My Amnesic Ex Married My Sister, So I Married His Uncle-Chapter 146: Back! Back! Back

Stella Sterling no longer made any attempt to hide her loathing for Kiana Sterling.

Kiana Sterling could feel it in her eyes.

When Chase Sterling and Ethan Rhodes returned from their conversation, they found the two sisters at a standstill.

Stella Sterling was glaring daggers at Kiana, but the moment Kiana saw the men return, her eyes welled up with tears.

Chase Sterling’s brow twitched. He immediately walked over and asked, "What’s going on with you two now?"

Although he said "you two," his accusatory gaze landed on Stella first.

Seeing this, Stella gave him a massive, undisguised eye-roll.

During a casual chat once, Stella had asked Owen Rhodes for his opinion on Chase Sterling.

Owen Rhodes had been rather diplomatic, saying only that Chase wasn’t cut out for business and couldn’t outmaneuver the old foxes of the corporate world.

She finally understood what he meant.

’It wasn’t that Chase wasn’t cut out for it; he was just plain stupid.’

’He came here today to beg for my help, and yet he managed to completely offend me with a single look.’

’And he still expects me to put in a good word for him to secure his precious project?’

’He must be dreaming.’

Kiana’s voice was thick with emotion. "It’s nothing. Stella and I were just having a little chat."

Stella rolled her eyes again and blurted out, "Scheming bitch."

Her voice wasn’t quiet, and everyone present heard her.

Kiana’s face instantly paled. Chase, thinking he’d misheard, instinctively asked, "What did you just say?"

Stella mimicked Kiana’s demeanor, offering a gentle smile. "I was just talking to myself. Is that a problem?"

Chase suppressed his anger.

’I still need her help, so I’ll let it slide for now.’

Chase sat back down. Just as he was about to speak, the doorbell suddenly rang.

The person outside must have been in a hurry, leaning on the doorbell and making it blare—RING! RING! RING!—without pause.

The incessant ringing gave Mr. Joel a headache. "Coming, coming!" he called out, hurrying to get the door.

The ringing finally stopped when Mr. Joel opened the door. Ken was standing on the other side, looking frantic.

Only then did Mr. Joel’s heart settle back into his chest.

"Oh, it’s you, Ken. Why the rush? Has something happened?"

Ken craned his neck to peer inside, quickly swapping his shoes as he hurried in. "I’m here to protect my cash cow, of course!"

The cash cow, Stella Sterling: "..."

’You didn’t have to announce it to the whole room.’

The moment Ken stepped inside, he felt three pairs of displeased eyes on him.

He wasn’t the least bit intimidated. Head high and chest puffed out, he strode in and sat on the edge of the sofa closest to Stella.

He then gave Stella a wink, as if to say, ’I’m here to back you up.’

’Though she had no idea where he got his confidence from.’

Stella found it amusing but didn’t let herself smile in front of Chase and the others.

She turned to Chase. "What was it Young President Sterling wanted to say?"

Chase remembered what he was about to say, then glanced at Ken. "With an outsider present, this might not be the best time, right?"

Ken met Chase’s gaze and glared right back at him.

Speechless, Chase looked away.

"Ken is my assistant. Nothing is inconvenient." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

After weighing his options, Chase said, "Stella, since you don’t want to talk about family ties, I won’t force it. Let’s discuss this like adults. If I can secure this project, I absolutely won’t treat you unfairly. I can give you 10% of the project’s future profits."

His words were somewhat unexpected.

’I wonder if that was Ethan Rhodes’s idea from their private chat just now.’

’Talking business is certainly more fitting than harping on so-called family bonds.’

Stella didn’t answer right away. Thinking she was tempted, Chase pressed on.

"Stella, think about it. There’s no downside for you. You don’t have to invest a dime, and you’ll get a cut of the profits. To be blunt, if we lose money, it has nothing to do with you. If we make money, you get a piece of it. What’s not to like?"

Stella stared coldly at Chase.

’He must take me for an idiot.’

"And what if it loses money?"

"Even if it does, it has nothing to do with you. You’re not investing any of your own money."

"That’s right, I’m not investing. But if it loses money, Owen Rhodes’s money will be lost too, won’t it? Owen Rhodes’s money is my money. How dare you say it has nothing to do with me?"

The group was stunned into silence for a moment.

Firstly, because Stella hadn’t foolishly agreed, and secondly, because she’d declared "Owen Rhodes’s money is my money" with such brazen confidence.

The fruit was gone, and so was Stella’s patience.

She stood up. "I understand why you’re here today. If there’s nothing else, I’d like to rest. Perhaps you should all see yourselves out?"

She glanced at Ken beside her. "Ken, show them out."

With that, she turned and walked away.

Chase had gone to great lengths to see her; he wasn’t about to let her just walk away.

He took two steps after her, only to be blocked by Ken, who suddenly appeared in his path.

"Sir, Stella said to please leave."

Chase clearly didn’t take Ken seriously. He reached out to push him aside and go after Stella.

Just then, Ken produced a retractable baton from out of nowhere.

With a *SWOOSH*, he flicked it open and pointed it at Chase. "Don’t make me get rough!"

He brandished it like an imperial sword of justice, pointing at the three of them. "Please leave. You’re disturbing Stella’s rest!"

It wasn’t that they were truly afraid of Ken, but being threatened with a weapon in someone else’s home was utterly humiliating.

After a tense few seconds, the three of them finally got up and walked toward the door.

As they headed for the main entrance, Ken kept the baton pointed at them, making little fencing lunges. "Back! Back! Back!"

The instant their feet crossed the threshold, Ken slammed the door shut with lightning speed.

Mr. Joel watched from the side, his face a mask of indescribable emotion.

Ken retracted the baton and smiled. "Mr. Joel, President Rhodes was worried you wouldn’t feel comfortable kicking them out, so he sent me to do the honors."

’I have to admit, while Ken’s methods were a bit... unorthodox...’

’...he got the job done beautifully!’

In the end, Mr. Joel didn’t say anything more.

But Kiana Sterling, upon leaving Lanthos Bay, wore a dark expression.

’She had been kind enough to come and warn her personally. She hoped Stella wouldn’t live to regret this.’

...

That weekend, Jandor was abuzz with activity.

Anyone who hoped to connect with the Shaw Family of Veridia had long since heard the news of Sean Shaw’s impending visit.

Kiana Sterling had been up since four in the morning, all to prepare for the afternoon’s unveiling ceremony with Sean Shaw.

She was dressed to kill.

’After today, her star would only shine brighter.’