My Amnesic Ex Married My Sister, So I Married His Uncle-Chapter 26: The Engagement Ring is Missing

Liam Hawthorne’s words hit Gavin and Chase Sterling like a physical blow.

Neither of them had expected it. A man who normally required an appointment just for a brief meeting had suddenly appeared in their home.

What’s more, Liam Hawthorne’s words made it clear they were slighting Owen Rhodes.

Who in all of Jandor would dare to cross Owen Rhodes?

They had really picked a fight with the wrong person this time.

It was only then that Chase Sterling realized what that nagging feeling of unease had been about.

The black Maybach at the gate!

The license plate had seemed vaguely familiar, but he hadn’t been able to place it at the time.

Though it wasn’t used often, that was definitely Owen Rhodes’s car!

Moreover, the car had been parked outside ever since he’d walked into the villa.

He belatedly realized it must have been waiting for Stella all along.

So, what Liam Hawthorne had said was true.

Gavin Sterling snapped back to reality. With a smile, he led Chase Sterling forward and extended his hand. "President Rhodes, this is just a small misunderstanding. You should have let us know you were coming. Madeline, go brew a pot of good tea."

Owen Rhodes gave their hands a brief, noncommittal shake. "Don’t trouble yourself. I’m here to pick up Miss Stella Sterling."

The corner of Gavin Sterling’s mouth twitched. "Pick up... Stella? President Rhodes, are you and our Stella...?"

Owen Rhodes turned to look at her, only to see her pretty, almond-shaped eyes fixed on him, bright with a hint of surprise.

But the palm print on her small face was painfully conspicuous.

Owen Rhodes’s eyes darkened slightly, but his voice was gentle when he spoke. "Miss Stella Sterling is my savior."

Upon hearing this, Gavin Sterling’s face instantly broke into a grin as warm as a spring breeze.

"I had no idea! Well, this is perfect. It’s nearly dinnertime, so why don’t you stay for a casual meal, President Rhodes?"

Owen Rhodes declined. "I’ve already booked a restaurant. May I have the pleasure of Miss Stella Sterling’s company?"

He was only dining with Stella.

Stella snapped back to her senses. ’Isn’t he supposed to be on a business trip?’

Gavin Sterling was grinning from ear to ear. He shot Stella a look, silently urging her to agree at once.

Just then, Madeline Jennings, who had gone to make tea, returned to the living room.

Stella lowered her gaze and shook her head, her voice full of grievance. "I appreciate the kind offer, President Rhodes, but my mother won’t let me go out."

Madeline Jennings nearly staggered at her words.

Gavin Sterling shot her a displeased look, and she quickly forced an awkward laugh. "That’s not it at all... You silly girl, I just said a few words. Why are you taking it to heart?"

A smile played on Stella’s lips. "So, can I go?"

What else could she do?

No matter how unwilling Madeline Jennings was, she couldn’t defy Owen Rhodes. "Go on, then. Just be home early tonight."

She said the words through gritted teeth.

Stella didn’t reply. Owen Rhodes walked to her side and, like a true gentleman, gestured for her to go first.

Since Owen Rhodes was leaving, the Sterlings naturally had to see him out.

On the way to the main gate, Gavin Sterling said, "President Rhodes, my son Chase has recently started handling some of the company’s business. As it happens, some of it involves collaborations with Kyros. I hope you’ll offer him your guidance."

Owen Rhodes’s tone was tepid. "He can contact Hawthorne if needed."

Gavin Sterling offered a few more pleasantries.

When they reached the Maybach, Owen Rhodes personally opened the car door for Stella, helping her get in.

Kiana Sterling, who had been trailing behind, finally trotted forward and called out, "Uncle!"

She blocked Owen Rhodes’s path, her eyes rimmed with red, the very picture of loveliness and distress.

Owen Rhodes stopped. "Miss Kiana Sterling, isn’t it a bit premature for you to be calling me ’Uncle’?"

The engagement party hadn’t even been held yet, so Kiana couldn’t be considered one of the Rhodeses.

He refused to acknowledge the title.

Kiana’s face paled. "President Rhodes," she amended, her voice full of grievance, "can you let Ethan come back sooner? The engagement party is just a few days away, and I’m worried he won’t make it back in time..."

