18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 277

By the look on Angela's face, it was clear that Lukas had told her about their unexpected encounter. She just didn't expect Stella to drop by.

"I bumped into Lukas yesterday and found out you guys are back in Griffith. I thought I'd come by and see how you're doing."

Angela and Lukas were subletting a room in the house, sharing the living space with Cody and his girl, who occupied the other room.

The small, cramped space was filled to the brim with a hodgepodge of items, leaving little room for much else aside from a bed and a corner for cooking.

Despite feeling under the weather, Angela tidied up and welcomed Stella into their humble abode, “Sorry for the mess. We don’t really have a place for visitors.”

"No worries, I'm not a stranger," Stella replied, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

"After you guys left, I went with Jasper to Swan Hill Beach. We dabbled in the seafood business for a while. For the past few years, we've been bouncing around Griffith, accepting business when available and studying medical books when not. I heard from Lukas that you haven't been well since the miscarriage. If you don't mind, I could take a look. I've picked up a few things from the books."

Angela looked at her with a bitter smile and a hint of guilt. "I've been a burden to Lukas. He would have been better off without me."

"Don't talk nonsense. You've been together for so long. There's no such thing as being a burden."

"You don’t understand, Stella. He has spent so much trying to treat my illness."

Stella reassured her, "Then you should get better soon. Lukas is an orphan. You gave him a sense of belonging. If you give up on yourself, he'll truly be alone."

Angela's condition was indeed serious. It wasn't incurable, but due to a lack of proper medication, her condition had worsened over time.

"There's no big issue, it's just inflammation. Some acupuncture and massage, coupled with some medication, should do the trick," Stella explained.

Stella showed Angela some massage techniques. "There are a few points that require assistance. I'll write down the methods for Lukas to help you later."

After the massage, Stella performed acupuncture on Angela. She then took out some herbal medicine from her bag, "I brought a few types of herbs. You can start by taking these."

"Where did you get all these herbs?" Angela asked in surprise. "These could be traded for a lot of currency. It's a waste to use them on me."

Stella, however, insisted. "Don’t worry about the cost. The weather has been good this year. Jasper and I have been cultivating our herbs, so we didn't need to buy any. What matters now is getting you better."

After the massage and acupuncture, Angela felt much better. "Stella, thank you."

"We all have our tough times. If we lend each other a hand, we might just get through it," Stella patted her shoulder. "Get better and start fresh, Angela. I want to see you boxing again, just like the old times."

Angela wanted to share her meal, but both families had emptied their pockets to treat their illnesses. With her mouth open, she couldn't bring herself to say anything, only left with a heart full of bitterness.