My Amnesic Ex Married My Sister, So I Married His Uncle-Chapter 152: I... Came Up With an Idea

Although Madeline Jennings said she believed her, she felt an inexplicable sense of unease.

She wished Kiana would offer some concrete proof to put her mind at ease.

But on second thought, she realized how difficult that would be.

What kind of evidence could possibly prove that Kiana had really painted it?

Unless the entire process was filmed from start to finish...

Madeline Jennings’s unease grew.

Kiana was in a terrible state, crying nonstop.

Her face was pale and her lips were bloodless, and seeing her like that made Madeline’s heart ache with worry.

When Kiana eventually cried herself to sleep, Madeline finally allowed herself a long sigh.

She gazed at Kiana’s pale, quiet face, an indescribable sense of confusion welling up inside her.

’Could it really be Stella?’

Madeline went home, fraught with worry, to grab some things for Kiana. She happened upon the father and son talking in the living room.

Chase Sterling immediately asked, "Mom, how’s Kiana?"

Madeline Jennings forced a smile. "It’s nothing serious. She’s awake and resting now. I just came back to get some things for her."

Gavin Sterling kept his eyes fixed on her face.

After a moment, he asked, "What did Kiana say? Did she paint it?"

Madeline and Chase both snapped their heads toward him.

Gavin Sterling remained completely unfazed, simply waiting for Madeline’s reply.

Madeline said, "Kiana said... she painted it..."

Gavin Sterling cut in decisively, "That painting was done by her, and only her. Regardless of anything else, she painted it. That is our one and only public stance. Understand?"

Madeline’s pupils constricted for a moment, but she quickly understood Gavin’s meaning.

Kiana’s reputation as a great artist was too prominent; this was no longer just about her.

Kiana was also a public face for the Sterling Family, and now with the Rhodes Family involved, the painting absolutely had to be her work. It was the only way to deal with the fallout.

"So, if there’s any underlying threat, eliminate it early on!"

With that, Gavin Sterling rose and headed for his study.

For the Sterling Family, the truth no longer mattered. The only thing that mattered was that Sea Mist had to have been painted by Kiana.

That evening, Chase finally managed to find some free time to visit Kiana at the hospital.

Despite his father laying down the law, he was still curious about the truth.

After all, until today, he had never once doubted Kiana’s talent as an artist.

He tried to subtly probe for answers, but Kiana was adamant that she had painted it herself.

’But why did he still feel so uneasy?’

When Kiana said she was tired, he finally dropped the subject.

The moment Chase left, Kiana impatiently began smashing everything in her hospital room.

When Zoe Yates arrived, she was taken aback by the scene before her.

"Kiana, what... what happened?"

Kiana glanced over coolly. "My family did it," she said. "Making such a huge scene... I guess they’re angry."

Zoe put down her things and sat beside Kiana.

"Kiana, you must have offended someone, right? Otherwise, why would..."

Kiana arched an eyebrow at her, a knowing look on her face.

"Do you know who it was?"

Kiana’s expression shifted, and her eyes began to well up.

"Zoe, in all of Jandor, who do you think hates me the most?"

Zoe didn’t even have to think. It was a no-brainer. If you asked who in all of Jandor hated Kiana the most, the answer was obviously Stella Sterling.

Zoe’s eyes widened in sudden realization.

Then again, remembering that Stella had arrived with Owen Rhodes today, it suddenly... didn’t seem so unbelievable.

"Kiana, what are you going to do?"

Kiana gripped Zoe’s hand. "Zoe, you’ll help me, won’t you?"

As if compelled by some unseen force, Zoe nodded. Kiana’s lips curved into a smile.

...

「Lanthos Bay.」

Not long after Kiana was taken to the hospital that afternoon, Stella decided there was no point in staying at Everlake Resort and went home with Owen Rhodes.

Since he knew all about her feud with Kiana, Stella assumed Owen would at least ask her about it.

But she waited and waited, and Owen never asked what had happened today, or anything else for that matter.

Something along the lines of what Silas Jacobs had asked: Was she really not involved at all?

Stella mulled this over as she stared at Owen. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

But Owen acted as if he were completely oblivious, going about his own business.

It wasn’t until he had washed up that his deep gaze met hers.

"What’s wrong? You’ve been sneaking glances at me all day."

Stella retorted, "I have not been ’sneaking glances.’ I’ve been staring at you quite openly, thank you very much. Don’t you have anything to ask me?"

Owen smiled and played along. "Well then, Miss Stella, may I ask just how involved you were in today’s events?"

He was clearly asking a question, but Stella couldn’t shake the feeling that he already knew everything.

She was vexed when he didn’t ask. And now that he had, she was still vexed.

Stella’s brow furrowed as she stared at him. "Your question sounds too forced. I don’t feel like answering anymore."

Amused by her reaction, Owen reached out and pulled her into his arms.

"My dear Stella, I’m really curious. Will you tell me, please?"

In truth, he already knew what had happened, but he didn’t mind humoring her to make her happy.

Stella’s expression relaxed a little. "I... pitched an idea."

"What kind of idea?" Owen prompted, playing along.

"There was this famous graffiti artist overseas who sold a painting at auction for a high price. But right when the sale was finalized, the painting shredded itself in front of everyone. I thought it was so cool at the time, and I thought if I ever got a chance like that, I’d want to try it too."

And so, the opportunity presented itself.

She just never expected it to be under today’s circumstances.

Before she returned to the country, Ryan Shaw had contacted her one last time, telling her he had prepared a big gift for her.

But he didn’t specify what it was before he went off the grid.

It wasn’t until she heard Sean Shaw was coming to Jandor that she recalled it.

She hadn’t originally planned on attending the soft opening today, but she changed her mind at the last minute for that very reason.

Thinking of this, Stella said, "But you don’t seem surprised at all. Is there something you know?"

Owen widened his eyes in mock surprise. "I am surprised."

"Liar."

Owen tightened his arms, pulling her even closer.

"To be honest, I was surprised. I didn’t know what was going to happen today. I just knew that painting wasn’t Kiana’s work."

Owen said this with such conviction that it was Stella’s turn to be surprised.

She turned to him in surprise. "How did you know?"

Owen looked at her and smiled. "A gut feeling. Kiana isn’t capable of painting something that good."