Shadows Between Us (Stella and Sebastian) novel Chapter 48

Chapter 48

and the necklace. Stella said before she faded away into thin air, vanishing like a spark in the night.

That former version of Stella was gone for good. The new Stella opened her eyes, feeling as if a weighty curse had been Sed W, ky energy rushed through her, but upon meeting those midnight-dark eyes, she instantly regained her calm.

Nathan, you quack? Allan shouted. His voice cut through the air making Stella instinctively frown.

Sharp Sebastian snapped His voice was like a thunderclap, heavy with authority.

The room fell silent. Only then did Stella realize she was back on Sandridge Island. She sat up and looked at Sebastian. His hips were pressed into a thin, icy line, as if he was holding back a storm inside.

As she was about to speak, two big heads popped up from the side.

Stella, are you okay? Allan asked, his eyes glued to her, looking every bit the spoiled rich kid.

Tim fine.” Stella answered, her voice slightly hoarse. She had fused with her former self, undergoing a complete change.

Allan shot a glance at Sebastian and couldn’t shake the feeling that something about Stella had changed since she woke up.

“Where is Lucas Stella asked, scanning the area, but the little guy who was always with her was nowhere in sight. The emptiness brought her back to that haunting dream. If she hadn’t changed, Lucas would have been left to die in that old

warehouse.

No one answered. Stella shot Allan a look, expecting a response, but he just avoided her gaze and turned away.

“Mr. Gray?” she asked as her heart dropped, her voice tense.

Your collapse shook him up,” Sebastian said, and before he finished speaking, Stella threw off the covers and headed straight for the kids room.

When Stella stepped into the kids room, she was taken aback to find it spotless, with no mess in sight, as if no one had ever been there. But a crowd had gathered around the wardrobe.

As soon as Stella appeared, the maids instinctively stepped aside to let her through. She headed straight for the wardrobe.

Lucas, normally chubby and adorable, sat on Snowball’s back like a little king on his throne, hugging his knees and staring blankly ahead. He didn’t respond to anything around him, not even a blink. He was zoned out, as though someone had turned him off.

Snowball was baring his fangs and hissing like a monster, daring anyone to come close to his little master. The sight was so terrifying that it scared the living daylights out of the maids, who shrieked and scrambled back.

“Everyone out,” Stella said coolly, her face pale and blank as ever. The room instantly went quiet.

“Ms. Carter, Nathan began, but trailed off. He was one of the top hypnotherapists, but he had met his match with this uncle- nephew pair.

Stella didn’t spare him a glance. She crouched down beside the wardrobe. Lucas didn’t move. Sebastian sat quietly in his black wheelchair. Truth was, this was the real Lucas, who was shut off, locked away in his own world, refusing to connect with anyone outside.

“Easy, Snowball,” Stella said softly, giving Snowball a gentle pat on the head. The huge python, who’d been all worked up moments before, instantly mellowed out, pressing its massive head into her palm like a big, sulky puppy.

Snowball looked almost pitiful as it snuggled up, and Nathan couldn’t believe his eyes. Lucas had rescued Snowball from the

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But despite his size. Snowball was crazy smart and fiercely loyal to Lucas. When it came to hunting, it was a savage beast, and even the maids had to toss food from a safe distance.

When Snowball got mean, he’d turn on anyone, except Lucas and Sebastian. Lucas still didn’t move a muscle.

Stella extended her hand, gently wrapped her fingers around Lucas’s tiny one, and held it close to her heart. In the stillness. her heartbeat was loud and clear.

The chubby little Lucas blinked slowly, his eyes heavy and unfocused. As his eyelids fluttered shut, tiny tears fell from his lashes, landing softly on the back of Stella’s hand. Each drop seemed to sting her heart with its warmth.

He cried without a sound, so quiet and obedient, just like a little puppy that had been abandoned and finally found its way home.

Finally, a faint spark lit up in Lucas’s eyes. His little mouth moved without a sound, but Stella knew what he was trying to

say.

He mouthed, “Tll be a good boy. Stella, please don’t die.”

Stella reached in and gently lifted Lucas out of the wardrobe. The moment she held him, he buried his face in the crook of her neck, his tiny arms wrapping tightly around her, his whole body trembling.

Allan watched, deep in thought. He already knew everything that had gone down at the hospital.

Lucas’s attachment to Stella was undeniable, and even Sebastian seemed to have changed because of her. With these two things in mind, it no longer mattered whether the Stella he was investigating was a different person from the one standing

there now.

After his bath, Lucas sat on the bed, looking all cute and well-behaved. Big Ben was quietly charging in the corner, his blue chest light blinking on and off.

“Give it a try,” Stella said, strapping the newly upgraded black digital watch onto Lucas’s wrist and gesturing for him to give it a poke. Lucas blinked and then tapped the screen.

