Shadows Between Us (Stella and Sebastian) novel Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Stella tucked the gun back into her waistband and hid it under her white shirt, looking completely composed. Kendrick could only stare at her in stunned silence.

Come here,” Sebastian said, his voice cold. The air around him was so frigid that it felt like frost was forming in the lungs. He held out his hand, palm up, black prayer beads glinting.

His presence was an oppressive force, and no one in their right mind would defy him now.

Stella flashed a cocky grin and strolled over, placing her hand in Sebastian’s. She let his dark, fathomless eyes sweep over her, inspecting every inch.

Allan watched with a knowing smirk. ‘He’d do anything to keep Stella safe. The moment he hung up on John, he reached someone from the Haliville Police Department. Poor Bruce must’ve nearly had a heart attack, Allan thought.

“Let’s go home,” Sebastian finally said, his expression still dark. The suffocating tension in the room finally eased slightly.

Lucas looked up at Stella, his fingers tugging at her hand, urging her to go home silently.

“Ms. Carter!” Kendrick shot to his feet, calling out to her as she was about to leave.

“Have you decided?” Stella asked casually, tilting her head. The overhead lights cast a soft glow over her skin, making her look so stunning.

“I accept all your terms,” Kendrick said, deciding to take the gamble.

“Talk is cheap. Get your lawyer in here,” Stella replied, her eyes clear and cold, a sharp glint flashing in there.

Allan rubbed his chin and raised an eyebrow at Stella’s words. ‘What kind of deal is she cutting with Kendrick? Interesting,’ he mused.

One of the Pierce family’s elite lawyers rushed in, but the moment he spotted Sebastian in his wheelchair, he was stunned, almost buckling at the knees right then and there.

Everyone in Haliville knew him. Gray Group’s meteoric rise was solely his doing.

Just a few years after taking over the crumbling Gray family, Sebastian had turned it into the city’s top powerhouse. That just showed how bloodthirsty and terrifying he could be, even though he was still so young.

But what really made people fear him was his unpredictable, violent, and downright crazy temper. He could be grinning at you one second and then put a bullet in your head the next, without even blinking.

The lawyer sneaked a sideways glance at Sebastian’s legs, which were hidden under the black blanket. ‘And that was all before he got crippled. He must be even scarier now, the lawyer thought.

“Are you looking to get yourself killed?” Stella snapped even before Allan could react, her eyes barely lifting, cold and dangerous. She stepped in front of Sebastian, blocking him protectively, her gaze so full of murderous intent that it was suffocating.

Lucas puffed out his cheeks, hands on his hips, a miniature picture of outrage.

The lawyer froze in terror, his heart skipping a beat.

Sebastian kept that icy look on his face, but when he saw Stella standing protectively in front of him, something almost gentle flickered in his eyes for just a moment.

“Mr. Gray, Ms. Carter, I take full responsibility for my staff’s mistake. I apologize,” Kendrick said, lowering his stance. Still, he

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couldn’t help but wonder just what kind of relationship Stella and Sebastian really had.

The lawyer scrambled to apologize, his voice trembling with nerves.

“Mm.” Sebastian’s reply was utterly flat, devoid of any emotion.

The darkness in Allan’s eyes faded, replaced by his usual careless demeanor. The lawyer had no idea how close he’d just

come to disaster.

The lawyer began drafting the document under Kendrick’s instruction. The more the others heard, the more peculiar their expressions became.

“Dad, are you out of your mind? Calling off all our deals with Gray Group? Do you even realize how much money we’re about to lose?” Penelope finally burst out.

She’d been silent ever since Sebastian and the others walked in, but now she couldn’t hold it in anymore. With Blake being such a disappointment, Xander was the one running Pierce Group these days.

Just a couple of days ago, Pierce Group had signed a foolproof deal with Gray Group, which was practically guaranteed to make them rich. Kendrick’s move wasn’t just an insult to Gray Group. It undermined Xander, too.

As Penelope spoke, she shot Stella a death glare. ‘She must’ve said something to Dad. This is insane,’ she fumed inwardly.

“Enough,” Kendrick barked, afraid to set Stella off again. He had this gut feeling that today was a golden opportunity for the Pierce family, and if he grabbed it, Pierce Group wouldn’t fall apart even after his death.

And most importantly, Blake would be out of harm’s way.

“Stella, you’re something else,” Allan said, hands shoved in his pockets. If he’d been just half-invested in her before, now he was officially counting her as one of his own. ‘Anyone who looks out for Sebastian, I’ll look out for them, too, Allan thought.

“If anyone’s to blame, it’s the ones who got too greedy,” Stella drawled, her words dripping with meaning. If someone hadn’t set up this whole mess for their own selfish gain, she wouldn’t have had the perfect opportunity.

‘Every cause has its effect. I should say thank you to those clueless Pierces, Stella mused.

Penelope shot Stella a glare that could kill, but when she looked up, she was met with a pair of eyes so cold they seemed to freeze the blood in her veins. She shuddered and looked down hastily.

Her heart was still thumping like crazy. Right then, she swore to herself that as soon as she got home, she’d make sure to give the Gray family a heads-up about all this.

Little did Penelope know that every little flicker of emotion in her eyes had been caught by Stella, who looked totally unfazed. Stella’s lips curled into a mocking smirk for just a split second before it disappeared.

Soon enough, the lawyer had the agreement drafted up in duplicate.

“Ms. Carter, please take a look,” Kendrick said, handing her the document with both hands, showing his utmost sincerity.

Stella took it with one hand, gave it a cold, thorough once-over, and, once she was sure everything was in order, signed her name with cool authority.

“Let’s go,” Stella said, her dangerous vibe vanishing in an instant. She looked harmless enough now, but everyone knew the little demon was still there beneath the surface.

The group left the meeting room.

Meanwhile, in the holding cell, a bunch of Haliville’s most well-known playboys were freaking out. They’d never been humiliated like this before. Though not handcuffed, they feared they might never leave. Among them, Blake sat on the floor,

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dejected.

Suddenly, the iron door swung open from the outside. “Everyone out,” an officer said.

Blake’s dull eyes suddenly lit up with hope.

In the lobby, Xander, who’d been busy arguing with the cops, was stunned when he saw Blake and his crew being led out. Then another group came in, including Kendrick.

ander’s hands froze mid-motion. The person being wheeled in was Sebastian, the guy everyone had been talking about all

right at the center of the storm.

Kander spotted the iconic black prayer beads on Sebastian’s wrist. ‘I can’t be mistaken, but how did Blake’s drug mess end up tangled with Mr. Gray?’ Xander thought, totally confused.

“Mr. Gray, how come you’re-“Xander stepped forward.

“Move aside,” a sharp, impatient voice cut him off.

Xander had just mustered up the nerve to greet Sebastian, but was abruptly cut off by a voice dripping with casual defiance. He looked up, only to meet Stella’s piercing, impatient eyes.

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