My Amnesic Ex Married My Sister, So I Married His Uncle-Chapter 37: Madam and Mister Had a Fight

The moon was beautiful tonight.

The moon was bright and clear, the stars faint and distant.

Under the hazy moonlight, a blush spread across Stella Sterling’s porcelain-white skin, as delicate and tantalizing as a peach blossom in spring.

Owen Rhodes’s chest was broad, wide enough to envelop her completely in his embrace.

His hug was warm, enough for her to draw heat from whenever she felt a chill.

When he had pulled her into his arms, Stella had still been supporting him. As a result, now pressed against his chest, her hand was flat against him.

The heat from his skin was almost scalding. Through his muscles, she could feel his strong, steady heartbeat, each thud echoing her own pulse.

The slight vibration of his chest as he spoke traveled through her fingertips, making her own heart tingle.

Stella didn’t know how to describe the feeling in her heart. She only felt as if her brain had been stolen again, leaving her unable to think.

Her cheeks burned as she subconsciously followed his lead. "What are you so happy about?"

Owen Rhodes wasn’t acting like his usual self. He drew out the last syllable of his words as he spoke.

"Happy... that I’m the one who became your husband."

’It’s me, not someone else.’

’And you... have become my wife.’

Out of Stella’s sight, the corners of Owen Rhodes’s mouth curved up, his eyes filled with delight.

He tightened his arms in satisfaction. "Stella, I like hearing you call me your husband."

His voice was so alluring that Stella froze, unsure how to react. But just as suddenly, Owen Rhodes let her go.

He held Stella’s arms, creating a little distance between them, and looked at her nervously.

"I didn’t hurt you, did I? Your shoulder is still injured."

Stella paused. The injury on her shoulder didn’t hurt unless she deliberately touched it, and she had already forgotten about it herself.

A tender, swelling feeling filled her chest. She looked down and shook her head. "No, it doesn’t hurt."

Just then, Owen Rhodes’s hand gently cupped her cheek, his thumb carefully caressing the spot where the handprint had already faded.

"I’m sorry, I was late." Then, a hint of annoyance crept into his voice as he frowned in displeasure. "Don’t you even know how to dodge when someone hits you? Where’s that imposing air you had when you fired the gun?"

Stella saw his body, which had been standing steadily, suddenly sway. She quickly grabbed his other arm to steady him.

Her thoughts returned to her, and she smiled helplessly. "Mr. Rhodes, you’ve forgotten I don’t have a gun right now."

A flicker of light crossed Owen Rhodes’s eyes. He watched her in silence for a moment before pulling her back into his arms.

"From now on, I’ll be your gun."

The tall man held her by the waist, but he rested his head in the crook of her neck and nuzzled against her.

"You have to tell them, ’My husband is Owen Rhodes, and he won’t let you get away with this.’ Understand?"

The last syllable of his word dragged on even longer. Owen Rhodes was truly drunk.

Stella’s lips curved into a silent smile. "I know, Mr. Rhodes."

Owen Rhodes continued to hold her, his large hand wrapping around her back to rest on top of her head. "Good girl."

...

The next morning, the first rays of dawn stabbed cruelly at Owen Rhodes’s closed eyes.

He shielded them with his hand, the scene he glimpsed in his peripheral vision feeling unfamiliar.

Once his eyes adjusted, he glanced from side to side and realized he was sleeping in the guest room.

He had been changed into pajamas, at least.

He sat on the bed in a daze as fragmented, surreal memories surfaced in his mind.

He had actually gotten drunk.

Not only had he gotten drunk, but he’d also made a drunken scene in front of Stella.

After thinking for a long while, he finally recalled why he had ended up sleeping in the guest room.

At first, he had been clinging to Stella, refusing to let go.

A tall, grown man, clinging to her like a koala.

In the June heat, Stella had broken out in a sweat just from helping him get from the door into the house.

Stella had wanted to ask Mr. Joel to help change his clothes, but he refused, absolutely refusing to let go.

Eventually, left with no other choice, Stella had tentatively asked him, "How about I help you change?" Only then did he finally settle down.

Then later, at some point, he’d had a sudden moment of clarity.

Relying on that single moment of sobriety, he had bolted into the guest room, leaving behind only one sentence: "I’ll sleep in the guest room."

Alcohol was a real menace!

Fortunately, he had ended up sleeping in the guest room and hadn’t done anything even more out of line in front of Stella.

He suddenly understood why Stella had buried her face in her hands at that moment.

He vigorously rubbed his face with his hands before getting up, walking to the master bedroom, and quietly opening the door.

Today, Stella wasn’t sleeping in the exact center of the bed, but she was still curled into a tight ball. She had the light blanket wrapped snugly around herself, with another large bundle of it clutched in her arms, leaving only her fluffy head peeking out.

Owen Rhodes stood by the bed and watched her for a while.

He wasn’t sure how it happened, but the woman who was clearly deep in sleep suddenly opened her hazy eyes and glanced at him.

She mumbled softly, "Owen Rhodes..."

As if possessed, he crouched down and gently placed his palm on her head.

Like a little kitten, Stella nuzzled her head against his palm.

He unconsciously lowered his voice. "Go back to sleep for a bit. It’s still early."

"Mmm..."

It felt like something had filled his heart to the brim.

He slowly leaned closer to the sweetly sleeping woman, but his lips stopped just short of touching her forehead.

In the end, Owen Rhodes just ruffled her hair again before getting up to wash up.

Stella never expected that after Owen Rhodes’s drunken night, they wouldn’t see each other for several days straight.

When she woke up in the morning, Owen Rhodes had already finished breakfast and left for the office.

And by the time she went to sleep at night, Owen Rhodes still hadn’t returned.

At first, Stella didn’t find it strange.

She knew Owen Rhodes was very busy and had promised him a "marriage of freedom." Besides, their interactions these past few days were no different from when he was away on his business trip.

But during lunch that day, Tate suddenly asked her with a hint of alarm:

"Ma’am, did you and the Master have a fight?"

Stella’s hand paused mid-air. She widened her eyes in surprise. "Tate, why would you say that?"

Tate studied Stella’s expression as she chose her words carefully. "You and the Master haven’t been eating together these past few days. I also noticed that the Master has been sleeping in the guest room. For a newlywed couple to be sleeping in separate rooms... They say lovers’ quarrels shouldn’t last the night. If it drags on, it can hurt the relationship. I’m sorry, I’m overstepping. Please don’t mind me..."

Tate had worked for other wealthy families before, so she knew that it wasn’t uncommon for couples in their circle to lead separate lives.

But Mr. Rhodes was a rare man of integrity, and she could see that he was very devoted to his wife. So, she privately hoped the two of them would be happy together and couldn’t stop herself from prying a little.

After listening, Stella was lost in thought.

She and Owen Rhodes hadn’t fought. But ever since he got drunk that night, they hadn’t even seen each other.

’Did I do something to make Owen angry?’

Just as she was thinking, she received a notification on her phone. The matching rings she had ordered had arrived.

’Perfect. If Owen is really angry, I can use this little gift to appease him.’

’And if he’s not, it’ll just be a small gift.’

Owen Rhodes had told her she could tell him anything directly.

So, Stella immediately sent him a message: "Are you coming home for dinner tonight? I have a gift for you."