Shadows Between Us (Stella and Sebastian) novel Chapter 164

Chapter 164

Sebastian paused, clearly trying not to give himself away. “I mean, I have a friend who…”

‘Mr. Gray, just ask already. Enough with imaginary friends,’ John thought.

Sebastian said, “He wants to keep someone around…”

John immediately rolled up his sleeves. “Mr. Gray, just say the word. Whose legs do you want broken?”

Sebastian narrowed his eyes dangerously, but held back his temper and added, “It’s a girl.”

John rolled his sleeves back down and looked Sebastian straight in the eye, totally serious. “Mr. Gray, if you want Ms. Carter to stay, just say it.”

Sebastian paused for a couple of seconds, still sticking to his story. “I’m talking about my friend…”

John said, “Alright, Mr. Gray. If your ‘friend’ wants Ms. Carter to stay, just say it.”

Sebastian was silent.

John looked serious. “Haven’t you noticed? Ever since Ms. Carter showed up, Sandridge Island’s been a whole different place.”

The island, once so lifeless, was finally buzzing with energy again.

Lucas, who used to throw fits all the time, and Snowball and Big Ben, who’d bite anyone who got near Sebastian, had turned into total softies.

Big Ben wasn’t just a pretty face anymore.

And then there was Eggie and that plain plant.

The messy courtyard had been tidied up, with vegetables and fruit planted according to the seasons.

The fountain, which had been broken for ages, was fixed and working again.

But most importantly, when they came to Sandridge Island five years ago, no one could’ve guessed that one day, because of one person, Sebastian’s heart would finally open, and a rose would bloom inside, even though he didn’t realize it himself.

John said, “All of us truly hope Ms. Carter will stay.”

He took a step back and bowed deeply to Sebastian.

That was what every single one of the Yates family on this island truly wished for.

Just as he was about to leave, John turned back and added, “This stands, no matter what Ms. Carter’s real identity is.”

With that, he left the study.

Sebastian sat there, his expression caught in the shifting light and shadow of the rainy night. He had no idea how long he’d been sitting there.

It was late at night in the bedroom. Lucas, all clean and sweet-smelling after his bath, was wiggling and tumbling all over the bed.

Soon enough, he tumbled himself right to sleep.

Stella leaned against the headboard, glancing at the door every now and then, waiting for something.

Her phone buzzed with a notification.

Stella glanced at it, not really caring, but then she saw that Professor Cipher, one of the five old monsters, had added her to a group chat. There were dozens of people there, all with their titles and names listed.

Anyone in that group could make the whole world shake in their boots.

Even the least important person there was the leader of the Dorestan Medical Alliance.

She barely glanced at the list before shooting off a private message to Professor Cipher.

Shark: [What happened?]

Professor Cipher: [It’s time you started taking on the responsibilities that belong to you.]

Shark: [What?]

When Stella saw that familiar phrasing, her gut told her trouble was coming.

But before she could type anything else, the five old monsters had already posted a group-wide statement.

The five of them: [Listen up! This is Stella. We’ve taught her everything we know. From now on, if you need anything, hit her up. Bye!]

With that, they all left the group.

Stella stared at the screen, speechless.

Her phone was blowing up with nonstop WhatsApp friend requests. Without batting an eye, Stella instantly put her phone on mute mode, pulled up the private group chat with the old crew, and dropped a nuke meme in there to blow up the chat.

“You are…” Stella looked up, only to see Snowball staring at her with those little red eyes and hissing.

‘It’s not Sebastian,’ Stella thought.

She waved at Snowball, and the snake slithered over, hauling its chubby body to the bedside. It lifted its snowy white head and snuggled right into Stella’s palm, acting all sweet and cuddly.

“Did you see Sebastian?” Stella asked, giving Snowball’s head a gentle rub.

Snowball tilted its Big Ben head and gave a little nod.

It saw him about half an hour ago.

Stella asked, “Where?”

Snowball plopped its big head onto the pillow, stared up at the ceiling for a moment, then sat up again.

‘Alright, so he’s in his own room,’ Stella realized.

Stella sat up and tossed off the covers, but as she was about to get out of bed, she noticed Lucas, still fast asleep, had a tiny fist clutching the hem of her shirt.

Stella and Snowball froze.

Their eyes met, and Stella reached out to Snowball. The big white snake instantly got the message, offered the tip of its spotless, elegant tail, and tucked it right into Lucas’s tiny hand.

Lucas, blissfully unaware, snored on like a little angel.

On the fourth floor, Stella reached out and pushed Sebastian’s door open.

From the direction of the bed, she could faintly hear muffled groans.

“Sebastian…” Stella’s words froze as the metallic scent of blood hit. Her eyes widened in shock as she rushed to bed. There, on the black sheets, Sebastian was coughing up blood. When he saw her, he whispered, “Stella…”

“I’m here!” Stella said.

Stella’s fingers shook as she pulled Sebastian into her arms. The pain hit him so hard that he passed out before he could even say sorry for bleeding all over her.

Stella yanked open the drawer, grabbed the spare silver needles from Sebastian’s room, ripped open his pajama top, and stabbed the needle right into his chest-didn’t even flinch.

No time for medicine. Stella just bit her own tongue, and blood started flowing.