18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 451

Stella kept her plans under wraps, afraid that Monkey would flat-out refuse any form of repayment.

But Miranda? She’d accept it, whether it was for her family or her kids.

"Let's give them some food," Jasper suggested after a moment of thought. "Their bodies are too run-down; a few pills won't cut it, and even nutritional therapy might not do much. Arcadia has a bunch of herbal seeds. You could give them some, let them grow their own."

Stella nodded, "Alright, I'll drop some off tomorrow."

The next morning, Rosie, eager to outshine her peers, picked her rattiest dress, rubbed it on the ground, and smeared it with dirt.

Stella laughed as she messed up Rosie's hair, turning it into a bird's nest. "You look every bit the country girl now."

But Rosie wasn't satisfied. "Sis, make me look older."

Ah, youth, Stella thought with a sigh. Kids want to look older, while she'd give anything to shave off a few years.

They dabbed Rosie's porcelain skin with splotches of yellow, and her shoes were so tattered her toes peeked through. "There, any more and you'll look like an old lady."

Rosie finally looked content and headed downstairs to the management office for her interview.

Kids grow up, form their own opinions, and take their own stands. Stella and Jasper didn't want to add to Rosie's nerves, so they didn't go with her.

Arcadia's output was steady; Rosie didn't need to earn her keep. But growing up meant facing life's challenges and transforming through them.

In that moment, Stella felt a pang of motherly sorrow.

She sat on the couch, flipping through a medical book to pass the time.

Two hours later, Rosie came bounding up the stairs. "Brother, sis, I got the job! I start tomorrow!"

Stella beamed, "You did great, Rosie."

Noticing Jasper's silence, she nudged him with her foot.

Taking the hint, Jasper said, "Well done."

Rosie's smile was radiant. "Dozens interviewed, only five got picked, and I was the first."

The garden outpost was huge, encased in glass, growing everything from potatoes and sweet potatoes to various greens and medicinal herbs.

Rosie had grown up learning from Stella, knew her way around herbs, and aced the interview, securing the job with ease.

But her smile quickly faded. "But they've put me in the maggot farming group."

Stella, mid-sip of water, choked. "Maggot farming?"

Jasper frowned. "How does that work?"

"Chopped potato shoots and manure compost..."

Stella grimaced. "Rosie, maybe wait for another job?"

Rosie was upset but determined. "Others can do it, so I want to try. If it's too much, I'll quit."

Thinking quickly, Stella suggested, "What if we give the interviewer a little something to get you a better position?"

But Rosie, stubborn like Jasper, insisted, "Sis, I want to earn my place."

Stella didn't argue; some lessons had to be learned firsthand.

Regardless, Rosie had a job now.

To celebrate, they decided on a feast: hot pot.