My Amnesic Ex Married My Sister, So I Married His Uncle-Chapter 36: Can He Read Minds?

Stella Sterling was stunned by Wyatt Keating’s words.

’Good heavens, this was Owen Rhodes they were talking about!’

’Getting half of Owen Rhodes’s fortune in a divorce would be more than enough to make me rich overnight. But to have him leave with nothing? How could I even dare to imagine that!’

’Besides, our marriage wasn’t built on a romantic relationship in the first place. I don’t care about the division of assets. I decided long ago that if we divorced, I would be the one to leave with nothing.’

’I’ve never spent any of Owen’s money anyway. And he probably wouldn’t even glance twice at the meager savings in my bank account, right?’

Stella Sterling frantically waved her hands in dismissal.

Owen Rhodes refilled her empty cup with tea and said in a calm tone, "When you have a moment, you can draft an agreement for me. If we divorce, I’ll be the one to leave with nothing."

Stella Sterling: "...?"

Wyatt Keating: "???"

Silas Jacobs: "What the fuck? What did he just say???"

Julian Chandler: "...!!!"

What was the difference between Owen Rhodes saying that and saying he would never get a divorce?

Wyatt Keating fell silent. He felt that his initial assessment of how "serious" Owen was had been a gross understatement.

Ignoring the shock and surprise around the table, Owen Rhodes simply changed the subject.

"Uh, this is Julian Chandler. You met him last night. He basically owns most of the famous establishments in Jandor. If there’s anything you want to eat or do, just have him arrange it for you."

Julian Chandler eagerly scooted closer. "Hey, mind if I add you on WeChat? I guarantee I’ll get everything set up perfectly for you."

And just like that, Stella Sterling had three new friends on her brand-new WeChat account.

Owen Rhodes was probably in a good mood today, as he even opened a bottle of red wine to drink with Silas Jacobs and the others.

Stella wanted a little taste too, but the moment she reached out her hand, Owen caught it and pulled it back. Instead, he poured her a glass of fruit juice and handed it to her.

Stella pouted. ’Fine, if you don’t want me to drink, I won’t!’

After a few rounds of drinks, Silas Jacobs pulled out a cigarette.

He had just lit it when Owen Rhodes’s icy voice cut in, "Put it out."

His voice was so cold that Silas, out of pure reflex, had already obediently stubbed out the cigarette before he even thought to argue.

Once the cigarette was out, Silas finally complained, "What’s the deal? Are you two trying for a baby or something?"

Hearing this, Stella Sterling’s cheeks flushed red.

Owen Rhodes only said, "What does it say on the side of the pack?"

Silas actually took his cigarette pack out seriously and read the words on the side aloud: "’Smoking is hazardous to your health...’ You’ve got to be kidding me, Rhodes. You’re telling me this *now*? Talk about closing the barn door after the horse has bolted. Why not wait until I actually have lung cancer to bring it up?"

Julian Chandler had a little bit of social awareness, but not much.

He pulled a cigarette pack from his pocket and offered it toward Stella Sterling. "Owen, you’re worried about her, right? Pfft, she smokes too."

Owen Rhodes intercepted the pack. "She doesn’t smoke."

"No way, I saw it with my own two eyes!" Julian protested, unconvinced.

’Last night, he’d clearly seen Stella Sterling smoking outside the Qillian Club while on the phone. Who was he trying to fool!’

Owen Rhodes tossed the pack back. "She doesn’t know how to smoke. She was just thinking of learning, that’s all. Don’t be a bad influence."

Stella was shocked once again.

’Can this man read minds or something?’

’Is there anything in this world that he doesn’t know?’

There was a good reason Caelum Restaurant was so popular.

The dishes were innovative and delicious, and the view of the river was delightful. By the end of dinner, they were full and satisfied, having enjoyed a feast for both the palate and the eyes.

However, Stella Sterling was dazed for the latter half of the meal. Owen Rhodes assumed she was tired, so it wasn’t long before he called it a night.

As they got up to leave, Stella glanced at Owen and saw that his eyes were glistening. It cast a watery mist over his already deep-set features, making them look like Belsar Lake after a rain shower.

She stared at him blankly, so lost in thought that she didn’t even realize he was leading her by the hand the entire way out.

In the car back to Lanthos Bay, Owen Rhodes was resting with his eyes closed, one hand pinching the bridge of his nose.

Stella had a million questions she wanted to ask. She stared unabashedly at his profile but didn’t say a word.

With his eyes still closed, Owen asked, "What do you want to ask?"

Stella scooted a little closer to him. "You’re not drunk, are you?"

"No."

’He’d barely had anything to drink.’

"How did you know I don’t know how to smoke?"

The corners of Owen’s lips turned up slightly behind his shielding hand. "Miss Sterling, people who smoke aren’t afraid of the smoke, understand?"

Stella shook her head. She didn’t understand. His words made no sense to her.

Owen opened his eyes and turned to look at her. "The first time I saw you, in Lumina, you lit a cigarette while you were on the phone. When you went to take a drag, you were so afraid of inhaling the smoke into your throat that you only took a tiny puff before stopping. I guessed then that you probably didn’t know how to smoke."

It was the same last night. You only took one shallow puff of the cigarette you lit before just holding it between your fingers and letting it burn out on its own.

’It wasn’t that I really wanted to smoke. I was just so agitated after hearing Ms. Jennings’s voice that I needed something to do with my hands to distract myself.’

Stella nodded in sudden understanding, accepting Owen’s explanation.

Owen turned his head back and continued to rest with his eyes closed.

He didn’t tell Stella that the other reason he knew she didn’t smoke was because he knew the old Stella had hated the smell of cigarettes.

’But why would someone who hates the smell of smoke suddenly decide to start smoking?’

He couldn’t come up with an answer. Just then, Stella asked another question. "When you said tonight that you don’t eat scallions or garlic... was that because of me?"

Stella had asked Tate before and knew that Owen wasn’t a picky eater and didn’t have any dietary restrictions. Yet tonight, he had claimed not to eat scallions and garlic.

She hadn’t realized it before when eating at Lanthos Bay. She had just assumed that Tate happened to cook without using scallions and garlic.

Thinking back now, Owen must have instructed her beforehand.

Owen grunted in affirmation. "This was the first time I’d taken you to eat with them. I guessed you might be too embarrassed to say anything."

For a moment, Stella was speechless.

’He was right. She really had been about to say she had no preferences.’

He had guessed she would be too considerate of everyone else’s tastes to speak up, so he had spoken up for her.

’This man was really... ’

Stella didn’t know what to call the swelling feeling in her heart, only that she felt as if she were floating again.

Owen always did so many things for her quietly, without ever saying a word.

But this floating sensation was different from the one she’d felt when Owen proposed.

She couldn’t quite put her finger on how it was different.

"Owen, thank you."

After thinking it over, that seemed to be the only thing she could say.

She thought for another moment, then said, "In a few days, I’ll give you a gift."

Owen turned to look at her, a smile playing on his lips. "What kind of gift?"

"It wouldn’t be any fun if I told you now."

Owen didn’t press her, only said softly, "I’m looking forward to it."

Stella never doubted Owen’s words, so she foolishly believed he really wasn’t drunk.

That is, until he got out of the car and paused for two seconds, his next step clearly a little unsteady.

Stella quickly steadied him. "Owen, are you drunk?"

Owen rested his arm on her shoulder, silently looking down at her.

Suddenly, his arm tightened, pulling her into his embrace. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Kieran’s voice was a little hoarse and low, gentle and tinged with a smile. "Stella, I’m very happy."