a nag," Stella rolled her eyes. "Jasper, have you gotten old?"

Ignoring her teasing, Jasper replied, "Was last night not satisfying enough?"

Ah, men always eager when it counts.

Stella pushed him away, only to replace she couldn't budge him.

""How about a rematch?"

She kicked him lightly, "Dream on." Last night had nearly done her in.

After getting up and going through her morning routine, Stella changed clothes. She made Mark wait downstairs for over an hour before she finally descended the stairs at her own leisurely pace.

Mark was calm, "Stella, there's been a resolution regarding yesterday's incident. The official wants to meet with you."

Stella was prepared and stepped into the car. Jasper, Rosie, and Cooper came along.

Upon reaching the military administrative zone, they were delayed by other leaders seeking the official's attention. After half an hour, the path was clear, but as Stella was about to enter, another urgent issue arose.

Just as one person left the office, another arrived, "Mark, is the official available? There's a situation at the munitions factory that requires his guidance."

After learning of the urgency, Mark arranged for yet another interruption.

Seeing the pattern, it seemed unlikely they would get their turn soon. Stella frowned slightly, "Should we reschedule?"

"I apologize, this is normal," Mark said politely. "He's simply too busy. Please wait a moment longer."

After several rounds of waiting, Stella finally got her appointment.

In the brief interlude, Daniel managed to take his medication. Avoiding the hospital had seemed wise until a multitude of issues were discovered - three pages of medical records weren't complete, and the list of medications was endless. He often forgot to take them on time, so Mark had set several alarms as reminders.

When Stella entered, Daniel was just swallowing his pills. She caught him off guard for a moment, nearly causing him to choke.

Mark quickly handed him some water, "Sir, please don't choke."

Regaining composure, Daniel stood up from his desk. The office had a small conference room. Mark quickly arranged the meeting and closed the door behind them, leaving father and daughter to face each other across the negotiating table with a mix of emotions. Stella was the first to speak, her voice steady, "Good day, sir."

Daniel nodded with a faint smile, "Stella, please, have a seat."

They sat opposite each other, the distance of the table between them.

Recalling the past, Daniel tried to steady his turbulent heart, heavy with remorse, "I'm sorry I wasn't there to watch you grow up."

He didn't delve into the past, and Stella wasn't itching to pry. With a calm demeanor, she said, "It's okay. You weren't there for me growing up, so I don't owe you anything in return. We're even. No need for apologies."

Daniel hadn't known the truth for long, but he had done his homework on Stella's character.

So when Stella spoke her mind, he wasn't the least bit surprised.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed family the most," he said, his voice tinged with regret.

Apart from apologizing, there wasn't much else Daniel could do, but he was grateful that his daughter's outlook hadn't twisted. She was not only upright but had also found someone to stand by her side.

He was truly relieved that she was independent and strong.

Pushing the paternity test report across the table, he continued, "Stella, even now, I can't make up for lost time, and I have pressing matters to attend to. No matter what storms you may face in the future, I might not be there to shield you from the hardships..." Her father's words hung in the air, a raw acknowledgment of absence and a future of uncertainties. But Stella, ever the fortress, simply took in the truth with a steady gaze, ready to face whatever the world might throw her way.