Shadows Between Us (Stella and Sebastian) novel Chapter 20

Chapter 20

“Sebastiant” a man shouted, “Quir hiding. I know you’re home”

Stella listened to the approaching commotion, one eyebrow lifting with interest.

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The man who appeared in the dining room doorway seemed utterly unconcerned by the summer heat, draped in a pristine white fur coat.

His looks were striking, almost unnervingly perfect, and the gold–framed glasses he wore did little to disguise the sharp. calculating gleam in his eyes.

Under the table, Snowball immediately abandoned its attempt to knot itself into a bow. It went utterly limp, flattening itself against the floor in a flawless impression of a lifeless coil.

“Well, hello there, gorgeous,” the man said, his voice smooth.

Stella expected him to stride over to Sebastian. Instead, he simply stepped over Snowball and made a direct path toward her.

She could only stare as he approached,

“Are you actually real?” the man asked, studying her openly.

The look in his gold–rimmed glasses was more fascinated than offensive, like he’d just found something rare and interesting.

He lifted a hand, his finger moving toward her cheek as if to test this theory.

Stella kept her expression carefully blank. There was something unsettlingly forward about this man, and her fingers itched to simply bat his intrusive hand away.

Just as she was about to do exactly that, Sebastian’s cool voice broke in. “Allan.”

Allan turned, irritation clear in his tone. “What?”

Then it clicked. Stella finally recognized the voice. He was the caller from last night, the one who had been so worked up on the phone.

“To her, and you lose the hand,” Sebastian said, his voice quiet and utterly dangerous.

Allan’s finger, which had been inches from Stella’s face, instantly jerked away in another direction.

Allan’s smile didn’t waver. He simply treated the awkward moment as if it had never happened.

“So, he said smoothly, turning his bright gaze back to Stella, “I’m Allan. Allan Reed.”

Allan watched Sebastian and Stella with a sly, amused look.

He then turned to Stella and extended his hand in a gesture of polite charm.

She gave his slender fingers a cursory glance. “Stella Carter,” she stated plainly.

Suddenly, Allan felt a light slap on his palm. He looked down to see Lucas staring up at him with puffed–out cheeks, his delicate face the picture of wounded pride.

“My little treasure!” Allan exclaimed. He scooped Lucas into his arms and covered his cheeks with kisses before settling the boy atop his shoulders.

Stella observed as Lucas responded with a subtle roll of his eyes and a firm tug on Allan’s hair.

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Chapter 20

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I’ve bought you a new estate in Rexland, my dear,” Allan told Lucas cheerfully. “It will be ready next year, and your uncle will take you there. I’ve even arranged for a real brown bear to live on the grounds.”

Stella’s gaze, cool and assessing, drifted toward Sebastian. “Uncle?” she echoed softly.

Both Sebastian and Lucas turned to look at her.

Lucas tilted his head, his expression sweet and earnest.

He pointed a small finger toward Sebastian in the wheelchair, as if that explained everything.

“So you’re his uncle?” Stella asked, her voice dry.

Sebastian met her look, his own expression as cool and unreadable as ever. His gaze felt like it could see straight through her.

“Yes,” he replied.

She lifted an eyebrow. “And you let me believe otherwise all this time?”

You never asked,” Sebastian replied.

Stella was silent for a moment. Then, with a mental shrug, she acknowledged that it didn’t matter. Father or uncle, he was still the one signing her checks.

The tension left her shoulders, and she slipped back into her usual careless slouch.

“Don’t mind me,” she said, scooping up the box. With a casual wave, she walked out of the dining room, her exit as relaxed and unconcerned as ever.

Allan stared after her, baffled. “Why did she think you were…”

He glanced at Sebastian, and the question died on his lips.

Sebastian sat motionless in his wheelchair, his eyes cold and his face like stone.

Allan shivered, the fine fur of his coat doing little to ward off the sudden chill.

“Come with me to the study,” Sebastian said.

*****

In the study, Allan broke the silence with a quiet question. “Is she of age?”

He’d removed the extravagant fur coat and stood in just a white shirt. Pouring himself a whiskey, he listened to the soft chime of ice in the glass.

Sebastian sat motionless in his wheelchair by the great windows, his eyes fixed on the distance.

The sweeping view beyond the glass revealed all of Sandridge Island below.

“To business, Sebastian said.

Allan lifted his glass slightly. “It’s done. The private air routes between Shaviston, Laviston, Naviston, and Dorestan Exchange are secured. The last barrier is gone.”

Allan was not a man who played games with serious matters.

Sebastian offered no reply. The heavy silence in the room grew deeper.

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Chapter 20

“You do look less pale,” Allan observed, his tone shifting. “Sleeping again?”

He took a sip of his drink with his usual polished ease.

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Sebastian’s next words came without warning. They were so startling that Allan choked, spraying the whiskey he had just sipped.

He coughed, his eyes wide. “Say that again?” he said, certain he had heard wrong.

Sebastian watched Allan from his wheelchair, his eyes cold enough to kill.

“Why mention that now?” Allan asked, baffled.

“It’s been sealed for seven years. You…” His shock soon dissolved into pure excitement. Without another word, he called his assistant, his eyes locked on Sebastian.

Once the transfer was complete, he immediately sent the login details to Sebastian’s phone.

“Do one more thing for me,” Sebastian said.

His profile was sharp in the sunlight as he looked out into the courtyard.

Allan followed his gaze and saw Stella sitting in the gazebo with Lucas and Snowball. Even at rest, there was a defiant, untamed air about her, her skin almost luminous in the light.

“Anything,” Allan said, his tone serious. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for Sebastian.

After a long pause, Sebastian finally told him what he needed.

****

The courtyard was still bare from the recent work, and the gardener had started planting new greenery.

Snowball lay sunning itself next to Lucas, a single black butterfly resting on its white head.

Stella worked intently on the collection of parts in her hands. Her skin seemed to glow, and her thick hair was swept back by a simple white ribbon that fluttered in the breeze.

Her fingers moved with efficient speed. The outline of a custom laptop was already clear, its form slimmer and lighter than any off the shelf.

Lucas reached out a small, careful hand and gave Stella a tentative poke.

Stella glanced over at him, though a part of her mind was still on the newly planted greenery in the courtyard.

“What’s the matter?” she asked. Her voice was soft, carrying a patience he seemed to uniquely inspire.

Lucas beamed as he held up his little whiteboard. It read: [Stella, are you angry?]

He had drawn a small, cartoon version of himself next to the words. It was impossibly cute.

“Angry? I’m not angry,” Stella replied, genuinely perplexed. It was impossible to imagine being upset with such a sweet little boy.

The next line on the board clarified: [Angry with Uncle Sebastian.] A frowny face was drawn beside it.

‘With Sebastian?‘ she thought, surprised.

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