Shadows Between Us (Stella and Sebastian) novel Chapter 420

Chapter 420

Sophie couldn’t get a word out for ages. She sat back down, still in a daze.

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She’d pictured this moment a thousand times in her head. In her version, Stella would be broken and humble, all the Carter family’s torment having worn down every bit of spark the Clinton family gave her.

And Sophie herself would be the noble, elegant, and kind one. The gap between them would be obvious to

anyone.

But at that moment, it was totally, completely, the other way around.

“You don’t look so good,” Stella said coolly, leaning back in her chair. Her eyes swept over Sophie’s pale face, completely indifferent.

Sophie’s lips trembled. “You…” She pressed her lips together. Finally, she found her voice. “I want a different examiner. It’s personal!”

Stella looked up at her, icy and fierce. “Are you sure?”

Just that one look made Sophie’s hands and feet

go

cold.

Sophie didn’t say a word.

“Are

you

scared of me?” Stella raised an eyebrow, totally indifferent.

Sophie shot back, “No!”

But her body language told a whole different story.

She clutched her cello so hard her knuckles went white, not even noticing the strings biting into her fingers. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from Stella’s face.

Stella said coolly, “I heard the big names in Jaffina have been losing all sorts of valuables lately. So, what about you?”

“Enough!” Sophie shot to her feet again, her voice cracking. Whether it was nerves or guilt, even she couldn’t

tell.

Sophie took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. She stared Stella dead in the eyes and spat out each word, “I! Didn’t! Lose! A! Thing!”

“Oh, really?” Stella smirked, her tone cool. “I could’ve sworn you lost a necklace.”

She taunted. With a flick of her wrist, a diamond necklace slipped between Stella’s fingers, sparkling brilliantly in the sunlight. It was so dazzling, it looked like something out of a dream.

Sophie’s pupils shrank in shock. Everything went dark for a moment. She just couldn’t believe her eyes.

The way it sparkled, the flawless cut, and the perfect color, no knockoff could ever pull off details like these.

11:16 Thu, Feb 12 d

Chapter 420

Sophie was one hundred percent sure. This was the limited edition, genuine necklace she’d lost.

In an instant, cold sweat broke out all over her.

“You…” Sophie stared at Stella’s drop-dead gorgeous face, but she just found her terrifying.

She thought, ‘How does she get her hands on that necklace? What exactly does Stella know?

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‘If Stella had figured out she was the Clinton family’s lost daughter, why didn’t she just take the necklace straight to them and reveal everything?’

Sophie’s mind was spinning with a thousand questions, each one louder than the last.

“What are you really… You…” Sophie felt like her blood was running cold. She didn’t even know where to begin.

Sophie was deeply relieved that it was just the two of them here.

From start to finish, Stella was so laid-back and unfazed, it was as if she was just talking about someone else’s drama.

That only made Sophie more confused. She thought, ‘Does Stella know the truth, or is she just playing it

cool?’

But in the very next moment, Stella cut in, “Sophie, I’ve got a little choice for you.”

She withdrew her hand, casually toying with the priceless necklace like it was just some cheap trinket, clearly not giving it a second thought.

Sophie was speechless.

Her heart thudded in her chest, fingers turning numb with cold. She could barely breathe.

Sophie knew it better than anyone. Stella had her completely cornered. She was at Stella’s mercy, totally powerless to fight back.

Stella gave a faint smile, her fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. But the words she dropped next made Sophie’s head spin.

She said, “Go ahead and admit it to the Clinton family. You’ve been hiding the real necklace all these years, and covering up the truth about who their real daughter is and where she’s been.”

“You’re lying!” Sophie snapped, her voice shooting up, panic written all over her face,

She was losing it, her mind racing and her heart pounding.

Her eyes flushed red, like she’d been slapped with embarrassment and anger.

“Sophie, it’s just the two of us here. Why don’t we just talk straight?” Stella said, cool as ever.

Her calm made Sophie look even more desperate, her eyes flickering with panic. The truth was hanging in

11:17 Thu, Feb 12 d

Chapter 420

the air between them, no need for words.

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Stella said coolly, “In exchange for your answer, I’ll give you an admission spot at Rhaesia University.”

Sophie’s eyes went wide. ‘No way. Did I hear that right?’ she thought, completely floored.

Sophie blurted out, “What did you just say?”

“An admission spot at Rhaesia University,” Stella repeated, her gaze lingering on Sophie, every word loaded with meaning.

Sophie was speechless. Her fingers were trembling.

Stella’s gaze landed on Sophie, those eyes sharp and unreadable, seeing right through every bit of her struggle.

She said, “You went out of your way to find that girl and the tabloid reporter, just to hype up your shot at Rhaesia University and get yourself all over the internet. That’s what you were after all along, wasn’t it?”

Stella’s lips curled into a faint, mocking smile.

“Now, I’m handing it to you,” she said.

Sophie’s mind went completely blank. Her usual reflex to snap back was gone. She was so stunned, she couldn’t even think to argue.

Stella warned, her voice cold, “You’d better think this through. Word’s gotten around the circle of elite ladies in Jaffina, thanks to Aveline.

“Everyone knows the chief examiner is handling your case personally. If you mess this up, you won’t just embarrass yourself. You’ll be the one to shame the whole Clinton family.”

“You did this on purpose!” Sophie gasped, the realization hitting her the instant Stella finished speaking.

‘She knows. She knows everything!’ Sophie’s heart hammered in her chest, panic rising.

But Stella had just watched, letting her play all her little games, just so she could watch Sophie walk straight into her trap, one step at a time.

If she picked Rhacsia University to save the Clinton family’s reputation, she’d lose their trust for good. Even if they kept her around just because she got into Rhaesia, every day after that would be hell for her.

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