Shadows Between Us (Stella and Sebastian) novel Chapter 77

Chapter 77

Chapter 77

Allan thought, ‘Did Sebastian just bring back a gold mine or something?

‘Never in my life have I seen a mall delivery arrive in shipping containers.

‘Three of them, no less?

‘Isn’t this a little over the top?

‘Did Sebastian just buy out everything Stella could possibly wear in her entire life, all at once?’

Stella, meanwhile, was completely clueless about all this.

Sebastian was holed up in his study, deep in a video call.

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The 27-inch computer screen was split into several windows, with people dialing in from all corners of the globe.

After another sleepless night, Sebastian’s face was pale and striking, an icy vibe radiating from him that sent chills through the screen. The dark circles under his eyes only made his presence more intense.

His black, custom-tailored suit made his whole vibe even more intimidating.

Sebastian zoned out for a moment.

Suddenly, someone knocked from outside, and the door opened just a crack.

Stella and Lucas peeked their heads in.

Everyone on the video call was immediately stunned by Sebastian’s change.

Even though they couldn’t see who had come in, they were amazed to see Sebastian, who was usually ice-cold, actually starting to melt.

Sebastian gestured for them to come in. “Carry on,” he told the people on the video call, barely moving his lips, though his attention was clearly on Stella and Lucas.

Lucas was full of energy again.

He tugged Stella down to sit with him on the snowy white carpet, clutching a chess set he’d somehow fished out from who knows where, and started setting up the pieces with a serious look, just like he’d seen adults do.

He’d just woken up, so there was still a little tuft of hair sticking up on his head.

He looked so fair and soft, absolutely adorable.

One of the white chess pieces slipped from his hand and rolled right over to Sebastian’s feet.

Lucas cocked his head to the side, looking all soft and lost as he gave Stella a confused look.

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Chapter 77

He was silently asking, “What do I do now?”

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His big, innocent eyes were practically begging for help.

Stella thought, ‘Well, guess I need to pick it up for him.’

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Stella got up lazily and deliberately moved to the other side of the desk to avoid the camera during Sebastian’s video call. She silently realized that unless she actually crawled under the table, there was no way she could reach the chess piece.

Stella froze.

On the video call, someone had just finished presenting a set of data and was waiting for Sebastian’s instructions.

Sebastian parted his lips, his voice icy and fluent as he effortlessly switched between languages. His tone was so chilling and aloof that it made people shiver. But then, out of nowhere, his voice stopped.

The executives from all over the world stared at his face on their screens, as if the video had frozen. But in the next moment, Sebastian slowly bent down, vanishing from the camera’s view.

Everyone on the video call looked confused.

Sebastian’s deep eyes locked onto Stella, who had somehow ended up under his desk. Her pale fingers were still reaching for the chess piece, and she paused, surprised by his sudden movement.

Their faces were so close that they could feel each other’s breath mingling in the small space between them.

“Mr. Gray,” Stella said quietly, hoping he’d just mind his own business and get back to work.

Sebastian’s face stayed as cold and handsome as ever. Without even glancing her way, he picked up the white chess piece with those long, cool fingers of his, lashes lowered, looking even more like he didn’t care about

the world.

“Hand,” he said.

Stella opened her palm in front of him, and he gently placed the white Queen piece right back into her hand.

Sebastian spread his hand out, shielding Stella’s head from bumping into the desk as she crawled out.

Stella just blinked, staying still.

She silently gripped the Queen piece in her hand.

“Come out,” Sebastian said.

Stella crawled out, and sure enough, her head brushed right against Sebastian’s palm where he’d been shielding her.

She headed back over to Lucas and gently set the Queen piece back onto the board, all while the hum of the video call behind her picked right back up.

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Chapter 77

Fifteen minutes later, the meeting wrapped up.

Sebastian steered his electric wheelchair out from behind the desk, pulling up right behind Stella.

On the chessboard, Stella and Lucas were going head-to-head, neither backing down for a second.

Their hands flew across the board, moving pieces faster and faster: each one desperate to come out on top.

“I win!” Stella announced, her tone playful and triumphant.

She raised an eyebrow, her beautiful eyes glinting with a touch of swagger.

Lucas, all soft and adorable, fished a lollipop out of his pocket and handed it to her.

Stella took it, and as she leaned back, she suddenly realized Sebastian was standing right behind her.

“Mr. Gray,” she drawled, tilting her head back lazily and showing off her prize.

“Mm,” Sebastian replied.

His voice came out a bit hoarse, sounding tired. His eye settled on Stella’s face and asked, “Did you need something?”

He watched as Stella peeled the wrapper and slipped the lollipop between her lips.

A hint of pink flashed across her lips for a moment.

Sebastian silently looked away, his breath hitching just a little.

Lucas snuck a peek at Sebastian, looking just like a little ragdoll kitten: all fluffy, pale, and irresistibly soft.

He pulled out his little writing pad, the one he hadn’t touched in ages.

He wrote: [Uncle Sebastian.]

“Mm,” Sebastian replied, remembering how Stella had mentioned last night that he should give Lucas an

answer.

As soon as he heard that, Lucas instantly perked up, a huge smile spreading across his face.

With his head down, Lucas kept scribbling and erasing on his little writing pad, going back and forth again and again.

Sebastian and Stella didn’t hurry him at all. They just let him fuss as long as he wanted.

Time slipped by in quiet silence.

Sebastian’s eyes landed right on the top of Stella’s head.

Her hair was smooth; it looked just begging to be petted.

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Chapter 77

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His long, icy fingers twitched more than once, but he had to fight the urge to reach out.

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Finally, as if he’d made up his mind, Lucas let out a little grown-up sigh and held up his writing pad.

He wrote: [I want to go to school.]

Sebastian stayed silent for a long time, just staring at the words on the writing pad. Sitting there in his wheelchair, he was like ancient, unmelted ice. His true feelings were impossible to read.

After a long silence, Sebastian finally spoke, his voice cold as ice. He said, “Say that one more time?”

Lucas let out a sigh.

He wiped the pad clean with extra care, then, getting used to this routine, held it up again like a pro.

He wrote: [Uncle Sebastian, I want to go to school.]

Silence fell again.

Stella, still sucking on her lollipop, was just about to turn around to see if Sebastian had frozen up again when she was suddenly pulled into a warm embrace from behind.

That familiar, dark woody scent: intense and possessive, completely overwhelmed her senses, leaving her breathless.

Stella and Lucas were both stunned.

With his long arm, Sebastian easily pulled the petite Stella close, and even through his suit, she could feel his muscles taut with excitement.

Even though his face remained as cold and unreadable as ever.

Sebastian lowered his chin to gently rest atop Stella’s head. He murmured, “Thank you.”

Sebastian had tried every trick in the book, but Lucas never gave in. The kid even went on a three-day hunger strike to make his point: no amount of coaxing or threats ever worked on him.

Everything on Sandridge Island started to change the moment Stella showed up.

Lucas’s cheeks puffed up in an instant, making him look just like a cute little pufferfish, all pouty and adorable.

Just as Lucas was about to step forward and pull them apart, the study door was suddenly thrown open from

outside.

“Sebastian, you-” Allan began, but his words died in his throat,

He stepped back out of the room and let the door bang shut behind him.

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