18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 597

Partings are always bittersweet, and Stella did her best to smile. "Dr. Collin, I'm sure Willowbrook will flourish quickly. Maybe next time, it'll be us visiting you."

Deep down, she'd wanted to ask him to stay just a bit longer.

But Collin, ever the rational one, had turned her down. "With you at Griffith, I have no worries. Willowbrook needs me more."

His selflessness left Stella speechless.

Collin patted her shoulder. "Stella, people come and go. If fate allows, we’ll meet again."

The time had come, and the delegation began boarding the speedboats to the offshore docks.

Mentor and apprentice hugged, and Collin picked up the backpack she’d given him, waving goodbye.

Stella watched until he disappeared from view, her heart heavy with sorrow.

Not long after, a convoy of military jeeps rolled in.

Staff Officer Daniel and others disembarked, and folks like Reagan and Nicholas came to see them off, their laughter and genuine sentiments filling the air.

Stella approached with gifts in hand. "Dad, godfather."

The gifts were plentiful: tobacco, liquor, tea, and the quick-acting heart-saving pills she had made herself.

Her acknowledgement of family ties wasn’t public knowledge in Griffith, so when Stella called the staff officer "godfather," everyone was taken aback.

Before the staff officer could react, Nicholas's mouth twitched.

He felt like a fool, thinking he’d been so sly and discreet, only to find out they were all family.

His emotions churned, but as a seasoned warrior, he quickly regained his stoic demeanor as if nothing had happened.

The godfather, pleased with his gifts, grinned at Daniel. "Old Gu, this departure spans thousands of miles. You better take good care of my goddaughter; don’t let anyone push her around."

"I will," Daniel assured him.

"Don’t just say it; make sure you do. If even a hair on her head is harmed, I’ll hold you accountable," the godfather said, though his words carried a deeper message for the others listening in.

After exchanging pleasantries, the other higher-ups also shared their goodbyes.

In the crowd, Stella searched for Rosie, who was chatting with Dylan in a corner.

Dylan held a bag of hotpot ingredients, his gaze intense as if trying to etch Rosie into his very soul.

Finally, he said simply, "Rosie, take care."

Rosie nodded with a smile. "You too, Dylan. Stay safe on your journey."

As the Willowbrook military personnel began to board the ship, Dylan, as the staff officer’s guard, had to stay close by.

Even through the crowd, Stella could hear the sound of his heart breaking.

Rosie stood on the dock, waving at him from a distance, her smile forced.

Ten days later, the Willowbrook delegation departed.

They hadn’t come empty-handed, and neither did they leave Griffith without tokens.

Live poultry was inconvenient to transport, but they took plenty of fertilized eggs, as well as seeds for herbs and crops that Willowbrook lacked.

This was common knowledge among the survivors, but other matters were discussed behind closed doors.

Even Stella was in the dark about those.

As the Willowbrook submarine faded into the distance, Stella drove Rosie home, while Jasper had to attend a meeting due to his military rank.

Rosie was unusually quiet on the drive, seemingly lost in her thoughts.

When they had said their goodbyes in the New Town Villa District, Rosie had been a naive young girl. Having lived next to Dylan for years, she had developed feelings that were different from those for anyone else.

Stella didn’t intrude on her young friend’s thoughts.

It was late when Jasper returned home, and Stella was nearly asleep.