Shadows Between Us (Stella and Sebastian) novel Chapter 416

Chapter 416

Sophie’s heart skipped a beat.

:.

VPN

78

55 vouchers

‘The owner of those shoes must be a young girl,’ she thought. ‘Is that possible? Are all these big shots really waiting respectfully for someone so young?’

Just as Sophie was straining to get a better look at the person’s face, three old-timers stepped out of the back seat and totally blocked her line of sight.

Sophie was confused.

“Sophie, what’s up?” Aveline noticed her odd look and asked.

The car window slid shut.

Sophie hesitated, then blurted out, “I just saw a girl get out of the car.” But before she could say more, Aveline just laughed.

“You must’ve seen wrong,” Aveline said, clearly unconvinced.

‘All the top academic big shots from around the world are here for the Rhaesia University Jaffina selection. There’s no way those kinds of people would treat a young girl with such respect,’ she thought.

She chuckled, then lightly tapped Sophie’s hand, her bracelet glinting. “Don’t let your imagination run wild. It’s not like the interview is tomorrow, right? We’ll just come back another time.”

Obviously, Aveline didn’t give this little episode a second thought.

Sophie nodded, but deep down… ‘I still feel uneasy,’ she thought.

At the entrance of Harmony Residence, the moment Stella stepped out of the car, everyone at the entrance bowed as one. “Young Sovereign.”

Stella just murmured a lazy reply and headed straight inside.

Everyone followed after her.

The whole group moved with impressive swagger, the scene downright majestic.

“Houston,” Stella said nonchalantly.

Houston answered, “At your service.”

“Spread the word. The selection is moved up to tomorrow. Make sure all the candidates are prepared,” Stella commanded, her beautiful face cold and emotionless as the lights behind her softly outlined her figure.

“Tomorrow?” Houston exclaimed, his surprise evident.

Stella paused, turning her head coldly. “Is there a problem?”

11:16 Thu, Feb 12 d.

Chapter 416

When she stopped, everyone behind her halted as well.

VPN

78

55 vouchers

Houston quickly shook his head. “I’ll handle it right away. I’ll also contact Jaffina University to arrange for their campus to be used as the assessment site tomorrow.”

“Yeah,” Stella responded, her voice indifferent.

Stella kept moving, not bothering to look back.

And then, Stella suddenly stopped dead in her tracks, the moment that all-too-familiar scent hit her nose. ‘Wait, could it be… she thought, her senses on high alert.

“Young Sovereign, what’s-” Houston began, but the words died in his throat as he caught sight of the person sitting in the lobby. His eyes went wide. He couldn’t believe his eyes.

He thought, ‘Wait, isn’t that…

Stella froze.

She looked over and saw Lucas, sitting on the little shark tank, swinging his tiny feet, looking like a little angel. And there was Sebastian, sitting on the couch, his face as cold as ever.

He was stuffing dried caterpillar fungus into the peregrine falcon’s mouth, his expression icy.

Next to them, the plain plant was lazily swaying its leaves, while John stood nearby with his usual stone-faced look. The familiar scent Stella had caught earlier was coming from right here.

“Wait, what-” Houston stammered, eyes wide in shock. “How did

you

all

get in here?”

‘But Rhaesia University has exclusive access to the entire Harmony Residence!’ Houston thought, still reeling.

Lucas’s eyes sparkled as soon as he saw Stella. He scampered over on his tiny legs, hugged her tightly around the calf, and looked up with a pitiful, pleading face. “Mommy, are you really going to leave Lucas behind?”

Stella froze.

A collective gasp swept through the crowd.

‘Mommy?’ The whole crowd was stunned. ‘Since when did the Young Sovereign have a son?’

“Mommy.” Lucas stretched out his little arms, his eyes all teary and pitiful. “Flug me.”

The next second, Stella reached out with a deadpan expression and pinched Lucas’s soft, chubby cheeks. “Who taught you that?”

Without missing a beat, Lucas whipped his head around and pointed straight at Sebastian, who was lounging on the couch. “It was Uncle Sebastian.”

Sebastian, totally thrown under the bus by his little traitor, was left speechless.

He met Stella’s gaze, trying to keep his face blank, but his darting eyes gave him away. He was totally guilty.

11:16 Thu, Feb 12 d

Chapter 416

Stella strolled right up to Sebastian, her white sneakers padding softly across the floor.

Sebastian’s lips tightened.

VPM 78

55 vouchers

But he couldn’t dodge it. A soft little hand reached out, pinched his chin, and tilted it up, nice and slow.

Stella drawled, “What?”

“Harmony Residence belongs to Grandma,” Sebastian said quietly, barely moving his lips.

But Houston suddenly raised his hand, looking genuinely confused. “Wait, did you just insult me?”

Stella froze. Sebastian, caught off guard, looked momentarily awkward. Lucas fell silent.

Stella felt a dull ache in her forehead. ‘Seriously? Annette’s businesses are everywhere in Clusia, she grumbled to herself.

Meanwhile, Annette was chilling on Sandridge Island, braiding Simba’s hair. When out of nowhere, she sneezed.

Simba looked up at her, giving her the most innocent look ever.

Out of nowhere, John strode right up to Jareth.

Before Jareth knew it, Stella’s suitcase was suddenly in his hands.

Jareth blinked, a bit taken aback.

“We’re not staying here. We’re staying in the opposite place,” Sebastian said in a deep voice. He looked up Stella, meeting her eyes.

Houston’s mind was spinning, trying to wrap his head around it. Houston blinked, totally baffled.

He remembered standing out on his balcony, staring across the road at the most famous spot in the area. That villa was always pitch dark, but it was blazing with lights, brighter than he’d ever seen.

‘Wait, is that really the villa?’ Houston thought, jaw dropping in disbelief.

He was so stunned, he nearly forgot to close his mouth.

But before Stella could say anything, Lucas pouted, blinking his eyes in a pitiful way, “Stella, Lucas is so hungry.”

at

Lucas rolled away with a couple of thumps. ‘My tummy’s hungry,’ Lucas thought, looking up at her with those big, pleading eyes.

Stella let out a sigh, feeling a bit helpless. “What about you three?” She looked over at the elders.

Jareth said, “No need to worry about us, Young Sovereign. We’ve got places to stay in Jaffina, and we’ll be back first thing in the morning.”

11:16 Thu, Feb 12 c ..

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify