18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 574

Stella only realized now that the other patient in the hospital room was Reagan. Finally, it made sense why there were two patients in the ICU—they were waiting for her.

Reagan had been handpicked by Daniel to lead a special task force, and there was no way Stella could leave him to die. But if she saved him, she had to save Nicholas too, or she'd be accused of playing favorites.

Nicholas quickly said, "Niece, ol' Reagan here is the leader of the task force, and more importantly, he's the big boss's lifelong buddy. You gotta find a way to save him."

With that, he moved over to Reagan's side and spoke to his unconscious form, "Reagan, wake up, man. You gotta hang in there. Stella's back, and with her skills, she can definitely save you."

The hospital director choked up a bit but didn’t say anything.

Stella didn't say a word, but she sneered inwardly. Cunning fox, always playing his games. In the same room, there was no way Stella could play favorites even if she wanted to. Well, it was for the best—at least things were even.

Stella inquired about Reagan's condition, and the director reported, "Reagan's got it a bit lighter, but the lack of medicine is a real problem." Pneumonia wasn't a rare disease; any ol' doc could treat it. It all came down to the meds!

Stella didn't linger, instructing the director to send someone with her to get the necessary medicine. The hospital wasn't far from home, just a few minutes by car. She didn't head to her own house but went straight next door and called out, "Dad?"

Her dog, Heartless, came bounding out, charging through the snow towards her, followed by a tumbling quartet of sticky rice balls. "Whine, whine." "Howl, howl."

Stella ignored them and headed straight for Daniel's room. Daniel was resting with a sprained back. "Come in," he said, his tone brief but his mood seemingly good.

Living in the big boss's house had its perks; they never ran out of coats or quilts. But Rosie had still sent over some silk blankets that were lighter and warmer, along with down liners that were perfect for Daniel and Vanessa to wear under their clothes, discreetly hidden from view. All these supplies were leftovers from Stella's stash, kept in a storage room just in case of emergencies.

The room also had a heater, making life pretty darn comfy. Oh, and Heartless had brought its puppies to keep him company. And Cooper, well, he had a tablet, courtesy of his human butler.

He used to love watching shows on the couch with Rosie, then later curled up in his bed with his mate, and now he'd brought it to Daniel to help pass the dull hours of recovery. Stella nearly choked—not out of jealousy, really. It was just that Cooper treasured that tablet and had never brought it to her. Okay, fine. She was jealous.

After all the years she'd doted on that dog, it seemed it preferred Daniel's company after just a few months. The bond between generations was indeed stronger.

Seeing his daughter return, Daniel tried to get out of bed but Stella steadied him, "How's your back?"

"It's nothing serious, just need to rest and avoid sitting or standing too long." He was capable of taking care of himself, but everyone was overly concerned. He wasn’t made of tofu; he wasn't that fragile. To reassure Stella, he insisted on getting up and even took a few steps. It hurt, but not unbearably. "Just a bad twist during my morning workout, no need for a fuss."

After a quick check, Stella confirmed it wasn't very serious. A little rest and he'd recover.

Someone from Nicholas's camp waited outside, so Stella briefly mentioned being summoned to the hospital. Daniel knew Nicholas well after so many years of working together. "He has the nation's interests at heart, but his ambition is just as large. He usually plays nice, but he's slick and experienced. His rudeness this time can be understood, given his son's critical condition." If their roles were reversed, he probably would've done the same.

"Can you save him?" Daniel paused, then added, "But your own safety is the priority."

Nicholas was still there; Emily had just arrived to keep watch, feeding her husband some rice porridge. Seeing the high-ranking father-daughter duo arrive, Nicholas got up to greet them, "Boss, niece, what brings you by?"

"Just checking in on you guys," Daniel said with concern. "How’s it going?"

"Your niece's medicine is working; the fever's come down a bit, and we're keeping an eye on things. Can't thank you both enough..." He went on and on, a picture of heartfelt gratitude.

Stella had to suppress a laugh, while Daniel earnestly reassured, "Reagan’s got a strong body and a good recovery rate. He’ll be alright."

After a bit of small talk, Daniel turned to inquire about Reagan's condition. Emily, fraught with worry, thanked him for his concern.

Emily was the backbone of the military logistics, and with Reagan, she had a pair of children who were the pride of their hearts. While their daughter was abroad, studying when catastrophe struck, their son, a brilliant graduate from the military academy, held a respectable position at South Base. But fate is often cruel, and not even their well-laid plans could withstand the ravages of a decade-long natural disaster. Tragically, during a ferocious storm at sea, their son was cast from a navy ship, swallowed by the raging waves. Their daughter, on the other hand, never even had a chance to return home.

Emily had a difficult delivery with their daughter, who emerged into the world frail and sickly, catching a cold with the slightest breeze. Reagan and Emily had abandoned hope for her survival early on. In the end, only the couple remained, and to make matters worse, Reagan fell ill and never recovered.

Theirs had been a love that was the talk of the base in the good old days, a true romance that seemed unshakeable. But nobody could have predicted the relentless blows they'd face later in life. Emily's eyes had lost their sparkle, her will to live seemingly extinguished. Once Reagan passed, it would be as if the last thread holding her together had snapped.

But such tragedies were not uncommon in these apocalyptic times, and Stella had seen enough to grow accustomed to the sight of despair.