Shadows Between Us (Stella and Sebastian) novel Chapter 348

Chapter 348

Chapter 348

Simba had an innocent look on its face.

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Suddenly, the reeking tiger Simba’s eyes rolled back, and it collapsed to the side, foaming at the mouth, its little paws twitching.

Simba thought, ‘Poisoned! Not sure yet. Keep twitching a bit more!

Snowball and Stella sighed helplessly.

Ten minutes later, Stella reached out, pried open Simba’s massive jaws, stuffed handfuls of antidote inside, then snapped his mouth shut, all with a deadpan look.

Stella thought, I’m so done. Honestly, this is even more exhausting than looking after Lucas!’

With a rustle, Scrappy suddenly popped his head out of the bushes, one hand clutching a plain plant, the other gripping Allan’s Obsidian Orchid, and Eggie balanced on top of its head.

The moment Scrappy saw Stella, its eyes sparkled instantly, and it started happily spinning in place, joints squeaking and creaking like an old robot.

Stella glanced at it.

Scrappy froze, head drooping, shrinking its hands and feet behind it, looking pitiful and desperate to please. “Stella, I can help you wash Simba.”

Scrappy would take all the dirty, exhausting chores that Big Ben refused to do on without complaint.

Scrappy knew everyone disliked it because it was made by bad people, but that rough-and-tumble guy’s chip gave it a soul. And the ones it loved the most in the whole world were Stella and Lucas.

Scrappy thought, ‘Don’t kick me out.”

As that thought crossed its mind, Scrappy’s big, mechanical eyes instantly turned into teary, wobbly fried eggs.

Scrappy started sniffling and hiccuping.

Come with me, Stella said, gently taking Eggie off Scrappy’s head and heading toward the villa.

Scrappy followed behind, head drooping, looking utterly dejected.

Night had fallen.

The elevator doors slid open.

Sebastian had finished his shower and taken care of some work, but Stella still hadn’t come back to their room. He went down and saw the living room lights were still on, just as he expected.

As soon as he stepped out of the elevator, he found Stella sitting ross-legged on the floor, a small screwdriver in her hand, totally focused on her task.

Sebastian, could you fix my hair for me? she asked, not even looking up.

Sebastian walked over.

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Chapter 348

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Scrappy, who was lying half-dismantled on the floor, yelped, “Ouch!” Sebastian accidentally stepped on its metal joint.

Sebastian said, “Sorry about that.”

Now just his upper half, Scrappy reached out and formed a hear with its fingers. “It’s okay, Masterhubby!” it said.

Sebastian paused mid-action, wondering if he’d heard that right. “What did you just call me?”

Scrappy chirped, “Masterhubby! You’re Stella’s hubby, so I call you Masterhubby!”

Sebastian and Stella sighed helplessly.

After a moment, Sebastian finished tying Stella’s hair and plopped down next to her. “Need a hand?”

Stella shrugged, barely looking up. “Can you oil its joints?”

Robots had souls, too. Once Stella brought it home, she had to take care of it.

Alright, Sebastian replied.

Under the soft glow of the wall lamp, the two quietly worked together, oiling Scrappy’s joints.

Nearby, Snowball had draped himself over a decorative tree, its hil tip dangling down and flicking lazily back and forth.

You don’t have to feel so wronged, Stella said softly.

After a long while, once Stella finished fixing Scrappy’s last joint, she spoke up, her voice gentle.

Scrappy started bawling.

Its big, mechanical eyes sparkled with tears, looking even more pitiful.

‘I really love Stella the most!’ Scrappy thought.

The next morning, Stella, Sebastian, Lucas, Allan, Snowball, Big Ben, and Eggie just froze in shock as soon as they came downstairs and saw the place so spotless that it was almost blinding.

That glass was actually sparkling like diamonds.

Good Morning! Scrappy, looking absolutely radiant, pushed a litle food cart around, weaving nimbly between everyone, giving cheerful waves and salutes as it went. “Simba!”

Simba, who’d been scrubbed by that little menace Scrappy from the middle of the night all the way till morning, dragged itself out, a pink bow still dangling from one ear.

The moment Lucas, who’d already been fast asleep last night, saw Simba, his eyes went wide with excitement.

Lucas reached out, calling, “Simbay!”

Scrappy quickly corrected him, “It’s Simba!”

Lucas kept insisting, still pointing and saying, “Simbay!”

He dashed over and tackled Simba with a big hug.

It felt so fluffy.

Simba smiled.

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Chapter 348

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Just look at this place with cats, birds, flowers, and plants everywhere. Once you all head off to Jaffina, I guess I’ll have to suck it up and play house-sitter, Allan said, leaning against the wall with that comic-book-perfect face, acting all laid-back.

Stella shot him a look. “You’re not coming with us?”

Why would I go? Allan replied with a lazy grin, not giving anything away.

Ever since Allan got back from Bernard’s yesterday, his mood had been off. He’d gone upstairs early and crashed, and only caught up on the Carter family drama this morning when he checked his phone.

Stella just gave a flat hum, then added lazily, “Want to wash off your bad reputation?”

Allan’s smile faded bit by bit, his voice dropping. “Stella, what do you know?”

Compared to all the laughter and excitement on the other side, things over here felt a bit somber and tense.

Seeing Allan like that, Stella sighed inwardly, “You were the Reed family’s favorite grandson, the one Grandpa spoiled the most. But on the night of his funeral, you got caught trying something with your brother’s wife, and they kicked you out of Jaffina before sunrise.”

Allan stayed silent, his eyes darkening with a heavy, unreadable look.

Think it over, Stella said, slipping her hand into her pocket as she brushed past him and walked into the dining room.

After breakfast, Stella gave Lucas a quick wave, grabbed her helmet with one hand, and strode out with a confident swing.

She gunned the engine and tore off toward Edenbury Academy.

*****

Meanwhile, in the principal’s office at Technical High School, Tripp was soaking up the morning sun, fussing with his wig, enjoying the scent of freshly brewed tea, and humming a little tune as he was about to sit down. Suddenly, his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen.

‘Huh? Edenbury Academy calling?’ he thought. ‘Hmph.’

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