Shadows Between Us (Stella and Sebastian) novel Chapter 95

Chapter 95

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I just invited her over for a meal. How did it end up feeling like I was the one who got the better deal?’ Kendrick thought, baffled.

Stella spoke up casually, “It’s nothing special.”

Kendrick let out a sigh of relief, picked up his cup, and took a sip to calm himself. But before he could even swallow, Stella added, just as nonchalant as before, “It’s just a Vitalis Pill.”

The water Kendrick had just sipped shot out of his mouth like a fountain, right onto Blake’s face.

Blake, who instinctively raised the 40-million-dollar canvas above his head, was left speechless.

‘Did it just rain on me, or what?’ Blake thought, dazed. ‘Not sure. Better wait a sec. My legs still feel like jelly!’

“Ms. Carter, what did you just say? Vitalis, what?” Kendrick hacked away, his face turning beet red, totally stunned. He’d seen it all in his long life, but nothing had ever shocked him like this.

Stella answered coolly, “Vitalis Pill.”

Kendrick blinked, “Vitalis what?”

Stella repeated, a bit more firmly, “Vitalis Pill.”

Kendrick squinted, still not getting it. “What pill?”

Stella turned to look at Sebastian, confused.

Lucas, stone-faced, clambered up onto a nearby stool. He stretched out his little arms and popped open the box with a sharp snap. Instantly, a strong medicinal scent flooded the whole hall.

Stella, barely holding onto her patience, repeated, “Vitalis Pill.”

Kendrick was silent for a long moment, but the way his hand trembled around the cup gave away just how shaken he was.

The Vitalis pill was the Trent family’s most prized treasure.

‘Wait, the only Vitalis Pill in all of Clusia?’ Kendrick thought, his mind spinning.

Just one dose of this pill could yank someone back from the brink of death, even if they were already half in the grave.

It could keep someone hanging on by a thread, no matter how dire the situation.

‘And she calls this nothing special?’ Kendrick thought.

If the first two gifts could still be measured in money, then this was priceless.

“Is this the Vitalis Pill from the Trent family?” Kendrick asked, his face a mix of emotions. As one of Haliville’s big three families, he’d caught wind of what went down that night.

Stella didn’t bother to elaborate. “No.”

“Ms. Carter, where did you get this pill?” Xander snapped out of his shock, his gaze turning sharp and probing.

But before he could get another look, a terrifying killing intent crashed into the room. Xander’s breath caught in his throat as he whipped his head around, only to lock eyes with Sebastian.

16:04 Thu, Jan 22

Chapter 95

Sebastian’s icy stare pinned him in place, making escape impossible.

Stella didn’t even look his way. With a sharp snap, she closed the lid, and the scent disappeared instantly.

“Take it,” she said, her face blank as she pushed the box toward Kendrick.

Kendrick was left speechless.

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After a long pause, Kendrick met Stella’s deep amber eyes and couldn’t help but flash back to the first time he’d seen her at the South District Precinct.

All these years wheeling and dealing, his gut had saved him more times than he could count. And this time, he just knew it. ‘I bet it all, and once again, I hit the jackpot, Kendrick thought.

Meeting Stella was honestly a massive stroke of luck for Pierce Group.

Thinking this, Kendrick glanced at Blake, who was still holding the canvas over his head like a total dork. He couldn’t help but sigh to himself, ‘If there’s such a thing as dumb luck, this kid is living proof!’

“Blake, put it in my study,” Kendrick said, handing over the box. Blake took it with utmost care, cradling it like it was the most precious thing in the world, barely daring to breathe.

Blake headed upstairs.

“Remind him to change his clothes,” Kendrick added, sending another servant after him.

Xander’s eyes narrowed, his mood turning even gloomier at that.

Lucas, his face still as cold as ever, suddenly tugged at Stella’s sleeve. She looked down and saw his cheeks turning pink, his eyes all watery.

Lucas really needed to go potty.

“Mind if we use the bathroom?” Stella said, getting up and taking Lucas by the hand.

“Use the guest room upstairs,” Kendrick said, motioning for the butler to lead the way.

Kendrick figured it was a good chance to calm himself down. But as he looked up and met Sebastian’s gaze, his heart skipped a beat.

‘How could I forget about the devil himself?’ Kendrick thought, his heart jumping into his throat.

“Mr. Gray,” Kendrick managed, his voice trembling as he tried to start a conversation. With Stella out of sight, Sebastian suddenly looked like he could eat him alive.

Sebastian slowly turned his head, stone-faced and silent.

“Nice day out, huh?” Kendrick said, his voice dry as a bone.

For Sebastian and Allan, it was a full-on awkward staring contest.

*****

Upstairs, Stella leaned against the wall with her hands in her pockets, waiting for Lucas to finish in the bathroom.

The butler stood by respectfully, not daring to slack off.

“That’s Mr. Xander Pierce’s stuff. Please, don’t mess with it,” came a slightly biting voice from down the hall. Stella glanced up lazily, her expression unreadable.

16:04 Thu, Jan 22

Chapter 95

The butler felt a sudden jolt in his chest. He realized it was coming from the study.

“Ms. Carter,” the butler began.

But before he could finish, Stella lifted her delicate finger to her lips, signaling him to stay quiet.

She walked over lazily toward the source of the voice, looking completely unfazed.

The study door was half open.

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Blake and a servant were inside. The servant’s voice was shrill and sharp, not bothering to show any respect for Blake. With no one else around, she was bossing him around, finger wagging as if she ran the place.

“How about I just put it here?” Blake said, trying to sound polite as he fidgeted with the bookshelf, looking for a spot. He was clearly uncomfortable, but managed to keep his patience.

Stella raised an eyebrow. She hadn’t expected the always-tough Blake, who acted like he owned the streets, to be such a pushover at home.

That actually caught her off guard.

“Stop! That’s Xander’s first physics championship trophy, and this one is his math championship trophy from years ago.

“Kendrick specifically said they have to stay right here, not to be touched without permission,” the servant snapped, her tone sharp and bossy.

She shot Blake a look full of undisguised mockery. “If Kendrick didn’t want Xander to inherit Pierce Group, Xander would’ve gone straight for the Nobel Prize in Math!”

Stella was stunned for a moment.

The butler was sweating bullets. Blake and Kendrick were always at odds, and everyone just assumed Pierce Group would go to Xander. Every time Blake showed up, he always got the cold shoulder.

Kendrick had no idea about any of this. The butler had a hunch, but since it never blew up in front of him, he just turned a blind eye.

Just as the butler was getting anxious, Stella just gave a quiet laugh to herself.

The butler suddenly felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Stella said lazily, raising her hand and knocking on the door a few times, each knock sending a jolt of fear through the butler.

Blake and the servant inside looked up.

The servant’s face went very pale, clearly not expecting anyone to catch her. When she saw the butler, she froze, completely panicked. All she could do was pray no one had heard what she just said.

“Stella!” Blake couldn’t help but break into a goofy grin as soon as he saw her.

Stella kept her face impassive, glancing coolly at the maid. “Just so you know, there’s no such thing as a Nobel Prize for

Math.”

16:02 Thu, Jan 22