My Amnesic Ex Married My Sister, So I Married His Uncle-Chapter 30: Mrs. Rhodes Can’t Wait?

Stella Sterling declared forcefully, "I thought it was disrespectful to you, and just baseless, malicious speculation. So I immediately refuted her!"

But she hadn’t. Not only had she not refuted it, she’d practically confirmed it.

Owen Rhodes said nothing. Guiltily, Stella Sterling glanced up at him, only to find his dark gaze enveloping her like a net.

Backlit, Owen Rhodes’s already outstanding facial lines were even more defined, like a masterfully drawn sketch with sharp, clean lines and not a single superfluous stroke.

His thin lips were pressed into a line—just like the first time she had seen him.

Her head drooped, and her voice became even quieter. "You’re the one who said I could ask anything..."

Owen Rhodes sighed helplessly, his voice low. "I’m not."

"Ah!"

The moment he spoke, Owen Rhodes swept her up into his arms.

’Huh?’

’HUH?!’

Stella Sterling was dumbfounded.

’Where is this going?’

’Is he going to prove it to me now?’

’Wait, I’m not ready yet.’

’No, I mean, I *am* ready.’

Owen Rhodes carried her back to the room and gently placed her on the bed.

One of his hands was still holding the ice pack on Stella Sterling’s shoulder, while the other was braced on the bed beside her.

Beneath his rolled-up shirt sleeve, bluish veins traced a path up his strong forearm, distinct and sexy.

This close, the man’s presence washed over her with a scalding heat. Even his usual, reassuring scent of pine and bamboo now felt aggressive.

He gazed down at her. Stella Sterling’s feathery lashes trembled, and a lovely pink blush crept to the tips of her ears.

Drawing one unconsciously closer...

And then, Owen Rhodes adjusted the pillow behind Stella Sterling’s back.

His arm reached around her shoulders, and his large palm rested on the crown of her head. "Fifteen minutes are up. Get some rest. I still have a bit of work to do."

Owen Rhodes turned, walked out of the room, and even thoughtfully pulled the door shut behind him.

’...?’

’Wait, is this for real?!’

’Is it me? Am I not attractive enough?’

’No!’

’Ariana Grant said to never doubt yourself. You should always look for the problem in others first.’

’It’s definitely Owen Rhodes’s problem.’

’But Ariana Grant also said that a major reason for unhappiness in modern marriages is sexual incompatibility...’

As Stella Sterling brushed her teeth, she spoke to the imaginary Owen Rhodes in the mirror. "I’m trying my best to be a proper Mrs. Rhodes! You can’t blame me. This is your problem!"

After washing up, Stella Sterling flopped back onto the bed indignantly.

Her mind was still wrestling with it. ’Is Owen Rhodes really... not interested? Then is it my fault? Should I ask Ariana Grant?’

She was physically and mentally exhausted from the day, and before she could figure anything out, she groggily fell asleep.

She had no idea when Owen Rhodes returned.

She only vaguely remembered lying on her side as she slept. It was like she had sleep paralysis—she couldn’t turn over.

There was a cool sensation on her shoulder from time to time, but thankfully, she had a personal heater that radiated warmth and a lovely scent. ’Ah, so comfortable.’

In her drowsy state, the personal heater showed signs of trying to escape.

But she grabbed it and pulled it back.

It was now 9:23 in the morning.

Owen Rhodes had been awake for nearly three hours.

In truth, he hadn’t slept much last night.

Right now, he was hot, and it was torture.

But Stella Sterling seemed to be quite comfortable.

So comfortable, in fact, that her features were completely relaxed.

The moment he tried to pull back even slightly, she would whimper unhappily.

Owen Rhodes was utterly helpless.

Last night, Stella Sterling had winced in pain several times after aggravating her injury.

Worried she would hurt herself, and since she had later snuggled up to him on her own, Owen Rhodes simply held her by the waist to keep her sleeping on her side. That way, she wouldn’t put pressure on her injury.

Of course, this was also torture for him.

’I’m really not frigid.’

’I’m really not.’

’Otherwise, I wouldn’t have run off on some damn business trip right after we registered our marriage.’

’But it seems Stella Sterling has gotten the wrong idea.’

Owen Rhodes was helpless.

His phone vibrated.

Owen Rhodes ignored it.

He looked at the woman in his arms and marveled.

’How can she sleep for so long? And doesn’t she feel hot at all?’

His own back was already soaked with sweat.

He was hot. He wanted to push her away, but he couldn’t bear to. Besides, she wouldn’t let him.

’Guess I’ll just keep holding her, then.’

His phone vibrated again.

In a very awkward position, Owen Rhodes twisted his upper body to grab the phone from the nightstand.

Liam Hawthorne: [President Rhodes, are you awake?]

[Are you coming to the office today? Does the meeting time need to be adjusted?]

Owen Rhodes: [Move it to the afternoon. Come pick me up at one.]

[Understood, President Rhodes.]

Group Chat [Kyros Group President’s Office]:

Liam Hawthorne: [President Rhodes is skipping morning court today. All meetings have been moved to the afternoon.]

Chuck: [Whoa, is President Rhodes sick?]

Quinn Lawson: [Chuck, you’re failing reading comprehension.]

Young: [Did the sun rise in the west today? President Rhodes isn’t just late, he’s actually skipping work? Can Finance dock the president’s salary?]

Quinn Lawson: [You think the amount he’d get docked for skipping one morning of work is more than my entire monthly salary?]

Lowe: [Does President Rhodes have a new strategic plan in the works? First that sudden business trip to Lumina, and now rushing off to Veridia. Are we expanding our business empire?]

Quinn Lawson: [...Lowe, are you a bot?]

Chuck: [Failing reading comprehension is the greatest insult to a humanities major! Apologize, Quinn Lawson!]

Quinn Lawson: [I’m sorry, but your reading comprehension really does suck.]

Quinn Lawson knew exactly what was going on, but Quinn Lawson dared not say.

Stella Sterling woke up an hour later.

She had woken up naturally, and felt so comfortable that for a split second, she could forgive anyone and anything.

She opened her eyes to see the man with the deep-set eyes looking down at her, a half-smile playing on his lips.

This time, she could see clearly: they were embracing.

Owen Rhodes’s long fingers were gently caressing the small of her back, his voice a little hoarse. "Impatient, Mrs. Rhodes?"

Stella Sterling quickly let go and tried to pull back, but she couldn’t move.

"Slow down. Be careful with your shoulder."

Stella Sterling unconsciously slowed down, inching her way out of Owen Rhodes’s embrace. "Oh."

"Take your time. I’m going to go wash up."

Owen Rhodes went into the bathroom, and Stella Sterling saw the melted ice pack on his nightstand.

There was a towel placed underneath the ice pack.

Her shoulder didn’t hurt as much as it had yesterday. It must have been because Owen Rhodes had continued to ice it for her after she’d fallen asleep, placing a towel underneath because he was worried it would be too cold.

A smile touched Stella Sterling’s lips.

Perhaps because she had slept so well, Stella Sterling felt completely refreshed.

She got up to wash, not noticing that the sound of running water from the bathroom was steady and somewhat muffled.

Feeling invigorated, she pulled open the bathroom door and her eyes met Owen Rhodes’s, who glanced over from the shower.

’Oh, Owen Rhodes is showering.’

’Oh, the glass shower door isn’t fogged up.’

Stella Sterling politely closed the door and bolted to the guest room on the second floor.

’What did I just see!’

’Forget it, now!!!’

’Stupid brain, why can’t you forget it!!!’