My Amnesic Ex Married My Sister, So I Married His Uncle-Chapter 142: The Sweatshirt Was Inside Out

So that was it.

It made sense. If he didn’t have someone backing him, how could Zion Shawcross be so arrogant?

No wonder Zion Shawcross was completely unaffected, even after Morgan Yates and the Sterling Family made their moves.

The only question was who this backer was.

As Kiana Sterling thought this, she pulled up her chat with Sean Shaw’s secretary. After carefully choosing her words, she sent a message asking if Mr. Shaw had time to join her for a casual meal.

But the message was met with silence, like a stone dropped into the sea.

Kiana Sterling thought for a moment, then sent messages to Ethan Rhodes and Chase Sterling as well.

...

Stella Sterling had never worked on such a tight schedule before.

In the past, she would paint a little when she felt like it, and when she didn’t, she’d claim to have no inspiration and just slack off.

Of course, the lack of inspiration was also real.

Over the past month, Stella Sterling felt she had gone through an unprecedented period of high-intensity work.

Now that the work was finally over, Stella wanted nothing more than to sleep for three days and three nights, to become one with her bed.

Her body had probably grown accustomed to her recent work schedule, because even now, when she was asleep, she was still working in her dreams.

Her mind was still on the looming deadlines for two of her pieces when Faye Rhodes suddenly asked her, "Aunt Stella, Aunt Stella, have you ever thought about giving acting a try?"

Hearing this, Stella Sterling tilted her head, as if she couldn’t comprehend the question.

"Faye, what’s wrong with you? Did Henry possess you?"

Faye Rhodes’s eager expression inexplicably reminded Stella of the first time she met Henry Wright—he’d had the exact same look, like he had just discovered a treasure.

And then he had nonsensically asked if she wanted to debut as a star.

But Faye Rhodes wasn’t joking in the slightest.

Her expression was serious, and she thought maybe she hadn’t been clear enough.

"No, Aunt Stella, what I mean is, do you want to star in Zion Shawcross’s music video yourself?"

She cupped her hand around Stella’s ear and whispered, "Kiana Sterling has been pulling strings to get the lead female role in the MV. She even specified that the main character has to be a painter. I think she’s up to no good!"

As soon as Stella heard this, she guessed what Kiana was planning.

Kiana probably assumed that Stella was happy to remain unknown and wouldn’t reveal her true identity even after collaborating with Zion Shawcross. So, she wanted to use this opportunity to slap the name "Kiana Sterling" on all of Stella’s work.

The warmth in Stella Sterling’s eyes faded, replaced by a cold glint.

’Come to think of it,’ she mused, ’aside from seeing the aurora with Owen Rhodes, I’ve pretty much completed everything on my "life list."’

’I started this list because I wanted to do things I’d never done before, just to experience the world.’

’I’ve never acted before, anyway. Since an opportunity has presented itself, I might as well give it a try.’

’Then, after I see the aurora with Owen, I’ll go and finish that one last thing.’

Stella snapped back to the present. Her expression softened as she asked, "If I agree, will I have to go through another long contract process like before?"

Hearing her relent, Faye Rhodes knew there was hope.

"Nope! The company has a standard contract for MVs. Aunt Stella, do you have any other requests? We can write them into the contract."

And just like that, thanks to Faye Rhodes’s incredible efficiency, Stella Sterling had signed another contract by the next day.

As the signature and seal were finalized, Stella still couldn’t quite believe it. She was actually going to be in a music video.

When she got home that evening, Stella was still in a bit of a daze.

Owen Rhodes saw her absentminded expression as she nearly walked into a wall. He quickly pulled her back, his eyes filled with concern.

"What’s wrong? Have you been too tired lately?"

Stella shook her head. It felt like she was dreaming.

"Owen, I think I’m going to be in a music video. I’m going to act. But I’ve never done anything like this before. I think I’m a little nervous."

’So that’s what this is about.’

Owen Rhodes secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Don’t worry. You’re so talented, you’ll succeed at anything you do."

"..."

’What a formulaic word of comfort.’

’But when I look up at him, his eyes are so sincere.’

’Maybe he really does think that.’

’That I’m amazing. That I’ll shine no matter what.’

Stella’s heart fluttered.

She didn’t even have that much confidence in herself.

"But I have no experience. What if I can’t relax on set? What if I’m too stiff? There will be so many people watching during the shoot. What if they blame me for slowing things down?"

It hadn’t even started, and Stella’s mind was already flooded with worries.

Owen Rhodes thought for a moment before offering his earnest advice.

"I’ll go with you. If I just sit there, I doubt anyone would dare to blame you."

"..."

’And here I thought he was just confident in me. Turns out he’s just as confident in himself.’

’But he’s not wrong.’

’He’s the kind of person who’s in the news every day, elusive and mysterious. If he sits there, everyone will definitely be looking at him instead.’

But still, "No!"

"Why not?"

"I’ll be even more nervous if you’re there."

The corners of Owen Rhodes’s lips curled up involuntarily. "Why? I’m your husband. We’ve done far more intimate things. Why would you be nervous about me just watching you shoot a music video?"

Stella felt like he was being deliberately unreasonable.

But she couldn’t come up with a good reason to refute him.

She could only push him away. "No just means no!"

Stella remained nervous right up until the eve of the MV shoot.

She even swapped out the copy of *The Crowd* she’d been reading before bed for *Actor’s Self-Cultivation*.

Owen Rhodes found this amusing and couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle.

’It’s just a music video shoot, yet she’s making such a big deal out of it.’

Stella’s ears were sharp, and she caught the sound immediately.

"Are you laughing at me?"

"No, you misheard."

"I definitely heard you."

"I didn’t."

"You did—mmph..."

Owen Rhodes gave her lips a playful nip, trying to stop her from pursuing the matter. "I really didn’t."

Owen took the book from her hands and pulled her down to lie in his arms.

The overhead light went out, leaving only the soft glow of a small nightlight.

"Don’t overthink it. Just treat it as a new life experience. Everyone has a first time. Do you want to know what I was like during my first business negotiation?"

Stella thought about it. Owen Rhodes always seemed so confident and in control.

’Even when he told his own story before, he said he was naturally gifted. It must have been a piece of cake for him.’

But she played along and nodded.

So Owen said, "Back then, I spent two weeks researching the other company and perfecting my proposal. You could say my preparations were flawless. But right before I actually met them, I was nervous too. It was winter, and when I went to the meeting, I was wearing my sweatshirt inside out."