My Amnesic Ex Married My Sister, So I Married His Uncle-Chapter 11: I Want You to Be on My Side Unconditionally

Chapter 11: Chapter 11: I Want You to Be on My Side Unconditionally

Stella Sterling felt she couldn’t quite control herself around Owen Rhodes.

She had been the one worried he would change his mind, and she was also the one left flustered now that he’d seriously proposed.

Her fingers unconsciously fiddled with the fabric over her knees. With her thoughts in a jumble, she lifted her gaze to meet Owen Rhodes’s.

Owen Rhodes seemed to have been smiling ever since they got on the plane.

His deep-set eyes were so gentle when they crinkled with his smile.

It was hard to imagine that this man, rumored to be unpredictable and ruthless in the business world, could have such gentle eyes.

She was still a little uncertain. "Are you sure you’ve thought this through? I don’t usually give people the chance to back out."

Stella Sterling’s intention was to make him think it over carefully. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

But all Owen Rhodes heard were three simple words: "I am willing."

He smiled gently and took out the ring.

In the end, Owen Rhodes slipped the pink diamond tiara ring onto Stella Sterling’s ring finger.

The pink diamond had a very high clarity—crystal clear and utterly flawless, just like Stella Sterling’s eyes.

Owen Rhodes held Stella Sterling’s hand while his other hand rested on the sofa beside her for support.

He looked up at her. "I’d already made up my mind when I proposed to you at the bonfire party. But what about you? Are you really sure you want to marry me?"

Stella Sterling nodded and hummed a soft "mhm."

’He’d already put the ring on her finger. It would be impolite to act coy now.’

"Then why couldn’t you look me in the eye just now?"

"..."

’He actually noticed.’

"Is it because you’re shy?" The smile in Owen Rhodes’s eyes deepened.

"..."

’I was shy, but not that much. Just a little bit.’

’But did he have to point it out...?’

At the time, on a whim, she thought she’d come up with a brilliant plan and was desperate to ask if his proposal still stood.

But when she was actually standing in front of him, she realized how hard it was to get the words out.

’Shyness, awkwardness, nervousness, anxiety...’

’It was a complicated mix of emotions.’

Having been called out by Owen Rhodes, a blush quietly crept onto Stella Sterling’s delicate cheeks. It was a faint, beautiful shade of pink.

"Owen Rhodes."

The man stared impassively at her pale pink cheeks and the tip of her nose, answering distractedly, "Hmm?"

"You know, some things are better left unsaid."

He snapped out of it, stunned for a moment, then let out a soft chuckle. "I’m not laughing at you. I just think you’re adorable."

Stella Sterling was always a sucker for compliments.

"Well, since you said I’m adorable, I’ll let it slide this time."

Stella Sterling clearly had more to say, so Owen Rhodes didn’t rush to stand. He simply remained kneeling on one knee before her, waiting patiently without a word of urging.

The young woman was very sensitive. If he rushed her, she would get anxious, become afraid to speak, or try to guess his intentions and say what she thought he wanted to hear.

He wanted her to feel she could be completely unguarded with him.

After a long moment, Stella Sterling spoke. "Owen Rhodes... you know who I am, don’t you?"

She wasn’t just talking about her name, "Stella Sterling," but her identity as Ethan Rhodes’s former fiancée.

"I know."

’I knew it.’

She’d thought it was strange. ’Would someone I’d only known for a day really propose because of some nonsensical family rules?’

Their subsequent "chance" encounters and Owen Rhodes’s help had only made her more suspicious and guarded.

But after she guessed his identity, those doubts and her wariness vanished in an instant.

Although she didn’t know why he had chosen her, from her perspective, Owen Rhodes was a perfect match for her.

’A perfect match in every sense of the word.’

Some things were better left unquestioned, like why Owen Rhodes had chosen her.

But other things needed to be made clear from the start.

"Will you hurt me?"

"I won’t."

"If we get married, will it cause trouble for you?"

"It won’t."

After asking, Stella Sterling visibly relaxed.

She agonized for another moment. "So... do I have to call you Uncle?" Stella Sterling scratched the tip of her nose. "I mean, given the family connection..."

"..."

’Good grief.’

’This girl really had him at a loss for words.’

Owen Rhodes shook his head with a sigh that was half a laugh, a look of complete exasperation on his face.