"He was the one who insisted on going to Veridia. Whether he makes it back is a measure of his own ability."

With that, he walked right past her and got in the car from the other side.

Kiana bit her lip, distraught, as the window of the car slid down silently.

Just before the car pulled away, Stella waved to the people outside. "Don’t wait up for me."

’I’m not coming back, either.’

With that, the window slid up, and the Maybach drove away from the Sterling Villa.

...

Stella pulled her gaze away from the window and turned to Owen Rhodes, only to find him already watching her.

His gaze was somewhat heavy, and Stella instinctively shrank back a little.

"What’s wrong?"

Kieran’s voice was laced with concern. "Does it hurt?"

’Oh, he’s asking about my face.’

She reached up to touch her cheek and shook her head. "It doesn’t hurt anymore."

’It did hurt at the time, though.’

Changing the subject, she asked, "Aren’t you supposed to be on a business trip? Did you come here specifically for me? But how did you know I was at the Sterling estate?"

He patiently answered each of her questions. "The trip ended early. I came specifically to get you. Liam Hawthorne told me you were at the Sterling Family’s home. Who hit your face?"

As he spoke, he gently pulled away the left hand she was using to cover the mark.

A red mark circled her wrist. His voice deepened. "And what about your wrist?"

Stella answered truthfully. "Ms. Jennings slapped my face, and that bastard Joel Joyce grabbed my wrist."

Liam Hawthorne, in the driver’s seat, hesitated for a long moment before deciding to speak up. "President Rhodes, I think her shoulder might be injured as well. President Sterling... he hit her with a cane."

When the Sterlings had started arriving, he had asked Stella if she wanted him to intervene. She’d told him no, and to just wait in the car.

’He shouldn’t have listened to her.’

It was only when one of the Sterling family’s housekeepers knocked on his window and told him to go inside that he did.

By the time he got inside, Gavin Sterling’s cane had already landed.

Owen Rhodes’s eyes turned ice-cold. "Is it serious? We’ll go to the hospital first."

Stella shook her head, looking listless. "It’s not serious."

She slipped off her shoes, curled her legs up onto the seat, and wrapped her arms around them.

She rested her uninjured right cheek on her knees, her head turned to the side. Her voice came out muffled. "Owen Rhodes, I’m a little tired. Let’s go home."

Owen Rhodes was silent for two seconds, resisting the urge to pull her into an embrace. He gently rested his palm on her head. "Okay. We’ll go home."

Stella must have been truly exhausted, because she fell asleep halfway there.

Curled up as she was, the position was unstable, and she swayed from side to side with the car’s movement.

Owen Rhodes slowly shifted closer to brace her swaying body.

When they passed a pharmacy, Owen Rhodes had Liam Hawthorne stop to buy some liniment for bruises and sprains.

...

As Owen Rhodes left with Stella, Kiana Sterling nearly bit her lip raw. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

’Why is he so good to Stella, yet so cold to me—someone who’s about to join the Rhodes Family?’

’A life debt?’

’As if I’d believe that!’

’The three slaps Stella gave me today... One day, I’ll pay her back double!’

Kiana’s eyes were red with fury. Madeline Jennings hurried over to comfort her. "Don’t worry. Your Mr. Rhodes won’t let the Rhodes Family be embarrassed. Ethan will definitely make it back before the engagement party."

Though that wasn’t what she was angry about, Kiana still nodded obediently upon hearing Madeline Jennings’s concern and comfort.

She walked toward her room. As she passed the door to Stella’s room, a housekeeper, having just finished cleaning, was coming out and closing the door.

A glance from the corner of her eye revealed that many things were missing from inside.

She asked, "Why are there so few things in Stella’s room?"

The housekeeper was terrified of her and answered tremblingly, "The Second Miss... she took everything with her just now..."

’Took them with her?’

’She’s not coming back?’

’Ha. I knew Stella was no match for me.’

She was about to share this news with Madeline Jennings, but on second thought, she returned to her room.

A few minutes later, she ran to Madeline Jennings in tears.

"Mom, I just heard the housekeeper say that Stella took all of her things. She... she didn’t run away from home, did she?"

Upon hearing this, Madeline Jennings rushed to Stella’s room. One look inside confirmed it was true.

Kiana spoke again. "Mom, I... I can’t find my engagement ring. Do you think... Stella could have...?"