18 Floors Above the Apocalypse
Chapter 403

Daniel was left speechless by Stella's blunt words, unable to muster a response.

The Earth wouldn't stop spinning, but its tectonic plates could clash and shatter at any moment. He wanted to do better, to increase the odds of survival for as many people as possible.

This was an unprecedented disaster, and if no one stepped up, humanity faced extinction.

He had no family, no children, no attachments, so he chose to take on the nation's mission.

Even now, with newfound familial ties, they seemed trivial compared to his duties.

To say he had no regrets would be self-deception.

But fate often plays cruel tricks. In his youth, a mission had cost him his love, and now he didn't even have a chance to make amends with his daughter. "Stella, I'm sorry."

He too wished for retirement, but there was simply no time.

Everyone's choices differed, and what Stella couldn't do wasn't necessarily wrong.

In fact, many had chosen the same path as Daniel, which was why there were so many survivors.

Daniel was coughing violently.

Stella picked up the cup on the table, only to replace it empty.

"I'll get some water."

Unfamiliar with family bonds, she quickly grabbed the cup and left, not knowing how to interact with Daniel.

The water room required waiting in line, and seeing that it would take a while, Stella opted to use the restroom instead.

After relieving the pressure on her bladder, she was about to leave when a few women entered, whispering, "Did you see that young woman enter the commander's ward? She looks just like the commander's wife, and it was Sunny who brought her in."

"I saw her too, but it doesn't seem to be Julia. When did the commander get another daughter?"

The senior nurse chided them, "Don't start rumors about our leaders."

"It's not a rumor. We just feel for Sunny. She's waited for the commander for over a decade, and now she's the third wheel."

"Stop talking nonsense," the senior nurse defended Vanessa: "Lillian's the shameless one. She was just the commander's young love, who later chased after wealth and status with someone else. The commander took her in out of old affection, and she shamelessly claims to be his wife, bah!"

The younger nurses were shocked, "Really? And she has the nerve to bother Sunny?"

They clung to the senior nurse, eager for the truth.

Vanessa's reputation wasn't great, but she never explained herself to outsiders.

The senior nurse sighed, "We reported to the military hospital together. Sunny was barely in her twenties when she fell for the injured commander, who wasn't a commander yet but had a high rank..."

Daniel was in his prime then, mature and irresistibly charming.

Despite the age gap, Vanessa fell hard, knowing he was unmarried and pursued him actively.

Her enthusiasm scared Daniel, who tried to keep his distance.

But she pursued him for years, from his thirties to his forties.

Their story was sensational within military circles, and even the leadership tried to play matchmaker, urging Daniel to settle down.

Perhaps Vanessa did move him; they dated for over half a year, and despite the age difference, felt suited for each other. Daniel even filed for marriage.

But then disaster struck, and Daniel took on the national mission instead of getting married.

Vanessa cried for days before resolutely joining the Kindle Society.

She kept busy but always looked out for him from afar.

Daniel dedicated himself to his work, organizing the base with meticulous care.

Just as Vanessa was about to broach the subject again, Lillian arrived with her daughter.

Loving someone from her blooming years to nearly forty, Vanessa had walked a hard path under unimaginable pressure.

Even Daniel had advised her to move on and replace a good man to marry.

Vanessa tried, but couldn't.

"Loving you is my business, it's got nothing to do with you. Just do your job."

"What's a good man anyway? With disasters looming, I could die any day. Does marriage even matter?"

In a world of unpredictable disasters, who could say right from wrong? Neither was at fault.

The senior nurse cautioned the younger ones to focus on their jobs and not gossip.

They left the restroom, chastened, and returned to work.

Stella fetched water, then ran into Vanessa, who handed her some herbal medicine for Daniel, "Stella, this is for the commander. Please take it to him." Remembering what she overheard in the restroom, Stella gave Vanessa a closer look.

Not strikingly beautiful, but with a dignified and pleasant appearance, years of harsh survival had etched fine lines around her eyes.

Well-versed in medicine from her time with Collin and Dr. Garcia, Stella could identify the herbs by scent alone, but she asked anyway, "What's the prescription?"

Vanessa recited the ingredients with care, her concern for Daniel evident.

Stella returned to the ward without a word, secretly adding a few pills of Western medicine to the brew.

Sure enough, Daniel was buried in work again.

Upon seeing her, he hastily set aside his papers, feeling oddly guilty.

Stella didn't beat around the bush, "Nurse Schu asked me to bring this."

Without delving into his relationship with Vanessa, Daniel obediently drank the medicine, which contained a sleeping aid.

The awkward silence was unbearable, and Stella left without lingering, "I'm going."

Daniel watched her go, but didn't ask her to stay.

After leaving the hospital, Stella didn't hide anything, sharing Daniel and Vanessa's story with the others.

Jasper took her hand, "I'm much luckier than him."

Loving deeply comes at a cost-one he couldn't pay-but he admired Daniel for it.

Back home, they had dinner and settled in for a nap.

Stella awoke with a start, the first fingers of dawn barely brushing the horizon. She knew that today, she had to venture into Arcadia to forage for medicinal herbs. The hospital had been running critically low on supplies, and conventional medicine just wasn't cutting it for the ailments that plagued the small town. She was determined to mix her own remedies, a skill she had learned from her grandmother, who had been a revered herbalist back in her day.

As she tiptoed past Jasper's room, she couldn't shake the feeling that he might get the wrong idea about her sudden disappearances. So, she paused, turned back, and knocked gently on his door.

Jasper, who had always been an early riser, opened the door with a sleepy yet knowing look in his eyes. "Morning, Stella. What brings you here at this hour?"

Stella took a deep breath, her heart pounding with a mix of anxiety and resolve. "The hospital is struggling, Jasper. They can't fix what's wrong with the folks here using just the stuff in their cabinets. I'm planning to whip up some home remedies-old family recipes. It's my way of paying back Arcadia for its kindness. After this, I won't owe anyone anything."

Jasper studied her for a moment, his gaze piercing yet understanding. He had always had a knack for seeing right through people, but he chose his words carefully, never one to call out someone's vulnerabilities. With a slight nod, he said, "Alright, I'll lend you a hand."

Stella's eyes softened with gratitude. Jasper had always been a solid presence in her life, and his offer of help meant more to her than he probably knew. Together, they would scour the fields and forests of Arcadia, not just for healing plants, but perhaps also for healing some of the wounds that the town had silently borne for so long.