18 Floors Above the Apocalypse
Chapter 402

Daniel had never been one to spill the beans, which is probably why he'd climbed so high up the ladder.

"I'm the head nurse," Vanessa reiterated, her tone as firm as her position demanded.

Stella, however, was less than polite in her response. "I think you've got it wrong. You're not the head nurse; you're more like the neighborhood busybody-always sticking your nose where it doesn't belong."

The harshness of Stella's words took Vanessa by surprise, visibly shaking her composure.

Everything that needed to be said had been laid out clear as day. If Daniel was really sick and in the hospital, people would probably be queuing up to take care of him. Why should Stella trust this elusive woman standing before her? Her features were plain, but her forehead might as well have had 'schemer' written across it.

As Vanessa turned to leave, she urgently said, "Stella, I'm not lying. Mr. Daniel is in the hospital with a bleeding ulcer because he's overworked himself."

"And how is that my problem?" Stella retorted, unfazed. "It's not like I'm the one who worked him to the point of a bleeding ulcer."

"But you're his daughter-the only person he truly worries about and can't let go of."

Stella remained unmoved, her sarcasm biting. "What are you, the neighborhood busybody?"

Vanessa was taken aback by Stella's aggressive stance, but remembering her purpose, she gritted her teeth and confessed, "If it weren't for the sudden catastrophe, he and I might already be married."

The news hit Stella like a thunderbolt, pausing her in her tracks.

Vanessa's demeanor was awkward, yet she managed to speak with a semblance of calm, "I came without his knowledge. He's had a hard life, burdened with too much responsibility, and he's lost himself in it all. The only time he smiles freely is when he speaks of you. I hope you'll go to see him, to encourage him to take better care of himself."

After a meaningful look at Stella, Vanessa briskly walked away.

Stella stood by the door for a moment before closing it and heading upstairs.

She maintained her routine: eating, exercising, checking all her escape gear, then staring blankly at the supplies filling the Arcadia.

Waking up to a gloomy, sunless morning, she muttered to the ceiling, "The woman who came yesterday is Daniel's dear friend."

Jasper had overheard their conversation the day before but didn't pry, respecting her silence.

He understood that not every emotion could be shared or decided upon by others.

His role was to respect and support.

Since she brought it up, he asked, "Do you want to visit him?"

Stella pondered, "Without him, I wouldn't have had the chance to get this Arcadia."

"Let's get breakfast and get dressed. I'll go with you," Jasper offered.

Given Daniel's status, he certainly wasn't lacking in provisions. Yet Stella went to the hospital with nothing to offer.

At the medical facility, when the receptionist found out she was there to see the commander, she asked, "Do you have an appointment?" "No," Stella hesitated, "If it's too much trouble, never mind."

It wasn't that they couldn't arrange it; they simply didn't have the authority. "Perhaps you could get in touch with the commander's secretary?" Right, it was the secretary's job to cater to the commander's needs. If she knew where to replace Mark, would she be asking at the reception desk? Just as Stella was about to leave, a nurse rushed over, "Stella?"

It was Vanessa.

Relieved by Stella's arrival, she said, "Mr. Daniel is undergoing tests, but I can take you to his room to wait."

Eager not to let Stella change her mind, Vanessa quickly delegated her responsibilities to other nurses. Stella followed her to the VIP ward.

Daniel had just returned from his tests, but outside his room was a crowd waiting to report to work.

Stella counted roughly a dozen people, all sporting badges of rank.

Upon seeing her, Mark hurried over to greet her.

"So, he's worked himself to a bleeding ulcer, and he's still got all this work to do?" Stella's smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "Are you trying to nurse him back to health or work him into an early grave?"

Mark had tried to intervene, but life-or-death decisions needed the commander's approval.

However, Daniel's condition was indeed dire, so Mark had expedited all non-critical work to be postponed.

Half an hour later, Stella entered the room.

Illness had struck Daniel like a collapsing mountain, and the stress of his work had finally taken its toll. His pale face was testament to his fatigue, and having just taken his medication, he had drifted off to sleep, hoping for a brief respite. Mark, thinking to surprise his boss, hadn't told Daniel about Stella's visit.

So when Stella walked in, what she saw was a weary old man worn down by sickness.

She moved quietly, careful not to startle Daniel.

Her gaze inadvertently fell upon the half-open drawer of the bedside table, revealing a corner of medical records and medication lists.

The drawer was crammed with medicines; enough to substitute for a meal.

Instinctively, she picked up the records and lab results. Daniel's condition wasn't immediately fatal, but his vital signs were poor, and years of overwork and stress had ravaged his once robust frame.

To put it bluntly, if he continued to disregard his health, he was at risk of dropping dead at any moment.

Stella examined the medication list, her brow furrowed.

The base had its own pharmaceutical factory, but due to raw material shortages, they could only produce the most basic drugs, and even those were less effective.

Just for the bleeding ulcer alone, they lacked proper medications to alleviate the ulcer and stop the bleeding, resorting to traditional herbs, some of which were critically missing.

As important as Daniel was, the hospital would naturally treat him with the utmost care, using the best available medications.

Yet even they couldn't gather everything needed, leading to subpar treatment. Some conditions had to be endured with sheer bodily resilience.

Unfortunately, his body was worn thin, his white blood cell count dangerously low, making self-recovery nearly impossible.

"Stella?"

It had only been a few minutes, but Daniel was waking up.

His spirit was weak, and he almost thought he was dreaming, "What are you doing here?"

Stella didn't hide the truth, "Vanessa asked me to come."

Vanessa? Daniel frowned, but offered no further explanation, "It's nothing serious. The hospital is making a fuss, insisting I stay for observation. How have you been?" She didn't answer.

Frankly, Stella didn't feel much for this suddenly present father. She respected his sacrifices, but that was different from feeling familial affection.

Had it not been for the Arcadia and the sense of debt she felt towards Daniel, she wouldn't have come at all.

So even with this meeting, without an emotional foundation, it was hard for her to express any genuine concern, "Without you, is it the Earth that stops spinning or the sun that's about to explode?"