Shadows Between Us (Stella and Sebastian) novel Chapter 91

Chapter 91

Conrad was known as the leading expert in chip research in Clusia.

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Conrad claimed he’d been involved in a ton of major chip projects while studying in Monterra, and even held a few crucial patents himself.

After saying no to Lab 709 over and over, Conrad came back to Clusia and landed a key role at the Kinetic University Tech Research Institute.

In just a few years, he and his team scored tons of funding and awards from Clusia and local governments.

Recently, they announced that after five years of fully homegrown research, development, and production, the CoreOne Chip 1.0 was about to drop, and everyone in Clusia was hyped.

For all sorts of reasons, Clusia’s chip industry kept getting messed with by foreign powers and still couldn’t shake off their control. Conrad’s work was supposed to be a total game-changer.

“If the Gray family really does team up with Conrad’s crew… Allan thought.

After hanging up, Allan instinctively glanced at Sebastian. “Sebastian,” Allan started.

But before Allan could finish, a mocking laugh from Stella cut him off.

Everyone turned to look, and there was Stella, her beautiful face wearing a lazy, sarcastic smile as she casually wiped Lucas’s mouth.

“Stella, what’s so funny?” Allan asked, looking confused.

Stella lazily glanced up at him. “I’m laughing at how clueless the Gray family is.” Her words dripped with sarcasm.

“Wait, are you talking about Dr. Kramer?” Allan asked.

Sebastian’s eyes on Stella grew more thoughtful. Allan had spent years handling things outside Clusia, so it was understandable he was out of the loop on some stuff. But Stella-

Allan shot her a skeptical look. “Come on, do you even realize how much funding and recognition he’s raked in over the years?”

Lucas tugged at Stella’s sleeve, eager to go outside and open the packages.

Stella didn’t say another word. She just scooped Lucas up and walked out of the dining room.

Allan just stood there, totally lost. What’s up with Stella acting all mysterious?’ Allan wondered.

“Sebastian, Allan turned to Sebastian again.

“Just let them go along with it,” Sebastian replied, his tone flat.

The black prayer beads on his wrist swayed slightly, and he looked as deep and unreadable as the ocean in the dead of

winter.

For a split second, a glint of crimson flashed in his eyes. It was gone in an instant.

*****

Out in the courtyard, Allan pushed Sebastian’s wheelchair outside.

16:03 Thu, Jan 22

Chapter 91

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Lucas and Big Ben were lined up side by side, both rocking straw hats. Next to them. Snowball, the big white snake, was gently biting down on a bizarre-looking piece of grass.

Wait, is that some bizarre-looking grass?’ Allan blinked in confusion.

Stella stood off to the side, her white shirt loose and her long hair pulled back into a messy low bun off to one side. She looked cool and laid-back. Spotting them, she said, “Perfect timing.”

She grabbed a small box from nearby and flipped it open. Inside, four pristine white pills sat quietly.

A subtle herbal aroma wafted out, making everyone feel instantly refreshed.

“Take it,” Stella said, handing one right over to Sebastian.

“W-What is this?” Allan blurted out, but before he could finish, Sebastian just took one and ate it, no hesitation at all.

Allan thought, ‘Fine, whatever.

He grabbed one and downed it in one go. It melted on his tongue. It tasted sweet.

Stella turned and handed a pill to Lucas, and another to Snowball, one for the kid, one for the snake.

Only Big Ben was left standing there.

“I think I’m a little hurt,” Big Ben said, raising his hands with effort and putting on a dramatic crying face.

Stella tossed the empty box into the trash. “I’ll upgrade your chip tonight.”

Big Ben immediately started playing a song for himself. It was over the moon.

“Today’s a good day. Everything I wish for comes true, Yeah!” Big Ben sang, totally hyped.

Allan thought, ‘Looks like the world just got another lunatic.

Allan looked around. The ground was littered with cardboard boxes, all packed with all sorts of weird plants. He crouched down, picked one up, and asked, “What’s this?”

Stella shot him a cold look. “Viperroot.”

“What even is that?” Allan brought it closer, squinting at it.

It was just a bare stem, nothing else. ‘Looks dead to me,’ Allan thought.

“Viperroot has no branches, no leaves. Native to tropical jungles. Extremely poisonous, once it gets into your bloodstream, it’s instantly fatal.” Sebastian’s icy voice sounded from behind.

Allan jumped in fear and tossed the little plant back into the box without a second thought.

“And, what about that one?” Allan asked, kicking at another plant with his foot.

“Summit Orchid,” Stella replied coolly.

“What’s that one supposed to be?” Allan looked up, totally clueless. He’d never even heard of it.

“Summit Orchid grows only on the highest peaks in the world. The flowers are deadly poisonous. Once you’re exposed, there’s no antidote,” Sebastian, ever the walking encyclopedia, replied in his usual icy tone.

Allan nearly jumped out of his skin and dove behind Sebastian for cover.

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Chapter 91

“S-Stella, you-” Allan stammered, shaking and totally freaking out.

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“It’s really not that dramatic,” Stella said, giving the box of seedlings a lazy kick to the side, like she couldn’t care less about some random junk.

Allan thumped his chest, trying to reassure himself. “See, I knew it wasn’t that bad.”

Stella casually picked up a straw hat and set it on Sebastian’s head. “Summit Orchid isn’t incurable. There’s a way to save

someone.”

Stella noticed Sebastian’s face was already getting sunburned.

Allan thought, ‘Come on, guys, can you treat me like a real person for once? I’m out here baking in the sun, too, you know!’

‘Weak, helpless, and seriously feeling sorry for myself!’ Allan thought, totally aggrieved.

“Wait, are all of these poisonous?” Allan blurted out, staring at what had to be at least a hundred boxes.

‘If they’re all toxic, what if Lucas gets into one of these by accident?’ he thought, anxiety creeping in.

Stella patiently bent down to fix Sebastian’s hat, making sure he was comfortable. “Not all of them.”

Sebastian stayed perfectly still, just quietly watching her. The subtle, refreshing scent coming from Stella made the tension and ache in his forehead from all those sleepless nights finally start to melt away.

“But what about Lucas?” Allan asked.

Stella just lazily glanced at Allan, said nothing, picked up another white pill nearby broke the wax seal, and just sprinkled it on the Viperroot.

In an instant, the once lively little seedling melted into water. Once the sun hit it, it dried up instantly.

Allan was left speechless, staring in disbelief. “What exactly is this?”

“Just some random little thing,” Stella replied offhandedly. Meanwhile, Lucas was already grunting and digging little holes in the patch of ground they’d set aside, his tiny shovel in hand.

Big Ben followed right after him.

Suddenly, a little red shaker appeared in front of Sebastian. He looked down’and met Snowball’s beady red eyes. The snake wiggled its tail, offering the shaker to him.

Sebastian was stunned for a moment.

‘Come on, join the fun!’ Snowball thought, a little impatient. ‘Let’s get hyped!’

Snowball shook the shaker with its tail, making it rustle noisily.

Snowball just kept staring at Sebastian, refusing to back down.

Sebastian narrowed his eyes, a hint of danger flickering in his gaze.

With a whoosh, Snowball flicked its tail at Allan and flung the shaker right into his arms.

Snowball didn’t stick around. He zipped off and slipped, gone!

‘Seriously, do I have a face that just screams “bully me” or something?’ Allan thought, feeling totally helpless.

He just waved the shaker around blankly.

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16:04 Thu, Jan 22

Chapter 91

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Meanwhile, Stella was crouched on the ground, casually planting the little seedlings in the holes when her phone rang. She picked it up in a lazy, unbothered way.

“Hello,” she said.

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