"Miss Sterling, don’t you think it’s a bit late to be asking that?"

Stella Sterling wrinkled her nose. ’Well, I can’t exactly say I did it on purpose, can I?’

’She’d been worried he’d change his mind if she brought it up, and then her hard-won backer would be gone, right?’

’That’s why she couldn’t ask right away.’

’But she was a polite, well-mannered girl, so she had to ask eventually.’

Owen Rhodes continued, "Besides, my future Mrs. Rhodes, do you think it’s appropriate to call your husband ’Uncle’?"

’Mrs. Rhodes...’

’Husband...’

’Uncle...’

Stella Sterling felt as if something had just exploded with a BOOM right next to her ear. The heat spread to her cheeks, as if they’d been licked by a flame, and their temperature kept climbing.

’Oh my god, why is my heart beating so fast?’

’And why on earth did I find this strange, taboo feeling so... thrilling?’

Owen Rhodes watched as her cheeks grew redder and redder, until even the tip of her nose was pink. Her lowered lashes trembled, and he couldn’t help but look at her, then look again.

Stella Sterling reached up and rubbed her hot cheeks. "I guess... that’s not very appropriate..." She patted them gently, trying to bring her wandering thoughts back into focus.

"Owen Rhodes, as you know, I just came out of a relationship that didn’t end on the best of terms. In the future, there will be some unavoidable interactions with my ex. I have absolutely no intention of dwelling on the past, but if you mind, you can still change your mind..."

Owen Rhodes understood what she meant.

"You’ve already resolved not to have any more emotional ties to the past, correct?"

Stella Sterling nodded.

"Then that’s enough. I trust you."

Owen Rhodes wanted to comfort her, but felt it would be too forward to properly take her hand at this stage. Instead, he simply gave a gentle squeeze to her fingers, which were already resting in his own.

"I won’t change my mind, and I am more than capable of taking responsibility for my decisions. But if you still feel uneasy or uncertain, if you still have doubts, you can keep asking me for reassurance until you’re at ease."

’His words were incredibly reassuring.’

"Won’t you find that annoying? And asking you for confirmation about the same thing over and over... won’t you think it’s a waste of time?"

As Stella Sterling asked her question tentatively, she felt Owen Rhodes gently pat the top of her head.

"It’s no trouble at all. I’m more concerned with putting your mind at ease than I am about wasting time."

His few words somehow managed to settle Stella Sterling’s fluttering heart.

"So, after we’re married, is there anything you’ll need me to do?"

Owen Rhodes replied, his voice laced with meaning, "Be a proper Mrs. Rhodes."

Stella Sterling fell into a thoughtful silence.

After a long moment, she declared, as if making a vow, "Don’t worry, I will never do anything to embarrass you in public!"

"..."

’He knew it. The girl had completely misunderstood him.’

’But for now, this was fine.’

’Saying too much would only burden her.’

Owen Rhodes concealed the emotion in his eyes. "What about you? Is there anything you need from me?"

His question seemed to hit the mark.

The woman who had just been a mix of shy and skittish suddenly grew quiet.

Her fingers, which had been toying with the hem of her dress, now twisted together as she became lost in thought.

A moment later, she looked at Owen Rhodes with solemn gravity.

"Owen Rhodes, you said you always repay your debts, right? In that case, can I call in the life-saving favor you owe me to require one thing of you?"

She used the word "require," meaning it was something he had to do.

"Go on."

"As long as our marriage lasts, I need you to be on my side unconditionally. Even if you don’t believe me. Can you do that?"

She knew it was an unreasonable demand, but she couldn’t stand the idea of being attacked from all sides later on.

Unsure if Owen Rhodes would agree, Stella Sterling stared at him, her heart sinking as she watched the corners of his mouth flatten and his brow furrow.

They both spoke at the same time.

"If you don’t think that’s fair..."

"No."

’He refused.’

Stella Sterling stared at him in stunned silence, but then a sense of understanding dawned on her.

’It was only natural for Owen Rhodes to refuse. After all, her demand was completely irrational.’

But she was still disappointed.

She bit her lip, then suddenly felt Owen Rhodes’s large hand come to rest on her head again.

"I will unconditionally trust and support my wife. That’s not something you need to use a life-saving favor to demand."