Shadows Between Us (Stella and Sebastian) novel Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Almost on reflex, Carlos reached out and clamped a hand over Ryan’s mouth, cutting off his crying in an instant.

But Sebastian just gave a cold smile, his strikingly handsome face shadowed and intense. His eyes were like bottomless, icy pools, so dark and deep that it felt suffocating just to meet his gaze.

“Sebastian,” Sophia called out softly. But before she could say more, Sebastian’s chilling, predatory stare swept over her, as if she were nothing more than an ant beneath his notice, utterly insignificant.

Sophia clenched her jaw, falling silent and standing by Carlos’s sile.

Just then, Stella heard a few knocks on the car window behind h

When the window was rolled down, there was Lucas, still obediently wearing his noise-canceling headphones. When he saw Stella looking at him, he anxiously gestured at his neck with his ands and then pointed at Sophia.

Stella’s eyes narrowed as she glanced over. “That emerald necklace?’ she wondered. Then, she saw Sebastian’s hand, prayer beads still wrapped around his fingers, make a slight gesture.

John strode right up to Sophia, his face like ice. He looked like he’d kill someone without blinking, and every step made people instinctively shrink back.

Sophia’s face went ghostly pale as she watched John, his hand still stained with the mastiff’s blood, rip the necklace right off her neck. Then he spun around and handed it straight over to Sebastian.

“It’s dirty,” Sebastian said coldly. It was unclear whether he meant the necklace or the house itself.

But he still took the necklace from John. His gaze returned to the people before him, cold and unreadable, like a storm about to break.

Under the terrified gazes of everyone present, Sebastian crushed the emerald beads between his fingers, one after another. It looked as effortless as crumbling a cracker.

For a split second, it was impossible to tell whether he wanted to crush the necklace only or actually their skulls.

“I thought I made myself perfectly clear,” Sebastian said, his expression dark and almost unhinged, the air around him heavy with menace.

His eyes swept over Gray Manor, as if tracing the memories that still haunted the grounds. Yet in a blink, the present rushed back, leaving nothing but a deep, hollow ache.

“There can only be one matriarch in the Gray family, and they are not allowed to set foot here,” he said. His voice was cold enough to freeze marrow.

“Who do you think you are, making rules here? This is my home. I’ll let in whoever I damn well please,” Carlos snapped. He knew that he was in the wrong when it came to the women, but his grandson’s defiance stoked his rage.

“Dad, don’t get upset,” Richard jumped in, trying to play the dutiful son. Lauren rushed to play her part, too. The whole display of father-children harmony was cloying to watch.

“Not only am I letting them move in, but I’m also handing over Gray Group shares to Richard and Lauren,” Carlos announced.

The surprise was so sudden that Richard and Lauren lost control of their expressions, barely suppressing grins.

Carlos drew in a long breath, his tone laced with threat. “Sebastian, your legs have been injured for ages. It’s time you give up the CEO seat at Gray Group.”

1/3

Since the incident, Sebastian had been calling the shots at Gray Group, and Carlos figured that was his leverage, the one thing he could use to keep Sebastian in check.

“You sure about that?” Sebastian’s lips curled with mockery.

Stella saw it clear as day. He was still hiding a trump card, just biding his time to strike at these people when they least expected it.

“I am. Wait for the board to call a meeting.” Carlos refused to back down. He hadn’t wanted things to get this ugly, but it was Sebastian who forced his hand.

“Pack my grandma’s stuff,” Sebastian said coldly.

At his words, some of his men rushed upstairs. In no time, all of Annette’s personal belongings were boxed up and hauled out, one after another.

Richard and Lauren shot each other a look, both barely holding back grins. ‘Is he actually giving us Gray Manor?’ they thought.

“Sebastian, what the hell are you doing?” Carlos blurted out, totally thrown off by Sebastian’s sudden move.

“Put Annette’s stuff down!” Carlos slammed his cane on the floor, but nobody paid him any mind. He was so furious that his face went ghostly pale, and he nearly passed out right there..

“If it were you, how would you deal with something dirty?” Sebastian suddenly turned to Stella, his eyes cold and shadowy.

“You mean people or the house?” Stella asked offhandedly. Not missing the excited looks on the faces of the people across from her, she clicked her tongue in annoyance, looking tough as ever.

“What if it’s the people? What if it’s the house?” Sebastian looked intrigued, toying idly with the prayer beads. Even though he was in a wheelchair, his aura of authority was terrifying.

“People? Kill them. House? Burn it down,” Stella replied, sounding so casual, but the words chilled the blood of everyone who heard.

Is she crazy or what? Honestly, nobody around Sebastian is ever normal, Linda thought, her fingers shaking. She knew all too well that Sebastian was the kind of guy who’d actually do something like that.

“Murder’s against the law, you know. Don’t be so violent at your age,” Sebastian said coolly, his thin lips barely moving.

Stella was speechless for once. Coming from Sebastian, the statement was almost unconvincing, especially with those two blood-soaked mastiffs still dangling from the tree outside.

“But honestly, there’s no reason to keep this house,” Sebastian said, his gaze growing even colder and darker. His presence alone seemed to thin the air, making it hard to breathe.

Those words made Carlos’s eyes narrow in alarm. But the others were too caught up in the joy of finally moving into Gray Manor and acquiring Gray Group shares to realize that the storm that was about to hit.

Their smiles didn’t last long because suddenly, the heavy stench of gasoline filled the air. Everyone froze, faces going pale.

No one saw when it happened, but now Sebastian was holding a silver-platinum lighter. The flame illuminated the cold, bloodshot madness in his eyes. With a casual flick of his wrist, he tossed it.

Fire erupted through Gray Manor. Screams of pure terror pierced the air as the Gray family’s villa transformed into a living hell within moments.

“My stuff! I didn’t get my stuff out,” Linda wailed hysterically, collapsing. All of their stuff was still inside, including her new jewelry, designer bags, and clothes. Everything was being consumed by the flames.

2/3

‘Sebastian is a complete madman. He’s going to hell. He won’t die well, she cursed inwardly, consumed by fury and despair.

“Gorgeous,” Stella breathed, awe flickering in her eyes. A faint, chilling smile touched her refined features-a mix of rogue charm and danger. The heat made her white shirt billow softly, and she looked stunningly, untouchably beautiful.

Sebastian watched her silently, taking in every detail. His gaze flicked to the blood spatter on her shirt, and a slight crease formed between his brows.

Unlike the adults who were sobbing and wailing. Ryan, cradled in Carlos’s arms, just stared at Sebastian. Even though he was only five, the look in his eyes was unmistakable: pure malice.

He wanted Sebastian dead. A poisonous seed of hatred was already sprouting deep inside Ryan’s heart.

In his eyes, only with Sebastian gone could everything of the Gray family truly return to his great-grandmother, grandfather, and father. Sebastian was the obstacle that had to be removed.

No one knew that Ryan, even at just five years old, was an excellent hacker. He’d already used his skills to secure numerous advantages for his family.

3/3

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