My Amnesic Ex Married My Sister, So I Married His Uncle-Chapter 9: I’m Vicious, Still Want to Propose?

Chapter 9: Chapter 9: I’m Vicious, Still Want to Propose?

Stella Sterling remembered his words, "I might be more useful than you imagine."

’Yes, now she was starting to believe him.’

A large hand gently patted her head. "Let’s not waste any time."

There really wasn’t much to pack. Stella Sterling only took her ID, wallet, and a few paintings she was reasonably pleased with.

On her way out, she grabbed the journal and blue velvet jewelry box from the entryway cabinet and stuffed them into her tote bag.

The whole thing took no more than five minutes.

When Stella Sterling returned to the car, Owen Rhodes was visibly surprised.

He’d heard Silas Jacobs complain more than once about having to wait several hours for his girlfriend before they could leave for a date.

He had worried this wouldn’t be enough time for Stella Sterling, so he had secretly built in a bit of a buffer.

"That was fast?"

"Didn’t you say you don’t like to waste time?"

After a brief pause, Owen Rhodes’s lips curved into a smile as he handed her some milk and a sandwich.

"I didn’t know what you usually like to eat, so I just grabbed some things from a convenience store. You should eat something to tide you over."

In truth, Stella Sterling hadn’t eaten at all the entire previous day.

She had woken up to a call from Ethan Rhodes, packed in a hurry, and driven to The Sunward Coast.

Later, the ordeal with Ethan Rhodes and Kiana Sterling had ruined her appetite. Then, that evening, she’d been racing around with Owen Rhodes, too wound up to even think about it.

She hadn’t mentioned it to him, so she had no idea how he knew to buy her food.

Stella Sterling examined the milk carton in her hand. "You’re so thoughtful, Mr. Rhodes. Have you really never met anyone who caught your eye?" 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Owen Rhodes glanced at her, silently started the engine, and began driving toward the airport.

The topic was a bit personal, so Stella Sterling figured he probably didn’t want to talk about it.

Just as she was about to tell him not to feel pressured, she heard Owen Rhodes say, "Everyone has a past, don’t they?"

Owen Rhodes turned to look at her and saw her chewing on her straw, nodding to herself. Her expression softened, and she looked considerably more relaxed.

They drove the rest of the way in silence.

Stella Sterling ate quietly, chewing slowly and thoroughly. The only sound in the car was the occasional crinkle of packaging.

By the time she finished, they were just pulling up to the FBO.

Just as she was about to get out of the car, her ringing phone stopped her.

It was Ethan Rhodes.

She had blocked all of the Sterlings but had forgotten about Ethan Rhodes.

As soon as the call connected, Ethan Rhodes’s furious voice assaulted her.

"Stella Sterling, what the hell did you say to Kiana!"

In the quiet car, the voice leaking from the phone was exceptionally clear.

"She’s been crying ever since she woke up. Just what did you say to her! Stella Sterling, I never imagined you were this vicious. Do you have to drive her to her death to be satisfied?! If anything happens to Kiana this time, I will never forgive you!

"It’s all your fault Kiana’s health is this bad! If you have a shred of conscience, send me your location right now. Joel Joyce will come and get you!"

That feeling of her blood running cold came over her again.

Stella Sterling bit her lower lip, her lovely face completely drained of color. The hand holding the phone trembled uncontrollably.

She had never imagined that those words would come from Ethan Rhodes’s mouth.

The last person in the world who believed in her was finally gone.

’I don’t want to admit it, but... Kiana Sterling, you won.’

After a long moment, her voice trembled as she spoke. "Ethan Rhodes, congratulations. You’re a true member of the Sterling family now."

She opened the door and got out of the car. "Our time is up. We’re through. As for Kiana, you’re right. I’ll only be happy when she’s dead. Since you already know that, go and tell her I’m coming for her."

With that, she hung up.

She strode forward and, without a moment’s hesitation, tossed her phone into a trash can as she passed it.

’Filed under non-recyclable.’

Owen Rhodes had kept a step’s distance behind her the entire time.

Then, suddenly, he reached out and took hold of her arm.

Stella Sterling turned, her eyes bloodshot.

She curled her lips into a smile, looking like a siren who’d lure a man in just to rip out his heart.

"You heard that, didn’t you? I’m quite vicious. Still want to propose?"

Her smile was beautiful, but to Owen Rhodes, she looked like she was about to shatter.

