Shadows Between Us (Stella and Sebastian) novel Chapter 67

Chapter 67

Chapter 67

Serpentina had that exact same look in her eyes when she brought DenimKraft’s chief designer over to redo Stella’s entire wardrobe for all four seasons.

“No need. I’m fine with what I’m wearing,” Stella said, turning Sebastian down. She wasn’t really into material things; honestly, she just found it too much trouble and couldn’t be bothered.

But as soon as she finished speaking, someone tugged at the hem of her shirt. She looked down to see Lucas clutching a women’s fashion magazine, staring up at her with those irresistibly cute puppy eyes.

Stella was at a loss for words.

It was like Lucas had little angel wings fluttering behind him as he slowly held out the magazine, his cherubic little face full of cautious hope.

‘So he’s found my weak spot, Stella thought.

She quietly took the magazine from Lucas, barely glanced at a couple of pages, and said, “These two are enough.” Stella tried to hide how little she cared.

Sebastian looked where she was pointing. It was two identical white button-down shirts.

‘Classic. She really couldn’t care less, Sebastian thought.

“Just pack up everything except these two,” Sebastian said, giving the executive a frosty look. His lips thinned as he turned his gaze back to Stella. “Go on, keep choosing,” he told her.

Stella was speechless.

‘Why does it suddenly feel so awkward in here?’ the executive wondered.

Lucas was clearly the happiest one here. His feet kicked excitedly as he grabbed another magazine and held it out to Stella like he was showing off his latest treasure. He babbled, obviously trying to say, “Check this out. It’s so pretty!”

Stella had to pick two more at random.

Sebastian kept his icy expression, barely blinking. “Keep going,” he said.

Lucas eagerly handed her another magazine, and Stella just pointed at two more without even looking.

Sebastian pressed, “Keep going.”

By the time Stella had finished half-heartedly picking out outfits from every single women’s fashion magazine, a whole hour had gone by.

She collapsed onto the couch with a blank face, watching as Lucas, still bursting with energy, was already trying to get someone to bring over even more magazines. Honestly, she was starting to get a headache.

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Chapter 67

Suddenly, Stella’s phone went off nonstop. It was Camilla.

“I’m going to the restroom,” Stella said, making her escape.

In the restroom, after hanging up on Camilla for the tenth time, Stella just blocked her number.

With her hands shoved in her pockets, Stella’s eyes were sharp and frosty, and her lips curled into a sarcastic

sneer.

It was then that voices drifted in from outside the stall.

“Isn’t that the guy from the Gray family who’s been gone for years? The one in the wheelchair?” someone murmured.

“Seriously?” the other one asked.

The two salesgirls, busy touching up their makeup, were making small talk as they chatted.

“Didn’t Gray Group just announce they were kicking him out as CEO?” one of them asked.

There was the sound of a lighter flipping open. The two salesgirls leaned against the wall, smoking and enjoying their rare break.

Stella lowered her eyes. Her long lashes hid the chill in her gaze as she listened quietly.

“The Gray family is just the worst,” one of the salesgirls scoffed.

“What do you mean?” the other asked, her curiosity piqued.

“You know that story, right? About how Sebastian literally pulled his nephew out of his sister-in-law’s belly right after she passed away,” the first girl said.

“Sure. Is there anyone in Haliville who doesn’t know about it?” the other girl replied.

The first salesgirl took a drag from her cigarette, grinning as she gossiped. “Back when all that drama hit the Gray family, not even a week after the death, they were already trying to erase that kid from the family tree.

“They said he brought bad luck, born under a curse or something. Just a bunch of superstitious nonsense. And Carlos? Ugh, he’s something else. That old flame he’s been pining for all these years-he never brought her back before.”

The salesgirl scoffed and continued, “But now, with Annette’s family fallen from grace, his eldest son and grandson gone, and Sebastian left in a wheelchair, he suddenly brings her back. Isn’t he just taking advantage of the mess to maybe pick himself a new heir?”

“No way, for real?” The other girl put out her cigarette, totally invested now.

The first girl said, “Of course it’s true. I have family working at the hospital. Sebastian was literally at death’s door, fighting for his life for three days and nights.

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Chapter 67

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“The second he woke up, word about the drama reached him. He insisted on going straight back to the Gray family. I don’t know what happened later, but when he finally ended up back at the hospital, he was half dead and covered in blood.”

The salesgirl stubbed out her cigarette, giving her friend a serious reminder not to gossip about any of this, and only then did the two of them amble out of the restroom.

The stall door swung open from the inside, and Stella stepped out. She stood at the sink in silence, turning on the faucet and washing her hands.

She looked up, her face blank, but her eyes were clouded with darkness.

Now, she finally understood why Sebastian said there was only one Mrs. Gray in the Gray family.

Stella left the restroom with a calm face, but an icy aura clung to her, and that badass vibe she usually kept hidden was about to break loose.

But then, Stella spotted Lucas squatting by the door, his chin propped up in his hands.

He was so cute that people passing by couldn’t resist wanting to coo at him, but the moment they saw his serious little face, they sheepishly pulled back.

“Lucas.” Stella had barely spoken when Lucas’s face lit up with delight. He dashed over, his rosy cheeks brimming with trust and affection, and rubbed his face against her hand in the most adorable way. He giggled happily.

“Not even a week after the death, they were already trying to erase that kid from the family tree. They said he brought bad luck, born under a curse or something.” One of the salesgirls’ voices echoed faintly from earlier.

Stella looked down and met Lucas’s gaze. Those big, shiny, puppy-dog eyes blinked up at her.

“You’re just too cute,” Stella said, reaching out to give his squishy little cheeks a gentle pinch.

Lucas’s eyes went huge, his whole face turning red all the way to his ears. He grabbed his cheeks with both hands, looking so happy he could barely tell up from down.

“Come on. Mr. Gray’s waiting for us,” Stella said, holding out her hand to Lucas.

Lucas saw her hand and nodded enthusiastically.

*****

Inside the Denim Kraft store, the gate half-closed, Sebastian sat in his wheelchair, expressionless, staring at his phone as Carlos’s name lit up the screen. The silence felt suffocating.

He let the phone ring until the call cut off on its own. His pale, striking face looked almost sickly, and for a moment, his eyes flickered with a flash of red, as if he’d just remembered something.

Sebastian knew exactly why Carlos was calling.

The executive stood off to the side, clutching a fresh stack of women’s fashion magazines, cold sweat running

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Chapter 67

down his back.

Sebastian was giving off a terrifyingly icy vibe, and all the poor guy could think was, ‘When is that girl coming back? I need her to save me before I freeze to death over here!’

“What are you zoning out for?” Stella’s lazy, indifferent voice came from right beside him. Sebastian’s eyes flickered for a moment before he slipped his phone away.

‘She was gone for way too long,’ he thought.

“Again?” Stella said, holding Lucas’s hand. When she saw the fresh stack of magazines in the executive’s arms. she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, ‘Does Sebastian seriously have an obsession with watching people change outfits, like he’s into those dress-up games or something?’

Sebastian stayed silent, as cold and distant as ever.

He shot Stella a frosty look, but then, almost absentmindedly, his gaze drifted to her other hand. She was holding something.

“Got something for you,” Stella said, holding it out to him.

田

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18:48 Mon, Jan 19