18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 635

Stella walked into the room, thinking about what kind of dowry to give.

She picked out two dresses: one was a Snowy dress, all innocent and pure, perfect for a first love; the other was a black, seductive slip dress, ideal for some behind-closed-doors fun.

Girls need to treat themselves right, so lingerie was a must.

Bran was a ladies' man, and Vera would need to pull out all the stops to keep his attention.

A memory flashed through Stella's mind of the time she wore a uniform she got from a live-streaming gig, and Jasper had gone wild for it.

She rummaged around for a while until she found something perfect for Ding Yin.

Then there were the accessories—hair clips, bracelets, necklaces...

She was giving a lot, but she had taken three top-notch armored cars and a pink diamond from him, and now he was out there fighting for her.

Sigh, the things we do.

She filled an entire trunk and presented it to him, "All my treasures, now yours."

Bran was shameless, digging through the items right in front of Stella. When he found the sexy uniform, he didn't even blink. "Sis, where's mine?"

Stella was speechless. The nerve!

"None for you," she snapped, clearly annoyed. "Go ask your brother-in-law later."

Bran, clutching the trunk, headed out and bumped into Jasper halfway.

"Bro, my boxers are ripped, and my flip-flops are shot," Bran whined, shamelessly extending his hand for more. "I'm planning to marry little Yin, and I don't even have a suit. Sis told me to come to you. I figure as long as the suit and shoes are decent, it doesn't have to be designer, right?"

Jasper, totally confused, could only suggest that Bran look for something back home.

"Thanks, bro. Whether I get hitched or not is up to you and Sis."

Honestly, Stella had to admire Bran's gall. She suspected the stress he caused was enough to give anyone high blood pressure and heart issues.

What a spender!

Despite her grumbling, she gave in at the end.

A few days later, Emily visited with her daughter, who wore a butterfly hair clip.

Emily looked better, smiling. Whether it was love or a new lease on life, she was full of hope for the future.

Whatever the reason, Stella had to admit Bran had some real talent.

...

Two days before setting sail, a sudden event occurred.

Russia showed up.

They arrived in an old, beat-up submarine, looking to trade for crops and livestock.

"The Krakowiecki family."

They were tough but technologically behind, with their hardcore weapons nearly depleted from recent disasters.

With little to offer, they kept bringing up the Krakowiecki family, playing the sentiment card.

"We're all comrades, shoulder to shoulder in revolution, decades of good neighborly relations, all-weather strategic partners..."

After much flattery, it turned out they had little more than a nuclear warhead to offer.

The state of their submarine was pitiful, making Nicholas feel sorry for the Krakowiecki family.

Whether the warhead was useful or not, the gesture of solidarity was appreciated.

With billions wiped out by global catastrophes, every survivor was extraordinary and deserved respect.

Russia, too, had a part to play in the rebirth of human civilization.

After much deliberation, Daniel decided to make the trade.

The stability of a triangular relationship was unparalleled.

Russia and China shared a continent, and maintaining a balance of power was crucial. Any shift could be bad for Griffith or Willowbrook.

With some downtime, they called on Stella to join them for a game, knowing that a successful performance meant a delicious meal.

The crew chatted about their future assignments and how they would start their new lives on land.

The special salvage team wouldn't disband; they'd return to the sea to continue their story after a short break.

After finishing her shift, Stella joined Jasper back in their quarters, ready to embrace a new chapter in life.

Jasper, fresh from the shower and toweling his hair, wrapped his arms around Stella from behind and kissed her neck tenderly, "You want to?"

They hadn't yet taken the plunge on this voyage.

Aroused by his teasing, Stella's interest peaked, "Mm-hmm."

Submarine quarters were cramped and not exactly soundproof, so they slipped into the silent sanctuary of Arcadia.

Jasper took her hand in his, guiding it to his eager body.

Both well-versed in the art of pleasure, they quickly collapsed onto the bed, their breaths hot and heavy.

As Jasper reached for the nightstand drawer, Stella caught his hand, gazing deeply into his eyes, "Jasper, let's have a baby."

Jasper was shell-shocked; it took him a moment to grasp what she said, and then he fell silent again for a while before asking, "Is having a baby really that risky?"

"Having a baby always comes with risks, but with things like miscarriage, breech birth, or difficult labor, given Griffith's current medical resources, they're no longer the big issues they once were."

But Jasper still couldn't shake his anxiety, "Stella, how certain can you be?"

He couldn't help but think of Molly, who had died in childbirth. If it meant risking Stella's life, he'd rather remain childless.

Stella chuckled, "Silly, even catching a cold has a mortality rate, and you could choke to death if you're not careful while eating. But those risks are so small, they're practically negligible. I'm a doctor, and we have the medical equipment in Arcadia. There won't be any major risks."

She caressed his hand, "We're not getting any younger. If we don't decide to have a child now, we might not get the chance later. Do you want a little one of our own?"

Jasper didn't hesitate, "Yes."

With a playful smile, Stella climbed on top of him, "Then let's start working on that tonight..."