18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 637

Dina had been caught more than once, and her fate was always grim.

She had suffered miscarriages, and not just once. Even though she managed to fight back and kill a few of her captors, in the post-apocalyptic world, medical care was a luxury. That she survived at all was nothing short of a miracle.

“The doctor says my condition is bad, and the chances of getting pregnant are slim,” Dina said, her eyes reddening and her voice choking with emotion.

When disaster struck, Stella had been only 19, and Dina was two years younger. Frail since childhood and now in a foreign land, her resilience to have made it this far was undeniable.

“It’s not your fault, don’t blame yourself,” Stella handed her a tissue, trying to comfort her. “The doctor only said the chances are slim, not nonexistent. Besides, most people’s health has taken a hit in these hard times. Even with care, not all women can conceive. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. If Bran could pull you from the mire, trust that he’s not so superficial.”

Dina bit her lip, her expression filled with suppressed sorrow.

Stella took her cold hand. “Does he know about your situation?”

Dina nodded, “He knows.”

“Then what’s there to worry about? You’re about to get married. Stay positive, let nature take its course, and who knows, you might conceive before you realize it.”

Dina hesitated, “Stella, I’ve been on medication for months, and I still haven’t gotten my period.”

“Take it slow, your health will improve,” Stella reassured her. “Bring the medication you’ve been taking sometime, and I’ll have a look. Maybe there’s a way to speed up your recovery.”

Dina trusted her, “Thank you, Stella.”

“What are you thanking me for? Our families are close; you’re like a sister to me, blood relation or not.”

After seeing Dina off, Stella spent some quality time with her dogs. Hugo had grown quite a bit and would soon be off to the canine training center. After a leisurely bath and still not feeling like cooking, Stella grabbed some canned goods from Arcadia, a stash she had built up earlier.

The loyal pets, unable to speak, were off—one to fetch Grandpa, the other Grandma.

“Woof woof woof!”

“Awrooo…”

Hurry, hurry, there’s meat for you when we get back.

With someone tipping off Daniel, he made sure not to be late leaving work.

Seeing him punctual, Nicholas teased, “Boss man, has the little princess returned?”

Daniel chuckled, “Yep, she’s back.”

Jasper and Rosie also made it back for dinner, the family enjoying a harmonious meal together.

Their daughter and son-in-law would not need to go to sea for a good while, and Daniel was visibly elated, “You’ve worked hard these past years. Now, take some well-deserved rest.”

After dinner, Stella gave Daniel a health check, Vanessa tidied up, and the pets got their food.

Father and son-in-law tallied up the resources they had salvaged over the last two years, while the women enjoyed a fruit platter on the sofa.

Stella took an interest in Rosie’s affairs, “Rosie, now that every household in Griffith has its own plot of land, how’s the farm business holding up?”

Stella had no objections, and Jasper was all for it. They agreed to meet at the civil affairs office entrance. Stella went inside to pick out her best clothes and even applied some makeup, looking years younger in an instant. She chose a nice outfit for Jasper too. There was no favoritism; she had prepared clothes for Cody, Lukas, and the others as well.

Upon reaching the civil affairs office, Cody and Lukas were already waiting. Their jaws nearly dropped seeing Stella and Jasper all dressed up. How wide could the gap be in this post-apocalyptic world?

Stella handed them the bag with clothes, “Get ready quickly, let’s make this a beautiful memory.”

The registration was straightforward—take a digital photo for the records, record each other’s fingerprints. While they couldn’t get the actual marriage certificate yet due to current conditions, they could later, but there was a ceremony to swear in as husband and wife on video.

After sharing a bed for over a decade, reciting vows didn’t make them blush, but it felt ceremonious. Cody was thrilled; he was finally officially with his beloved.

Stepping out of the City Hall, Lukas reveled in the sunlight, saying with a broad grin, "Stella, it's pretty wild that us three made it this far together. Grew up side by side in the orphanage, and here we are today, getting our marriage licenses. One day, we'll be growing old together, too."

Angela corrected him, "It ain't just luck, buddy. If Stella hadn't been our guardian angel, saving our butts time and again, we'd be six feet under by now, not standing here tying the knot."

Stella smiled gently, "The storm's passed, and now, we're starting a fresh chapter in life."

Once home, she indulged in a lazy morning nap, while Jasper headed down to the docks to handle the handover of the Kindle Chest. Waking up around noon, Stella found the farmhouse quiet. Rosie, that old hound with a heart of stone, had taken her pups and scampered off somewhere.

Having overslept, Stella felt a bit groggy, unable to tell if she was adrift at sea or snug at home. Suddenly finding herself with nothing pressing to do, she felt restless, as if she should be busy with something.

The weather remained fickle, but the extremes were dwindling. The worst of the disasters seemed to be over, leaving the world in a tug-of-war of recovery.

Munching on some fruit, Stella wandered into Arcadia for a casual stroll, taking a rough inventory of the supplies on hand. Her gaze inadvertently landed on the hibernation pods. It felt like the right time to start an experiment.