Shadows Between Us (Stella and Sebastian) novel Chapter 100

Chapter 100

Kendrick was about to bow right in front of her.

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But before he could actually do it, Stella’s chilly voice rang out. “Don’t even try to guilt-trip me. I’m not that noble.”

Kendrick could only stare in silence. He just hung there, awkward and stiff.

But Kendrick was an old pro. He coughed awkwardly and found himself an out, “These old legs get stiff if I sit too long. Just

need to stretch a bit.”

Stella kept her chin propped on one hand, watching him act with a lazy, amused look, just smiling silently.

Kendrick wondered, ‘Why does someone so young make me feel so much pressure?’

But the moment their eyes met, Kendrick finally got what she was after. “I’m sorry.”

He realized, ‘No matter how good the excuse sounds, dragging innocent people into this is still wrong!

Stella’s smile faded, her eyes half-lidded and bored. “I accept your apology.”

She got up and wandered over to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out. “That plant out there is called Winterbloom. For most people, its scent just leaves you feeling drained.

“But for those fighting cancer, it’s like death itself coming to claim you.”

Stella lowered her gaze, her voice cool. “And get this, it even has another name. They call it Last Devotion. How ironic is that?”

Kendrick paused, a dark look flickering across his old face.

*****

Downstairs, Penelope kept glancing toward the staircase, fidgeting restlessly. She muttered under her breath, “Why isn’t he coming down yet?”

She kept flipping through the will in her hands, and the more she looked at it, the more she felt secretly lucky.

The original plan was for Kendrick to suddenly collapse from a heart attack and get hospitalized.

Once word got out about his cancer, Xander would naturally take over Pierce Group, and Penelope could cash in while the

chaos lasted.

But she had never predicted Kendrick would play his trump card and leave everything to a total outsider in his will.

‘The longer Dad sticks around, the better it is for us, Penelope thought, her mind spinning.

Lucas reached out and poked Sebastian, his eyes wide with curiosity.

‘When’s Stella coming down?’ Lucas wondered to himself.

Sebastian’s eyes were icy, his voice cold and deep. “I don’t know.”

Lucas tilted his head, looking up at Sebastian with wide, curious eyes.

‘Should I go find Stella?’ Lucas wondered.

Sebastian glanced down at Lucas, his gaze icy and the dark circles under his eyes making him look even more intimidating..

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Chapter 100

“No.”

Lucas puffed up his cheeks and turned away, sulking.

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“Mr. Gray, got a minute to chat?” Xander took a deep breath, shot a quick look at Blake, who was still spaced out, and then made sure Sebastian couldn’t ignore him, practically begging for attention.

Allan watched with a half-smile, his eyes full of teasing amusement.

‘Sebastian’s in a terrible mood, and Xander’s basically asking to get roasted,’ Allan thought, shaking his head.

“What exactly do you want to talk about?” Sebastian’s eyes were icy and bottomless as he stared Xander down, his face unreadable but his presence overwhelming.

“You want to discuss how you cut out your grandfather’s board loyalists? Or maybe how your mom secretly funneled hundreds of millions into Gray family projects behind his back?” he added.

Xander’s face went stiff. He was completely lost for words.

‘How the hell does Mr. Gray know about all this?’ Xander thought, his mind spinning.

Xander met Sebastian’s cold, predatory gaze, and a chill shot up his spine.

Suddenly, Lucas, who’d been drooping over with his chin in his hands, sprang up, his eyes lighting up as he looked toward the staircase.

Stella and Kendrick came down.

Without a second thought, Lucas threw his little arms wide and dashed straight for Stella.

Lucas tried to run, but he didn’t get anywhere. He turned around, dazed, only to lock eyes with Sebastian, who was holding him by the collar with a deadpan look.

Lucas rolled his eyes.

Sebastian glanced at him.

“Dad!” Penelope put on her brightest smile and sprang to her feet, ready to help Kendrick, but he stopped her with a raised

hand.

“Antonio.” Kendrick glanced at the lawyer.

Antonio immediately pulled out the agreement he’d prepared and set it on the table. “Ms. Carter, if you could sign here, please.”

Penelope glared daggers at Stella. ‘Wasn’t she just faking it when she refused earlier? How did Dad manage to change her mind so quickly after just one trip upstairs?’ she wondered.

Stella sauntered over, one hand casually tucked in her pocket, moying at her own pace.

She flashed Penelope a provocative smirk, her gorgeous face radiating that rebellious, untamable vibe, like she was the kind of wild card nobody could ever hope to control.

With a smooth motion, Stella reached behind her head and pulled out the pen, holding up her hair. Instantly, her long locks tumbled down her back in a shimmering cascade, swirling like clouds and mist, so stunning it was almost unreal.

“You should really take a look at yourself in the mirror right now,” Stella quipped, the corners of her eyes tinged with a rosy flush against her porcelain skin.

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Chapter 100

*

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She signed her name on the agreement with a cool, effortless flair, her gaze locked on Penelope the entire time.

Watching Penelope seethe, nose flaring and eyes blazing, Stella raised a defiant brow. “Seriously, you look a mess.”

Penelope was so furious, she looked like she might just tear Stella apart on the spot.

Xander put a hand on his mom’s arm, hinting she should back off and not stir things up any further. He shot Stella a frosty look, thinking to himself, ‘No way Kendrick’s played all his cards yet.'”

Sure enough, Kendrick called, his gaze settling on his own grandson. “Blake.”

Kendrick had had a deep conversation with Stella upstairs, and once again couldn’t help but think, ‘Blake really is blessed by dumb luck.

‘No clue how he ended up on the right team, but somehow, that girl actually treats him differently.

Blake’s eyes were still red, but he kept quiet and obediently walked over to stand by his grandpa.

Kendrick looked at Blake, his face a mix of emotions. “You’ve been messing around long enough. Time to buckle down.”

Xander’s stomach dropped. ‘Is Grandpa really about to throw Blake into the company to go head-to-head with me?’ he wondered.

“Dad!” Penelope yelped, her voice shooting up in shock.

Kendrick didn’t even glance at anyone else. “I’m handing Ion Wing Drones over to you. You’ll take over next week.”

Blake was frozen. His eyes went wide. ‘Was I hearing things, or did Grandpa really say that?’ he wondered.

But as soon as Kendrick finished, Xander, who’d been sweating bullets, actually felt relieved.

‘Ton Wing Drones? Everyone knows that division’s been losing money for years. It’s a total money pit, and Pierce Group’s been burning cash on it every year just to keep the lights on,’ he wondered.

‘If I can pawn this hot potato off on Blake and split it out, I bet nobody on the board will complain, Xander thought.

Under the table, Allan nudged Stella and whispered so only she could hear, “Did you put Kendrick up to this?”

Stella glanced at Allan, just giving him a sly smile and saying nothing.

“I can’t do this. I’m really not the right guy for the job.” Blake kept backing away, panic written all over his face.

Stella lazily stuck out her foot, blocking his escape, her voice flat. “What are you trying to say?”

Blake’s knees went weak, and he instantly shut up, not daring to make a peep. “Stella, this is about running a whole company,” he mumbled, still grumbling under his breath.

Stella didn’t even bother to look at him.

“Grandpa, since you want Blake to try his hand at running things, why not just spin off Ion Wing Drones from Pierce Group completely?

“I bet with Blake in charge, Ion Wing Drones will really take off and hit it big,” Xander said, leaning back in his chair, looking totally relaxed and almost smug.

“You sure you won’t regret this?” Kendrick gave Xander a long, complicated look.

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