Shadows Between Us (Stella and Sebastian) novel Chapter 174

Chapter 174

The sunset turned everything outside on Sandridge Island into molten gold.

Annette stepped out of the Maybach, unable to hide her astonishment.

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The courtyard looked brand new, bursting with seasonal fruits and veggies. Each little plot had a sign in front, clearly Lucas’s handiwork, with lively, cartoon-style plant introductions that made one smile.

The white villa’s exterior had been freshly renovated, now wrapped in clusters of blooming purple vines. Whenever the breeze swept by, a rich fragrance filled the air, setting the wind chimes at the door jingling,

White birdhouses hung from the trees, and at the slightest sound, little birds poked their heads out and started chirping.

The fountain gushed and sparkled.

Everything was so beautiful that it felt like stepping into a fairytale.

Suddenly, a huge, snowy-white snake head dangled upside down from the tree.

Snowball swayed back and forth, its beady red eyes blinking adorably. It held a freshly woven flower crown in its mouth, the tiny jasmine buds still sporting their bright green leaves.

Gently, it set the crown on Annette’s head, then gave her a sweet peck on the forehead.

Annette blinked and asked, “Is that Snowball?”

Lucas hopped out from the other side of the car, waving excitedly.

The door swung open, and Big Ben waddled out, his chubby belly wrapped in a pink shark apron. He was cradling a plain plant in his left arm and the Obsidian Orchid in his right, looking absolutely adorable.

When Annette saw Big Ben, her eyes welled up with emotion.

“Stella fixed him up and even upgraded him. Now Big Ben’s a super-mega-ultra-intelligent robot!” Allan said coolly as he took the Obsidian Orchid from Big Ben.

Allan pinched the little peregrine falcon out of the flowerpot with two fingers, caught red-handed snacking on the flowers.

The peregrine falcon flapped its chubby wings in protest.

As if struck by an idea, Lucas scampered over to the garden, plucked a tomato, then ran to the hose to rinse it under the gushing water. Finally, he held the tomato up with both hands and hurried back to Annette, nudging her playfully.

Big Ben translated, “Great-grandma, cat!”

Annette felt like she was dreaming; she’d never felt this way before.

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Chapter 174

Stella and Sebastian were the last ones to get out of the car.

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The peregrine falcon spotted Sebastian and, without a second thought, flapped its wings and buried its chubby face in his front pocket, leaving only its fluffy little head poking out.

“You’ll get used to it, Annette,” Stella said lazily, reaching out to pet Snowball, who was slowly slithering down from the tree and nuzzling up to her hand. She said, “It’s a bit noisy, but the island’s way more lively now.”

Stella still remembered when she first arrived on Sandridge Island. The servants walked around holding their breath, and everywhere was so quiet it was almost eerie.

It felt like a dead island.

Lucas immediately chimed in with a cheerful “Ta-da!” his eyes sparkling with excitement.

Annette took the tomato from Lucas and looked up at Stella with a sincere gaze. She said, “Thank you.”

She knew it was Stella who had brought about all these changes.

Stella blinked, a little confused. She said, “Don’t mention it.”

Annette glanced at Sebastian, smiled, and took a bite of the tomato. It was sweet and tangy, just right.

Night fell.

After dinner, Annette went straight to her room to rest.

Allan took Lucas out for a walk with Snowball, while Stella showed up at Sebastian’s door, carrying something in her hand.

When Sebastian opened up, his gaze lingered on her wrist, where that emerald bracelet used to sit. Now, it was bare.

Sebastian’s face clouded over, just a hint of worry flickering in his eyes.

The door shut quietly behind Stella.

“Where’s the bracelet my grandma gave you?” Sebastian asked in a low voice.

His loose collar showed off his sharp collarbones and the scars on his skin. Sitting in his black wheelchair, he looked a little gloomy, clearly not in the best mood.

Stella glanced up at him and said, “I was worried I’d break it, so I put it away for now.”

“Oh.” Sebastian turned his face away, still looking a bit sulky. But then he heard a click and sneaked a glance.

Stella was opening a black diamond snake bracelet in her hand, matching the one she wore on her wrist.

It was obviously the men’s style.

Sebastian’s lips tightened.

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Chapter 174

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He thought, ‘Is that for me?’

Stella said, “Check this out, right here.” Her gaze turned sharp and focused.

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She pressed a hidden spot on the bracelet, and in an instant, the snake bracelet morphed into a razor-sharp blade, its edge gleaming dangerously under the lamp; it could slice through steel with zero effort.

She slipped the newly restored bracelet onto Sebastian’s wrist.

The snake’s tail locked perfectly with its head.

Stella’s hair fell over his eyes, casting his cold, handsome face in shadow.

Sebastian gently traced the bracelet, and for a moment, all that darkness seemed to melt away. There was an innocent allure about him, dangerously attractive. “Would you give something like this to anyone else besides me?” he asked, his tone deceptively casual.

The hint of a smile tugged at his lips, but he quickly suppressed it.

Sebastian thought, ‘If she’d give the same thing to someone else, then I don’t want it at all.

‘I just want to be the most special one to Stella.’

Stella gave him a weird look and asked, “Why would I give it to anyone else?”

Hearing that, Sebastian’s gaze turned intense. He pressed, “Then why did you give it to me?”

“You’re not ‘anyone else,” Stella said, blurting it out like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

She thought, ‘Come on. He’s the one paying my bills. Who could possibly compare? If someone else dropped dead in front of me, what’s that got to do with me?’

Her words were so matter-of-fact that Sebastian’s heart skipped a beat; he actually couldn’t bring himself to meet her gaze.

“Sebastian, your ears are red,” Stella said, leaning in, her long lashes fluttering as if she’d just discovered something amazing.

Sebastian’s eyes darkened, trying to play it cool. “You’re seeing things,” he muttered, refusing to admit it.

Stella just reached out and gave his ear a quick pinch.

Sebastian jolted.

He gave her a reproachful look.

Stella looked back at him, all wide-eyed and innocent.

Seeing her innocent look, Sebastian suddenly grabbed her wrist and yanked her right in front of him.

He wanted so badly to ask if he was really the one who mattered most to her; if he was the one who stood out

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