My Amnesic Ex Married My Sister, So I Married His Uncle-Chapter 15: Can We Do It Another Day, Mrs. Rhodes?

Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Can We Do It Another Day, Mrs. Rhodes?

Stella Sterling froze as if hit by an Immobilization Spell. She stood motionless before Owen Rhodes, her expression rigid, her breath caught in her throat.

Her phone slipped from her palm, but luckily, Owen was quick enough to snatch it out of the air.

Meanwhile, Ariana Grant, on the other end of the line, had no idea what was happening. Her excited, booming voice echoed through the silent villa.

"Ha! I knew it! So why are you calling me? Do you know what time it is? It’s your wedding night! Go enjoy it!"

Stella snapped back to her senses, snatched her phone back, and furiously mashed the "end call" button.

’Any more of that and she’d be talking about our kids.’

Stella’s gaze darted everywhere, refusing to land on the dark-gray-clad figure before her.

"You... When did you get back?"

’I wonder how much he heard.’

’Should I try to explain?’

’It was just girl talk with my best friend. It didn’t mean anything.’

Owen looked down, observing her rapidly changing expressions, and said in a low voice, "So, you’re that satisfied with me."

BOOM—

’So this was a public shaming.’

Stella practically exploded.

From her cheeks to her neck, from the base of her ears to their tips, she was aflush in brilliant red, like a sunset-kissed evening cloud.

Owen stared at the red tips of her ears, his gaze deepening.

In the end, he simply raised a hand and gently patted her bewildered head. "I’m going to take a shower."

BOOM—

Stella felt like she was going to explode all over again.

After Owen walked past her, she fled downstairs to the dining room in a panic. Clutching a glass of water, she began pacing back and forth in front of the kitchen island.

’A shower?’

’What does he mean, a shower?’

’And what happens after the shower?’

’We’ve only known each other for three days! Isn’t this moving too fast?’

’I know he’s direct, but can’t he hold off on being so direct for a bit?’

’But we’re legally married now. I can’t just keep refusing him, can I?’

’Besides, it’s not like I’m getting the short end of the stick here!’

’He really is my type, from head to toe.’

’What should I do?’

’Go with it?’

’Or not?’

As Stella wrestled with her inner turmoil, she unconsciously chugged three full glasses of water.

When Owen came out of the bathroom, the bedroom was empty.

He searched around and finally found her in the dining room, lost in thought while clutching a glass of water.

Owen decided to pour himself a glass of water as well and stood beside her at the island.

"Not sleepy yet?"

Stella turned at the sound of his voice. Owen was wearing a black bathrobe with a subtle pattern. The belt was tied loosely, leaving the front open and offering a glimpse of his chest and abs.

The ends of his hair were still damp. A stray droplet of water trickled from his collarbone down into his robe, silently drawing her gaze.

He had a strong brow, and in the dim light, his eyes looked even deeper. The corners of his eyes held a soft, hazy smile.

’He’s really... hitting all my weak spots!’

She surreptitiously averted her gaze. "Not really."

"Did Tate pass on my message?"

Stella lowered her head and took a sip of water. "Mm."

"You can use the third floor as your art studio. Decorate it however you like; you don’t need to ask me. And if there’s anything you want to add to the house, just buy it. I lived alone before, so I never paid much attention to these things. But now..."

Owen paused, and Stella happened to look up at him.

Their eyes met, and Owen continued, "This is our home now. It should start to feel like one."

’Feel like a home...’

Those words left Stella feeling a little lost.

’What should a home feel like?’

The only thing she could picture was from her childhood: the old, velvet-covered sofa at her grandmother’s house, the small, neatly folded blanket on it, the clean, matching set of teacups on the coffee table...

Most importantly, her grandmother’s house always had a scent that was both familiar and comforting.

The glass was plucked from her hand, and a pair of large hands took hold of her shoulders, gently pushing her toward the stairs.

Owen’s voice was a little hoarse. "You have plenty of time to think about it. The house is yours to mess around with as much as you want. For now, it’s time for bed."

’Bed?’

’As in, just sleeping? Or... *sleeping* together?’

Stella’s brain had once again left the building.

Whenever she was with Owen, she felt as if someone had stolen her brain, leaving her unable to think.

By the time she came to her senses, they were lying in bed together. Her senses were filled with the faint scent of pine and bamboo clinging to him—a scent that was fresh and deeply reassuring.

A small night light had been left on. When Stella turned her head, she could faintly make out Owen’s weary face.

Her gaze drifted to his eyelashes.

They were long and curled, casting a faint shadow in the dim, yellow light.

’How are even his eyelashes so perfect?’

Even with his eyes closed, Owen could feel her gaze fixed on his face.

He spoke softly, "I know you’re very satisfied with me, but I’m afraid I’m a bit tired today. Could we reschedule, Mrs. Rhodes?"

’Wait, I didn’t say anything, did I?’

Her brain having checked out, Stella obediently went along with his words. "Okay."

Owen opened his deep, clear eyes. A silent smile spread across his lips as he turned on his side to face her.

His gaze was intense, unfathomably deep.

In the silent night, all Stella could hear was the sound of her own heartbeat.

Owen watched her for a moment, then reached out and gently smoothed her soft hair before slowly closing his eyes again.

"Good night, Mrs. Rhodes."

"...Good night."

「The next morning, Stella Sterling woke up in Owen Rhodes’s arms.」

She’d been completely unaware before waking, only vaguely remembering feeling a chill at some point during the night.

Perfect!

There was a furnace right next to her, so she’d just snuggled up to it.

She had just woken up, her mind still fuzzy. This furnace gave off constant heat. It was amazing!

But the furnace was trying to escape, slowly pulling away.

Unhappy with this development, Stella hugged it tighter, and the comforting warmth made her instinctively nuzzle her face against it.

Wait!

’What furnace?!’

Stella’s eyes shot open. She sat up abruptly and scrambled backward in a panic.

"Gah!"

As her arms flailed, an arm suddenly wrapped around her waist, easily pulling her, blanket and all, back from the edge of the bed.

A handsome, elegantly sculpted face with an amused, teasing smile filled her vision.

"It seems Mrs. Rhodes truly is satisfied with me. And here I thought what you said on the phone last night was just a joke."

After helping her sit up properly in bed, Owen added, "I’m honored."

Stella felt utterly mortified.

She buried her face in her hands, the exposed tips of her ears turning pink. Her voice was muffled. "Owen Rhodes."

"Here."

"Could you maybe get temporary amnesia?"

"And where would you like my amnesia to begin?"

"From... the moment you got home last night?"

Owen chuckled. "Mrs. Rhodes, I have an excellent memory."

Stella didn’t want to talk anymore. She slowly slid down under the covers until her head was completely hidden.

The corners of Owen’s lips turned up unconsciously. "Alright, go back to sleep. It was all a dream."

Stella nodded with her eyes shut.

’That’s right... it was all a dream...’