Shadows Between Us (Stella and Sebastian) novel Chapter 97

Chapter 97

The mug shattered right next to the maid, making her instantly cover her ears and crouch down in terror. “Ah.”

Blake and the butler were both startled by Stella’s sudden action.

“Stella, Blake said.

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He thought, ‘If I still don’t get that she’s helping me stand my ground, then I really am an idiot.’ He stared blankly at her back, his eyes growing hot with emotion, unable to say a word.

Stella didn’t even spare Blake a glance. With a cold, expressionless face, she addressed the butler, then walked past the maid who was shaking all over on the floor. “Let’s go downstairs.”

*****

Downstairs, Xander watched as Stella strode in, radiating an air of danger. Her hair was pulled back in a sleek bun, making her look both stunning and intimidating. For a moment, a chill ran down Xander’s spine, goosebumps prickling his skin.

Expressionless, Stella sat down beside Sebastian, then looked up and locked eyes with Kendrick. They understood each other without a word.

Today, Kendrick’s so-called invitation was more like an ambush in disguise. He wasn’t as in the dark as everyone thought about what Blake had endured at Gray Manor.

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But for reasons he couldn’t openly admit, Kendrick couldn’t step in himself, so Stella became the sharpest blade to help Blake make his stand.

Stella thought, ‘Even if Lucas hadn’t needed the bathroom, Kendrick would’ve found some other way to get me upstairs.

“What happened upstairs?” Xander asked tentatively.

The butler quickly came downstairs, glanced at Stella, then bent down to whisper in Kendrick’s ear.

“Just say it,” But before he could say a word, Sebastian cut in. His vibe was so icy and intense that it felt almost unreal.

But the next second, Sebastian pulled out a clean, dark handkerchief, took Stella’s hand, and carefully dried the water from

her skin.

The black prayer beads on his wrist swayed softly. Damn, that was nice to watch.

Allan thought, ‘Sebastian, a germaphobe? Seriously? Not a chance!’

The butler shot Sebastian a wary look, then recounted everything that had happened upstairs. Blake, who had come down with them, instinctively tried to hide behind Stella.

But before he could get close, two icy stares, one from Sebastian and one from Lucas, simultaneously landed on him.

Their gazes were cold as ice.

Blake froze.

Kendrick’s eyes were heavy with authority. “Call all the servants out.” He paused, then looked at Xander. “Call your mother and tell her to come back.”

Soon, the hall was filled with servants.

When Penelope Pierce walked in and saw the scene, her face instantly darkened. “Dad, what’s going on?” she started, her tone

16:04 Thu, Jan 22

Chapter 97

annoyed. But the moment she met a pair of cold, gloomy eyes, she couldn’t help but shiver.

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‘Mr. Gray?’ she thought, her heart skipping a beat. Am I dreaming? How the hell is this grim reaper sitting in my living

room?’

Penelope quickly squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them again. But he was still there, not a figment of her imagination.

‘Seriously?’ Penelope thought, stunned into silence. She shut her mouth, too scared to say a word.

At Kendrick’s signal, the butler retold what happened.

“What’s the big deal? Just dock their bonuses for this month. Why go through all this trouble?” Penelope just shrugged it off.

Those servants were acting that way because she told them to.

Blake and Kendrick had always been like oil and water. Blake barely set foot in Gray Manor more than once or twice a year, and every visit ended in a blowout.

No one knew what changed after he got out of South District Precinct, but now he’d actually moved back in, shocking

everyone.

“Ms. Carter, what do you think?” Kendrick turned to Stella.

Stella looked at Penelope, her face unreadable. “Fire them all.”

“What did you just say?” Penelope shot up from her seat. Most of these servants were her loyal followers; they kept her informed about everything happening around Kendrick.

‘Who does she think she is, sticking her nose into the Pierce family business?’ Penelope thought, her anger simmering.

“She said, fire them all,” Sebastian repeated.

Sebastian’s eyes were shadowed, his whole presence icy and commanding. His voice was flat, but people could feel the storm brewing, and danger was thick in the air.

Allan thought, ‘Damn, Stella’s really speaking up now!

“Settle their wages,” Kendrick said, closing his eyes for a moment before opening them again and instructing the butler.

“Dad!” Penelope shot up from her seat, staring at him in disbelief.

‘Has Dad lost his mind?’ she thought.

“Grandpa, these folks have been with the Pierce family for over ten years. If you fire them just like that, word will get out, and it’ll hurt the family’s reputation.

“Why not just have them apologize properly to Ms. Carter?” Xander said smoothly, giving the servants a look.

Instantly, dozens of them lined up in front of Stella, bowing and mumbling apologies one after another.

“Shut up,” Sebastian snapped, his voice icy and sharp.

Sebastian was shrouded in a dark, menacing vibe. The noise was driving his already sleepless nerves over the edge, his temper erupted like a tornado, and in a blink, the peaceful Pierce Manor turned into a hellscape.

For a moment, his eyes looked like they were stained with blood. It made everyone’s skin crawl.

People had heard all the stories about Sebastian’s mood swings, but seeing it for real freaked everyone out.

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