Shadows Between Us (Stella and Sebastian) novel Chapter 68

Chapter 68

Chapter 68

It was a black gift bag, and it looked pretty small.

Sebastian’s frosty gaze softened just a little as he looked at her.

Stella lazily lifted her hand, signaling Sebastian to take it.

Sebastian took the bag and opened it. Inside, a men’s watch rested quietly in its box, the sleek black dial radiating luxury and exclusivity.

The executive leaned in, curious, and when he saw what was inside, he sucked in a breath.

‘It’s a Patek Philippe minute repeater perpetual calendar, worth about 15 million. Just like that, this girl bought it and gave it away?’ he mused.

“Just grabbed it while passing by the store,” Stella said, her face totally calm, like she hadn’t just dropped about

15 million.

When she spotted the watch through the window, she instantly decided to buy it. She could sense Sebastian’s aura in it-chilly and restrained.

She bent down, reaching to take off the watch Sebastian had been wearing.

“Don’t-” the executive blurted out, about to warn Stella about Sebastian’s boundaries, but Sebastian shot him a cold look that made him instantly shut up.

To outsiders, Sebastian was famous for keeping women at arm’s length. Helping him take off his watch was unheard of. Just getting close to him was risky enough.

Stella paused, looked up toward the voice. ‘Don’t what? Why’d he stop mid-sentence?’ she wondered.

The executive was speechless, his back drenched in cold sweat.

“Go on,” Sebastian said, his brows furrowed, clearly not happy that Stella was paying attention to someone else.

“Alright.” Stella just shrugged and went back to removing his watch. Before long, she had slipped the black Patek Philippe onto Sebastian’s wrist, totally oblivious to the fact that his eyes were glued to her face the whole time.

Stella chuckled, one hand casually tucked in her pocket. ‘Sebastian’s hands are like masterpieces crafted by God. They deserve nothing but the finest,’ she thought.

She looked up and met his unreadable gaze. “It really suits you,” she said, as nonchalant as always, but sincere.

Sebastian paused for a moment and then just gave a quiet “mm.” For once, his icy face showed a rare hint of

warmth.

Something seemed to cross his mind. His sharp gaze flicked to Lucas, and he subtly flexed his wrist, clearly

Chapter 68

hinting at the boy.

But Lucas didn’t even look Sebastian’s way. He was too busy holding his cheeks and grinning like a fool just because Stella had called him cute.

‘What an idiot, Sebastian scoffed inwardly.

Sebastian’s phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and picked up.

“Mr. Gray…” a woman’s voice came through. “Is it all right for me to come to the island tomorrow to continue Lucas’s lessons?”

It was Grace Burton, Lucas’s tutor.

Because of Lucas’s unique circumstances, he never went to regular school. Instead, he had Grace as his private tutor at home.

Ryan was the complete opposite. He was also five, but he was so smart that he jumped straight into fifth grade. Among the rich and powerful, he was already known as a genius.

“Sure,” Sebastian replied after a brief pause and then hung up.

“Ever thought about letting Lucas go to school again?” Stella overheard and asked. She glanced at Lucas, and when he saw her looking, his eyes lit up, twinkling like stars in the sky.

He blew her a kiss from across the room, so sweet and cute.

Sebastian was silent for a long moment.

“Sometimes, I have no idea what that kid is thinking,” Sebastian finally said, his voice cool and distant. Stella thought he wouldn’t answer, but his words caught her off guard.

Stella was momentarily stunned.

“Before you came along, Lucas shut everyone out,” Sebastian said, his eyes thoughtful. “He’d just sit in the corner all day, like a little robot, barely moving or saying a word.”

He went on, remembering, “He didn’t talk to me, or anyone else. If he was in a good mood, he’d have Snowball take him up a tree to catch some sun. If he was upset, he’d just start breaking stuff.”

Stella found it hard to believe the Lucas Sebastian was talking about was the same cheerful kid right in front of her.

She tilted her head at Sebastian. “You know, that’s the longest thing I’ve ever heard you say.”

Sebastian didn’t know how to respond.

At the police station, Vera anxiously turned to Camilla. “Still can’t get through to her?”

Camilla looked awkward. She couldn’t exactly admit that Stella had blocked her.

18:48 Mon, Jan 19

Chapter 68

“Just our luck, huh? How did we run into trouble with Nova Group out of nowhere?” Camilla griped, seriously frustrated.

Vera didn’t respond, just ignored her and lit up a cigarette.

“Don’t you think Stella’s been acting off lately?” Vera said, unable to shake off a sense of unease just thinking about the look in Stella’s eyes back at the store.

She added, “Stella got expelled, but she hasn’t come home. She won’t even pick up your calls. Where the hell is she?”

“Let her rot for all I care!” Camilla snapped, wishing Stella would just drop dead already.

‘Thanks to her, Hazel and Lila got caught on camera!’ she fumed to herself.

“Isn’t it just paying a fine and she’s out? Why is this taking so long?” Camilla kept ranting, driving Vera up the wall.

Wendy had never been hauled into the police station before, and she was so freaked out she blurted out everything, ratting everyone out. That got Lila and Hazel in trouble too, turning them from victims into accomplices.

When Wendy’s mom heard about it, she lost all control. She grabbed Vera and bawled her eyes out, making a huge scene. Vera felt her head pounding.

Vera had already reached out to the Morris family to pull some strings at the station, hoping to just pay a fine and get everyone out clean, no record. But after all that back-and-forth with the lawyer, they were still locked

Vera was getting anxious. Just then, she spotted Allan and the Harmony Law Firm crew heading out.

When Allan saw her, that cocky, handsome face of his slowly broke into a knowing smile.

Vera’s heart skipped a beat. Soon enough, her lawyer came out, and that was all the confirmation she needed. Her worst fears were coming true.

“Mrs. Morris,” the lawyer said, looking uneasy.

“Go ahead,” Vera said.

“Nova Group won’t accept any settlement, and the police won’t let us pull any strings. Lila and her two friends…” The lawyer glanced at Vera and Camilla and then continued, “They will be detained for five days.”

Camilla’s eyes were blazing with fury. “Stella!”

*****

Back on the island, Stella stepped out of the shower and sneezed.

The door to the nursery was left half-open. Lucas was sitting quietly on the carpet, absorbed in solving a metal puzzle.

18:49 Mon, Jan 19

Chapter 68

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Snowball was curled up into a big ball, acting as Lucas’s pillow. Its tail tip tapped the carpet every now and then.

Big Ben was charging nearby.

Lucas was focused on the metal puzzle, his fingers moving so fast that one could barely follow. He didn’t even blink, and in under a minute, he had the whole thing solved.

Leaning against the wall, Stella raised an eyebrow. ‘Did he really just finish that in less than a minute? The Guinness World Record for this puzzle is two and a half minutes,’ she thought.

Stella kept quiet, because the very next second, Lucas was already reassembling the puzzle just as quickly, as if the whole thing was just routine for him.

Stella then knocked lazily on the door. Lucas jumped, looking up in surprise.

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18:49 Mon, Jan 19