Shadows Between Us (Stella and Sebastian) novel Chapter 396

Chapter 396

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On the other side, Reuben rushed over, panicking. He called, “Mr. Wilkerson.” Quinto, dressed in Tongalian attire and chatting with others, immediately darkened his expression. Across from him, a burly foreign cameraman watched with obvious curiosity.

Quinto asked, “Why are you panicking?”

He frowned. If it weren’t for the top-tier documentary crew Alessio’s agent had brought along, he’d have blown up on the spot.

Reuben spotted Orlando and forced a smile. He leaned in close to Quinto and whispered something in his

ear.

He even shielded his mouth with his hand, clearly not wanting anyone else to overhear.

The documentary crew exchanged glances, their curiosity only growing.

“What did you just say?” Quinto asked, suddenly raising his voice, his white eyebrows shooting up. But he quickly turned to Orlando and apologized, “Sorry, I need to step away for a moment.”

With that, he followed Reuben into the venue.

“Let’s

go,

follow them,” Orlando said, signaling to the cameraman and the rest of the crew. He wasn’t about to miss a single shot.

Inside the venue, Quinto burst in to find his members, who had been wearing Tongalian outfits for the conference, stepping down, visibly irritated. He asked, “What’s happened? Who told you to change the seats?”

Quinto’s voice was icy.

In his campaign to legitimize Herbal Medicine, Quinto partnered with Monterra, targeting both Trent Pharmaceuticals and Clusia Traditional Medicine. He even reserved the main stage for his own team to ensure Clusia was overshadowed.

“Mr. Wilkerson,” Gary called out, his excitement barely contained. “Check out who just walked in.”

Quinto whipped his head around.

He was stunned.

There was Cain, the head of the Dorestan Medical Alliance, whom Quinto just met this morning, standing there with a few others. His face was as cold and distant as ever, exactly the kind of vibe everyone remembered from the Dorestan Medical Alliance.

“Mr. Woodruff?” Quinto stammered, his heart sinking.

Cain’s brows were sharp as ink, his eyes bright as the moon. Just by standing there, he gave off a cool, untamed elegance. He glanced at Quinto and said, “Mr. Wilkerson?

10:40 Thu, Feb 12

Chapter 396

“You don’t mind if I sit here, do you?”

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He jerked his chin toward the main seat, the one the Tongalian team had been so proud of. It sounded like a question, but the pressure in his gaze was impossible to ignore.

Quinto was stunned into silence.

“Of course, no objections,” Quinto said.

‘Like I’d dare say otherwise,’ he thought.

“Mr. Wilkerson,” Reuben called out, clearly anxious.

Quinto snapped, “Shut up.”

He was the head of the Dorestan Medical Alliance; if Cain so much as uttered a ban, every Tongalian med student could kiss their future goodbye. There was no way Quinto could go head-to-head with someone like that.

But then Quinto looked up and spotted the Clusia delegation, sitting upright in the second seat.

Meanwhile, the Tongalian team had been bumped down to the third seat. No matter how many tricks he’d tried, Clusia still managed to come out on top.

Quinto shot a venomous glare at Stella, who sat in the first seat. He was so furious that he could’ve ripped her heart out. If he couldn’t see she was putting him in his place, then all his years had been for nothing.

While Quinto was stewing in his anger, Stella, who was talking to Sebastian, suddenly looked up, as if she could feel Quinto’s animosity from across the room.

The two of them locked eyes.

Both their gazes were icy cold, not a hint of warmth between them.

Even the air felt like it was about to spark; one wrong move and things would explode.

“Sebastian, what do you think he’ll pull next?” Stella asked lazily, glancing away. She had zero respect for the Tongalians and their cheap little tricks, and she never bothered to hide her disdain for them.

Stella gave Cedar a look, signaling him to get everyone seated.

Sebastian, dressed in a sleek black suit, his striking features cold and unreadable, didn’t even glance up. He replied, “He’ll let Callen loose to rile up Mr. Penn.”

‘So small-minded,’ Sebastian thought.

Just as Sebastian predicted, Quinto called over Carmelo, who’d been hiding in the corner because Paul was around, and headed their way.

As they brushed past, Quinto stopped right beside Stella.

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Chapter 396

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“Who knows who’ll be laughing in the end?” he said, tossing out the threat without even glancing at Stella.

“Mr. Wilkerson,” Stella called out to him, her voice lazy and unhurried, just as Quinto was about to head up the stairs.

Neither of them bothered to look at each other.

“As long as he and I are here, Clusia will always put Tongalia in its place,” Stella said coolly, her slender fingers landing on the back of Sebastian’s hand.

She gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

“You,” Reuben tried to say something, but Quinto put a firm hand to his chest, cutting him off.

With a dramatic sweep of his sleeve, Quinto marched forward, never once glancing back.

*****

In the back row, Paul sat quietly while Callum watched him with growing concern. Quinto made a point of escorting Carmelo right past Paul. Carmelo, facing his former mentor, couldn’t hide the guilty, shifty look in his eyes.

Suddenly, Callum cried out in alarm, “Grandpa.”

A mouthful of bright red blood spilled from Paul’s mouth, shocking everyone in the Clusia delegation.

Carmelo’s pupils contracted sharply in panic.

The next moment, Paul’s hand trembled violently as he struggled to wipe away the blood with his once steady, needle-wielding hand. His fingers and wrist shook uncontrollably, ghastly scars covering every inch.

Carmelo, remembering he was the cause, quickly averted his gaze, unable to face it.

Quinto smiled, clearly satisfied with the damage he’d caused. ‘Paul’s hand is ruined for good,’ he thought.

But he didn’t notice that in the very last row, three elderly masters, looking every bit the part of ancient sages, exchanged knowing glances. With a calm flourish, Jareth tucked the medicine Young Sovereign had handed

over back into his wide sleeve.

One of them thought, ‘Isn’t watching people cough up blood their favorite pastime?

‘Let them feast their eyes.

Quinto led his team to the third row. Soleil, having showered to escape the odor, returned and sat beside Reuben, visibly distressed with red, puffy eyes as if she had been crying heavily.

*****

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