Still charging, Big Ben called out, “Lucas smells fresh and clean after his bath. Stella, hug time!”

Lucas mouthed a silent “Wow”, and at the same time, Big Ben echoed, “Wow!”

The whole scene was so magical that even Snowball, who was lazily coiled on the floor, lifted its huge head and gave Big Ben a look, its little red eyes full of mystery. Lucas tapped the watch again.

Big Ben continued, “Snowball, what are you thinking about?”

Lucas looked up at Stella with big, starry eyes, his chubby cheeks so adorable that they could melt anyone’s heart.

Stella sat on the floor, resting her chin in her hand, looking completely relaxed. She waved at Snowball, and it slithered over, its heavy body dragging behind, and then placed the tip of its white tail in her palm.

“Easy there,” Stella said as she pulled out the pink wool collar she’d fixed up while Lucas was bathing, fastened it around. Snowball’s neck, and turned it on. The pet translator booted up.

Snowball: “Big Ben is so cute. I want to eat him up.” Lucas and Stella were left speechless.

While still talking, Snowball slithered over to Big Ben and gently put Big Ben’s round head in its mouth.

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Big Ben shouted, “Whoa, I’m getting gobbled up.” Lucas and Stella were at a loss for words.

Finally, after a bit of chaos, Stella managed to rescue Big Ben from Snowball’s jaws. As she did, something tumbled out of her pocket. It was a chunky black men’s digital watch.

Lucas scooped it up for her, looked up all sweet and obedient, and handed it over. Then he poked the watch curiously.

Big Ben started. “Uncle Sebastian carried Stella all the way back.

Stella took the watch from Lucas in silence, but her mind kept replaying that dream. Sebastian, left all alone after losing Lucas and Annette, set everything ablaze in the graveyard.

Back in that other world, Sebastian suffered endlessly, his body falling apart piece by piece. He had given up on life long ago. The decision to set himself on fire in that graveyard, all alone, weighed heavily on him.

It was late at night. A medical charter flight from Jaffina was about to touch down at Haliville Airport.

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Chapter 49

Haliville Airport had already locked down the passageways, keeping a tight watch.

Caleb Martin, dressed to the nines, was standing beside two silver-haired elders. The man who usually called all the shots now looked more like an assistant than the boss he usually was. nily was there too, waiting for her teacher.

It was Sammel, famed as one of the best surgeons, both at home and abroad. Everyone looked serious, especially the two

elders.

“Is there really nothing we can do?” Victor said. His brows were fightly knit, his whole aura heavy with authority. He was waiting for Paul, once the undisputed master of acupuncture in the country.

Just days ago. Paul’s top student turned his back on him and crippled the hand he relied on for acupuncture. The Penn’s Acupuncture Mastery was on the verge of being lost forever.

“Even Samuel has been brought in as a last resort. What do you think?” Landen said, the other person of the legendary Two Pillars of the Medical World.

Landen hadn’t relaxed his frown since stepping into the airport, f Victor were a decorated expert in nuclear physics, Landen would be one of the best medicine gurus. This time, he’d brought along the Trent farmily’s secret remedy, the famous Vitalis Pill

Swallowing this pill can bring someone back from the brink of death, even if they’re already halfway in the grave.

As they spoke, the private jet landed. The team from Jaffina Training Base immediately went on high alert. When Samuel and the medical staff from Jaffina wheeled out Paul, who was unconscious, everyone held their breath.

“Mr. Miles, Emily called out, hurrying over in her sharp suit to support Samuel.

Samuel nodded, but his hand was shaking so badly that he could barely control it.

“Samuel?” Landen said as he stared at the trembling hand, his expression changing dramatically.

“My hands are ruined. I’ll never be able to perform surgery again” Samuel said.

Samuel had stepped away from surgery years ago because of nerve damage. He forced himself back for Paul, but his hands. gave out before he could finish. Now, he was truly done. The shock hit everyone hard.

Emily’s eyes instantly filled with tears as she stammered, “Mr. Miles.”

“Where’s the pill?” Samuel demanded urgently, his face growing grim as he looked at Landen. Paul’s condition was critical, and he needed the Vitalis Pill to keep him alive.

“It’s here,” Landen quickly pulled out the box containing the Vitalis Pill, broke the seal, and opened it.

“Landen, your pill…” Samuel stammered, and his expression suddenly changed.

Instead of the pill, there was just a lump of mud inside. When Landen saw it, he nearly had a heart attack right there.

Cold sweat broke out all over Landen. The Vitalis Pill was gone. Someone had switched it. Paul had been rushed to Haliville for this pill, and his life depended on it. The silence was suffocating.

“So what do we do now?” a man asked. He was in his twenties, and he’d stuck close to Paul ever since they got off the plane.

His voice was rough but pleasant, and even though it was late, he still wore sunglasses and a mask, as if he were hiding from

the world.

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