Gently stroking the inside of her wrist with his thumb, Owen Rhodes said in a steady voice, "I just wanted to say you’re going the wrong way. It’s this way."

"..."

The psychological defenses she had thrown up in response to the stress suddenly crumbled.

Her bristling anger was suddenly soothed, vanishing without a trace.

Not only did her anger dissipate, but for a moment, her thoughts ground to a halt as well.

In a daze, Stella Sterling let Owen Rhodes lead her by the wrist into the FBO’s lounge.

The large screen in the lounge was playing a news broadcast.

"Recently, ’Sea Mist,’ a work by rising artist Ms. Kiana Sterling, sold for 86 million US dollars at Frey’s summer auction. This sale breaks the record for the highest price for a modern painting at a Frey’s auction, a record she herself had set..."

The screen showed a stylish, artistic photo of Kiana Sterling before cutting to a shot of the record-breaking painting itself.

As if she hadn’t heard a word, Stella Sterling walked past the large screen, following Owen Rhodes as staff guided them through check-in and security.

Only when she stepped into the aircraft cabin did she realize they weren’t alone.

The man wore a light-colored, linen-style outfit. When he smiled, both his prominent canines and the black stud in his earlobe seemed to flash with a cold light.

She recognized him; he was the man who had been standing with Owen Rhodes at the bonfire party.

"Silas Jacobs," Owen Rhodes introduced.

Silas Jacobs smiled and extended his hand toward her. "Hello, beautiful artist. We meet again."

He sized her up as he spoke.

’Beautiful.’

’Definitely beautiful.’

He had seen her at the bonfire party at night, and her face, illuminated by the flickering flames, had left a deep impression on him.

Now, in the bright light, Silas Jacobs found that her air of calm detachment was even more captivating.

’Calm and detached. The combination was mysterious.’

’Beauty plus mystery. She had all the makings of a femme fatale.’

’It’s no wonder Owen Rhodes was smitten. He never stood a chance.’

Stella Sterling was oblivious to the winding path of Silas Jacobs’s thoughts. She only recognized his voice as the one who had called Owen Rhodes back at the villa.

She offered a polite smile and gave his hand a brief, light shake. "Hello. You can just call me Stella Sterling."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Stella Sterling went to go rest.

The two men were considerate, giving her the large suite on the plane for herself.

The moment the door closed, Silas Jacobs slid from one end of the sofa to the other, shoving his handsome face right up to Owen Rhodes’s, ready to gossip.

"Rhodes, are you for real?"

Back at the bonfire party, he had egged Owen on, telling him to be Stella Sterling’s protector, but that had all been a joke.

After all, Stella Sterling’s position was rather awkward.

Later, when he saw Owen Rhodes "propose," he just assumed Owen was putting on a show to get rid of that young woman who was pestering him.

But who would have thought that the very next afternoon, Owen Rhodes would wake him with a series of calls, demanding he find Stella Sterling’s whereabouts on an impossible timeline and contact the FBO to arrange for her to return to the country with them.

His tone and attitude were as meticulous as if he were negotiating a multi-billion-dollar deal for Rhodes Corp.

Owen Rhodes ignored him, pushing him away as he focused on his phone.

Silas Jacobs protested, "Hey, I’m talking to you. What are you looking at that’s so important?"

He leaned in again, his eyes fixed on Owen Rhodes’s phone screen.

"Civil Affairs Bureau operating hours"... "Documents required for a marriage license"...

"Holy shit! Has she even said yes? Has anything even started between you two? And you’re already looking this stuff up. Not to mention," Silas Jacobs slung a friendly arm around Owen Rhodes’s shoulder and lowered his voice, "chances are her heart’s still occupied. Are you really that desperate to move in? What’s the rush?"

Owen Rhodes emotionlessly brushed Silas Jacobs’s hand away. "Yes. I am."

"..."

Silas Jacobs was still speechless when the suite door opened.

Stella Sterling walked over to them and, looking at Owen Rhodes, asked, "Are you... free right now?"

With great tact, Silas Jacobs stood up to give them space, putting on a gentlemanly act. "You two chat. I’ll go see what the flight crew has prepared for breakfast."

Owen Rhodes glanced at Stella Sterling’s fingers clutching the hem of her skirt, then gestured to the seat beside him.

"I am. Sit down and talk."

Stella Sterling sat down but didn’t speak. Owen Rhodes waited quietly, not rushing her.

After she finally steeled herself and took a deep breath, Owen Rhodes heard her ask, "Owen Rhodes, what kind of marriage are you looking for?"