My Amnesic Ex Married My Sister, So I Married His Uncle-Chapter 109: Mr. Rhodes, So You Love Me This Much

Chapter 109: Chapter 109: Mr. Rhodes, So You Love Me This Much

Stella was taken aback. She hadn’t expected Owen Rhodes to say something like that.

He was Owen Rhodes, after all. Why would he need to imitate another man just to win someone’s affection?

It seemed that what happened last night—or rather, Ethan Rhodes regaining his memory—had left Owen far less composed than he let on.

Stella looked up and saw him frowning slightly. Whether from his recent shower or the alcohol, his dark, bottomless eyes shimmered with moisture.

The aggression in his gaze softened, transforming into apprehension and uncertainty as her silence stretched on.

His long, curled lashes fluttered anxiously, his eyes reflecting nothing but her image.

’It might be inappropriate,’ Stella thought, ’but for some reason, he looks exactly like a little puppy afraid of being abandoned right now.’

When she was sketching in Aeridor, there had been a puppy, only a few months old, near the guesthouse where she was staying.

She had found it one day when she went to take out the trash and saw a winding trail of blood next to the bins.

Following the trail of blood, she found the little puppy huddled and trembling inside an overturned cardboard box.

When Stella lifted the box, it shrank back in fear, baring its teeth at her ferociously. Then, once the box was completely out of the way, it turned and limped off.

Stella didn’t chase it. Instead, she moved the cardboard box under a set of eaves that would protect it from the rain, cut a hole in it, and placed some water and dog food inside.

She went to replace the food and water every day.

It took a week for the puppy to go from running away at the sight of her to finally letting her pet it.

Eventually, Stella took it to a vet to get its wound treated.

While in Aeridor, she would visit it every day after returning from sketching. The puppy eventually got so comfortable it would even roll over and show her its belly for rubs.

The day before she returned to Jandor, Stella went to see it and reluctantly told it that she had to leave soon.

She didn’t know if the little one understood, but when she tried to leave that day, it bit her pant leg and refused to let go no matter what.

For some reason, the look in Owen’s eyes now was uncannily similar to that little puppy’s.

Stella was lost in thought, completely unaware of the internal battle Owen was fighting during her silence.

In the quiet air, his apprehension and uncertainty began to curdle into something else.

Owen suddenly reached out. The warm pads of his fingers cupped her jaw and tilted her head up slightly, forcing her to meet his gaze.

"You’re thinking about him."

His tone was assertive, yet strained.

Stella knew he meant Ethan Rhodes. She shook her head. "I’m not thinking about Ethan Rhodes."

Owen didn’t press the issue. "Then what are you thinking about?"

"A puppy."

A flicker of confusion crossed his stormy eyes. "A puppy?"

Stella felt she was beginning to understand Owen’s emotions. She took the hand cupping her face, then used her own uninjured hand to cup his face and give him a gentle peck on the lips.

The man, who had been stewing in his own emotions, was suddenly placated. His gaze locked onto her face, tracking her every movement.

After a moment’s thought, she grew bolder and raised her hand to pat his head.

’So even someone like him can feel insecure when it comes to love,’ she realized.

"You don’t have to worry about him. To me, he’s just a stranger now. But you’re my husband. You’re so much more important than he is."

She didn’t know how much of that he believed, but he was clearly placated.

He’d had too much to drink, and his worries faded as quickly as they came. Now, his mind was filled with one thing: Stella’s words, "You’re more important than he is."

Owen stared at her, seeking confirmation. "Really?"

"Really."

"Then kiss me again."

Stella obediently pressed her lips to his.

Only this time, Owen didn’t let her pull away so quickly.

When he finally let her go, Owen wrapped his arms loosely around her. He was careful to avoid her injured arm, but he couldn’t stop himself from pressing closer, nuzzling his head into the crook of her neck from time to time. "Stella..."

"Yes? What is it?"

"Stella..."

"Yes," Stella replied, raising a hand to stroke his head.

"Stella..."

"..."

"Why aren’t you answering me?"

"..."

’He’s really drunk today,’ she thought. ’He’s become so unreasonable.’

Stella patiently humored him. "Yes, what is it you want to say?"

"Stella..."

"...Yes."

"Don’t love Ethan Rhodes."

"Okay, I don’t love him."

The voice from over her shoulder grew softer, more drawn out. "Love me a little more, okay?"

"Okay."

"Don’t leave me..."

"...Owen?"

The only response she received was the sound of Owen’s even breathing.

This was the first time Stella had seen him drunk like this. She never knew he would just keep repeating someone’s name.

And that he would do things the sober Owen would never dream of doing.

It made him seem even more endearing than before, Stella thought.

Except now, this big, endearing man had fallen asleep with his head on her shoulder.

And her arm was still injured...

It was too late to feel comfortable calling Tate for help.

She painstakingly scooted over, inch by inch, dragging the dead-to-the-world man with her until he was on the other side of the bed.

Then, using her one good hand, she pried his head off her shoulder.

But as soon as his head left her shoulder, Owen’s entire body lost its support.

Stella could only watch as the big lug that was Owen Rhodes toppled helplessly but swiftly to the side, despite her futilely outstretched hand. And then—

THUD.

Owen’s head cracked against the nightstand, and he let out a muffled grunt.

She couldn’t tell if he was still sleeping or if he’d just been knocked out cold.

Stella: "..."

’I’m so sorry. Please, please don’t remember any of this when you wake up tomorrow,’ she prayed.

...

When Stella woke up the next day, Owen, for once, hadn’t left yet.

The moment she opened her eyes, she was met with a pair of deep, dark eyes staring right at her.

She jumped, instinctively recoiling.

Fortunately, Owen had an arm protectively around her waist, which kept her from moving too suddenly and pulling at her injured arm.

Owen didn’t say a word, just kept staring at her.

His intense gaze made her skin crawl. Stella shrank back slightly. "W-what is it?"

Owen frowned. "I drank too much last night. I feel like I’ve forgotten something, but I can’t quite recall what."

Stella thought, ’Thank goodness. He doesn’t remember hitting his head.’

Remembering how relentlessly Owen had teased her the last time she got drunk, a mischievous glint appeared in Stella’s eyes.

"Do you need me to help you remember?"

Owen raised an eyebrow. "Yes, please do."

Stella’s eyes crinkled into a smile. "You were very drunk last night, and you asked me..."

She had been about to mention him asking why she loved Ethan Rhodes, but remembering how insecure he had looked, Stella kindly decided to skip that part.

"You asked me if I could love you a little more."

"..."

His gaze, which had been locked on her, finally shifted away.

Owen’s thin lips pressed into a tight line, and his brow furrowed. He looked embarrassed. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Stella gloated inwardly.

’That’s what you get for making fun of my drunken rambling!’

She continued, "You also told me to only love you, and to never leave you."

She mimicked how he had held her face the night before, squeezing his cheeks with one hand and forcing his tightly pressed lips to part like a goldfish’s.

"Well now, Mr. Rhodes. I didn’t realize you were so desperately in love."

Owen let her playfully squeeze his face, his eyes meeting hers as he readily admitted it.

"I am. Very much so. So, did you say yes last night?"