18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 382

Tricia could only shake her head in disbelief at Julia's latest fiasco. "What do you want me to do about it? She's the boss's daughter. We've got to pick our battles, and the boss has done so much for the facility—and for my husband, too. I can't exactly tattle on her for this little mishap, can I?"

"Let it go. She's not cut out for hard work. She'll quit on her own one of these days when she can't be bothered to show up."

"The number of jobs she's blown through... She's a walking disaster," lamented the store clerk, exasperated. "We're cursed, that's for sure. You shouldn't have stepped in today. Should've let those folks give her a piece of their mind. Scare her off so she doesn't dare show up here again."

Tricia couldn't help but smile wryly. "Enough backbiting. Let's just focus on our own jobs, alright?"

With a couple of days off, Stella grabbed the submarine's manual, determined to study it thoroughly once she got home.

Arriving back at her cozy little bungalow, she quickly cleaned herself up, slipping into some comfy loungewear, and treated herself to some well-earned comfort food.

Meanwhile, Julia was in tears as she bolted home, only to realize in her haste she'd left her bag at the mall. Without her keys, she had no choice but to knock frantically on the door.

Lillian greeted her with a cheery, "Hey, sweetheart, you're back?"

Seeing her daughter's tear-streaked face, Lillian's smile faded. "Julia, weren't you supposed to be at work? Why are you home so early? You can't keep leaving work early or showing up late. It's not a good look for you, and I can't explain that to your father."

Frustrated by the day's events and now her mother's lecture, Julia fumed, "Mom, am I not your daughter anymore? Why do you always bring Dad into this?"

Lillian frowned. "Who upset you? There's no need for that tone. Your father promised he'd come home soon. You better check that attitude of yours; he'll be here any minute."

"You..." Julia was at a loss for words, her face flushed with anger. "He always says he's busy, but he promised this time, and he's a man of his word. He wouldn't go back on that."

"He's not coming back," Julia said, her body trembling with anger and shock. "Stella's here. Stella is at the base!"

Lillian was stunned, sinking into the sofa. "What? Why would Stella come to Kindle Society?"

Julia had no clue why Stella had come.

In recent years, disasters had been frequent, and death was a daily occurrence. Yet, somehow, Stella always came out unscathed. Now, she had the audacity to strut around the base as if she owned the place.

Stella was so much like her, especially in how much she resembled their mother. If Stella ever crossed paths with Daniel...

Julia knew Stella's cunning all too well. If the truth came out, the consequences would be dire.

She was panicking. "Mom, what do we do?"

"In this world, there are many people who look alike. Whoever I say is the boss's daughter is the boss's daughter," Lillian replied calmly, having regained her composure. "Julia, from today on, you are not to mention Stella again, especially not in front of your father. Act as if you've never met her."

"But..."

Lillian warned her daughter sternly, "No buts. The base hospital can't perform paternity tests. You are his flesh and blood."

Right. Julia had almost forgotten that the hospital didn't offer paternity testing. What was there to worry about?

As long as she and her mother stuck to their story, what could Daniel do, even if he suspected anything?

Still, Julia was worried. "Mom, do you think he's found something out? Otherwise, you've been so good to him all these years, and he's still so cold. He hardly comes home, and when he does, he never stays the night."

Lillian was put on the spot by her daughter's words.