18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 633

Bran's words caught Poppy off guard, leaving her momentarily speechless.

Indeed, Rosie was young, beautiful, hailing from an affluent background, and highly capable. It was no wonder that a legion of men were head over heels for her. The day she decided to get hitched, the cream of the crop would line up at her door.

Poppy was torn, "But, do you really fancy Erin?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Bran countered, seeing the confusion on her face. "She's attractive, comes from a good family, and is an only child. Plus, having Reagan as a father-in-law? Sounds like the jackpot to me."

"What about Erin's past in the internment camp and the abuse she endured? Can she even have children?"

"If she can, great; if not..." Bran glanced at his niece, "You're still here, aren't you? You share the Porras blood too. Any child you have could take the Yorke name."

Noticing that Poppy was especially talkative today, Bran advised her, "Poppy, remember your duties. Sometimes it's wise to turn a blind eye, but there are times when you need to be fully aware."

Poppy nodded, "I understand, Uncle."

Meanwhile, Stella was itching with curiosity about the second-generation heir's romance and couldn't help but question Rosie upon her return.

After pondering for a moment, Rosie replied, "Classic knight in shining armor scenario."

Apparently, Erin was stealthily followed by a man after work, and Bran just happened to be there to pick up Poppy.

Stella nearly choked. Such a clichéd move?

Erin seemed sharp; how did she fall for that?

Especially since Bran, with a history of playing the field, was known for his countless courtship tactics. Why would he resort to something so... simplistic?

There was no finesse in his approach.

Nobody was fooled; the ruse was too transparent.

Rosie wasn't clear on the details. The hero's save was just the first step, and she was sure there were more tricks up his sleeve.

But what she did know was that the fierce competition among men, especially for marriageable women, could make any guy's eyes light up.

There were even more absurd stories out there, like a group of men conspiring to marry the same woman, only to get a stern lesson from the authorities.

This was also an indication that life was improving; beyond basic needs, new desires were constantly emerging.

It was only upon inquiry that Stella learned Vera had joined the military office, and while her position was clerical, her performance was commendable.

Stella couldn't help but reflect. For a woman plagued by sickness to survive over a decade in such a harsh world, there must be some remarkable strength to her.

She certainly wasn't just an innocent Snowy bunny.

Stella had a hunch that perhaps it was a case of mutual acceptance?

This "love" was perfect, harming no one.

Knowing Bran, Stella was pleased to see things unfold.

But that wasn't her focus. She had Austin's business proposal to ponder.

The family discussed it openly, and Stella laid out the details before asking her siblings, "Rosie, what do you think?"

Rosie considered carefully, "Sister-in-law, we've been apart from Uncle Qin for many years, and he's just arrived in Griffith without any foundation. Even if he's interested in a partnership, there's no rush. We can wait a year or so to see what he can build from scratch before we decide."

Her words eased Stella's mind.

As an old acquaintance, Rosie offered aid within reason, but maintained a perfect balance, avoiding any unfair advantage due to Dylan's relationship.

The measure was just right.

Making money was essential.

But choosing partners required even more caution.

The advantage was theirs; there was no need to hurry.

At night, the couple lay in bed exchanging pillow talk.

Stella sneakily fed Little Amy some steaming turkey legs, "Eat up, and don't let your dad catch you."

After the marathon of housewarming feasts, Stella retrieved dried herbs from Arcadia and delivered them to Angela and Kitty.

With their basic needs met, the two women eagerly anticipated pregnancy, actively working out and taking care of their health.

Not just them, even Cody and Lukas went for health check-ups, their eyes filled with hope.

"Let's have children if we can, but if not, we'll take care of each other in our old age."

Decades of disasters had taught them to let go and find peace within.

After work, Cody and Lukas warmly hosted Stella.

Compared to their initial days, their meals had improved significantly.

With two women of childbearing age at home, they enjoyed discounts on poultry without the need to queue or pre-order.

And should they have children, the government provided special support in all aspects of life.

In essence, procreation was a matter of pride.

Stella could only laugh at the reality as they served her a home-cooked meal with half the chicken stir-fried with bell peppers, the other with wood ear mushrooms, and a side of scrambled eggs with tomatoes.

They knew Stella wanted for nothing, but this was their way of showing appreciation.

As they sat around the dinner table enjoying a hearty spread of roast chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans, Lukas was particularly chatty. "Stella, thank goodness you guys recovered the communication equipment. I finally get to show off my skills," he said with a grin, wiping a smudge of gravy from his chin.

Despite the running joke that he was living off his wife's success, no one could deny Lukas's knack for software programming.

The man had a natural talent for the trade, and even after letting it slide for over a decade, he picked it back up like he'd never stopped. As the head of the communications department, his dedication was now through the roof. Unless his wife had other plans for him, he'd be either buried in technical manuals or lost in a world of code.

Angela rolled her eyes, a hint of exasperation in her voice. "Stella, do you have any idea how absurd it's gotten? He's even muttering code in his sleep…"