Shadows Between Us (Stella and Sebastian) novel Chapter 101

Chapter 101

Xander laughed.

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In Clusia, drones were a hot new tech field, playing a big role in both military and civilian sectors.

But as the market boomed, Ion Wing Drones, a subsidiary of the Pierce Group, had once been the pioneer in the drone market.

However, with limitations in core technology and chips, its shortcomings were becoming increasingly apparent.

With its current tech team, Ion Wing Drones simply couldn’t keep up with the market’s demands.

In other words, Ion Wing Drones was like the appendix of the Pierce Group, something that could be cut off at any moment.

“Grandpa, what do I have to regret? It’s not just the Pierce Group; Clusia’s whole drone industry can’t even hold a candle to Monterra!” Xander said, gesturing confidently.

“We’re way behind in technology. How are we supposed to compete with them?” he added.

Kendrick’s face darkened. “We will

it’s Monterra or Farronia, Clusia will rise again, and so will Ion Wing Drones.”

Xander shook his head with a mocking laugh. “Grandpa, I know what you and your generation are hoping for, but you make it sound so easy. It’s really not.”

He continued, “Even folks in Jaffina have to swallow their pride and buy equipment from abroad. Do you know how the Monterran reps mess with them?

“I’m just a businessman. My job is to make money for the Pierce Group. I don’t need to be as noble as you. I’m just a practical guy!”

Kendrick just stared at Xander in silence, as if he was seeing his grandson in a whole new light.

“Lab 709 is pretty badass, huh? But why do you think they still won’t come back home?

“Monterra’s got spies watching their every move. If they even think about leaving” Xander made a gun gesture to his temple. “Grandpa, it’s time to wake up!”

‘Core technology is all in their hands. What do we have to fight back with? Ion Wing Drones is never coming back, Xander

wondered.

If it weren’t for Kendrick, the Pierce family would’ve never gotten into the drone game.

Xander knew his grandpa was all about ideals and ambition, and he understood why Kendrick handed Ion Wing Drones to Blake; it was the apple of his eye.

“Are you done?” Stella cut Xander off, her voice icy. She stared at him, her face blank, but her eyes were sharp as blades.

“What gives you the right to judge Lab 709?” She tossed her pen onto the table. “You don’t even understand the kind of nation you belong to.”

“Who cares?” Xander shrugged.

Xander spread his hands, totally indifferent. He honestly didn’t care; he just couldn’t believe Clusia’s tech industry, with its throat in a vice, could ever pull off a real breakthrough on its own.

To him, Ion Wing Drones was worth less than nothing. It was nothing but garbage.

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Chapter 101

And that worthless Ion Wing Drones and his loser cousin Blake, now that was a match made in hell.

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“In that case, with a witness from my company present, Mr. Pierce, let’s go ahead and finalize the split today,” Sebastian said, his voice low and steady.

His long fingers gently rolled the black prayer beads, a gesture that should’ve been serene, but a chill of danger radiated from his knuckles, making the air feel sharp and deadly.

He glanced at Allan, who immediately stood up and made a call.

Harmony Law Firm’s crack team arrived at the Pierce Manor in record time, the same seven top lawyers with briefcases as last time.

Their arrival was pure power and presence.

Blake was frozen. ‘Did anyone even ask what I think?’ Blake wondered, feeling totally sidelined. ‘I’ve been out of the loop this whole time!

‘Did they all forget I’m just a playboy who only knows how to eat, drink, and mess around?’

“Uh,” Blake mumbled, trying to speak up.

Stella, eyes cold, cut in, “Shut up!”

Sebastian, face expressionless, added, “Shut up!”

Blake ducked his head, not daring to make a sound.

Penelope never thought things would spiral like this, and she definitely didn’t expect the lawyers from Harmony La

to show up.

Watching these elite attorneys draft the company split agreement in no time, she was getting seriously nervous.

‘Why does Mr. Gray’s vibe feel even more intense now? Even the way he’s staring at Xander, it’s cold and unsettling,’ Penelope thought, a chill creeping down her spine.

“Mr. Gray, Mr. Reed,” The lead lawyer handed the agreement to Sebastian for review.

Firm

Sebastian took it, the black prayer beads swaying on his wrist, a hint of menace in the air. He gave it a quick once-over, face unreadable, then slid it over to Blake.

Blake hesitated, voice trembling, “I—”

Stella and Sebastian, their gaze frosty, ordered, “Sign it!”

Blake, eyes brimming with tears, scribbled his name and slid the document over to Xander.

Xander scoffed, grabbed the pen, and was about to sign his name on the agreement, “Let’s run it past the board tomorrow. Congrats, Blake. After this, Ion Wing Drones is all yours. CEO and everything!”

Xander looked up and shot Blake a look dripping with mockery.,

Blake was frozen.

‘What the hell just happened?’ Blake thought, totally lost. I’ve heard of getting thrown into the deep end, but getting forced to be a CEO? Seriously, that’s a first.'”

All Blake ever wanted was to be a Playboy. He just wanted to eat, drink, and have fun.

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Chapter 101

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Kendrick watched, eyes wide, as Xander signed his name on the agreement without a hint of hesitation. At that moment, Xander had no clue what he was really missing out on.

Xander was still feeling all proud of himself. He thought he’d finally shaken off Ion Wing Drones, that dead weight he’d been dragging around.

Kendrick couldn’t help but think back to when he used to tell Xander what Ion Wing Drones really stood for.

‘Ion Wing Drones was always about lifting Clusia up, about making our country strong again,’ Kendrick thought.

‘Did this generation really forget the sense of duty that’s been running in their blood since the day they were born?’ Kendrick wondered.

“Grandpa,” Xander said, sliding the signed agreement over to Kendrick with a relaxed smile, looking completely at ease.

“Xander, I gave you your chance,” Kendrick said. After confirming the signatures, he handed the document off to the lawyer

behind him.

Xander chuckled, “Grandpa, signed and sealed. No regrets.”

“Just hope that when you look back on this someday, you can still say that so easily,” Kendrick said.

This was Kendrick’s last and most heartfelt warning to Xander.

*****

On the way back, Stella barely said a word after getting in the car.

She cradled Lucas, who was sound asleep, and stared out the window, lost in thought.

The sunset turned everything outside into molten gold.

Allan, sitting in the passenger seat, kept sneaking glances at Sebastian through the rearview mirror.

“Sebastian,” Stella broke the silence.

“Huh?” Sebastian answered, his voice deep and steady.

“If one day you had to choose between your country and yourself, which side would you pick?” Stella asked.

Kendrick and Xander were like two sides of a coin, and as another businessman, Stella was genuinely curious about what Sebastian would do.

Stella glanced back at him.

A flicker of unease flashed across Allan’s face at her question.

He shot Sebastian a worried look, scared that Stella’s innocent words might poke at a wound Sebastian was trying to hide.

“I’ll always put my own interests after my country,” Sebastian said calmly, not a hint of hesitation in his voice.

His ashen face was washed in the golden glow of sunset, and even those cold eyes of his seemed to catch a bit of human warmth.

But deep down, there was a sadness so subtle, you’d almost miss it.

“I hope that one day, Clusia will truly have full control over its own core technology,” Stella said, her voice steady.

She wanted Clusia to stop being at the mercy of others. She wanted Clusia to stop having to bow to anyone else.

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Chapter 101

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Stella gave him a gentle smile. Sebastian stayed quiet, then lifted his hand, with the black prayer beads still on his wrist, and placed it gently on her head.

“It will,” he said, his voice firm and certain.

Suddenly, a deafening explosion ripped through the air.

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