Chapter 3

The trending topics were bombarded with Stella and Rowan's stunt on the red carpet.

Everyone stopped caring about who would win the Best Actress or Best Actor Awards at the ceremony. Instead, Stella dominated half the trending topics simply by being on the red carpet.

All the major news platforms were flooded with posts about Stella and Rowan. Having witnessed Rowan, the proud heir of the Mansfield family, teach Stella a "lesson" by kissing her on the mouth, the netizens were buzzing with commentary on the gossip forums.

Some people thought that Stella had some kind of leverage over Rowan and had blackmailed him into kissing her. Others believed she'd seduced him with her looks. There was even a group of people who suspected that Stella might have used some sort of witchcraft or voodoo to manipulate Rowan.

In any case, no one believed Rowan genuinely wanted to kiss Stella.

To the netizens, Rowan and Stella were like two parallel lines that should never cross, their statuses worlds apart.

One person even commented harshly, "Just wait. Once Rowan comes to his senses, Skanky Stella will die a painful death! If she doesn't, I'll do a backflip and eat shit!"

While the Internet was in chaos, Stella leaned against Rowan in the spacious backseat of his silver Rolls-Royce and stared at him longingly.

Rowan lazily stretched out his long legs, looking relaxed as he leaned back in his seat. His slender fingers gripped his phone as he dismissed yet another call from someone concerned for him. Annoyed, he switched off his phone.

He then turned to look at the young lady beside him, his voice casual but cold as he asked, "All right, talk. Did you lose your memory, or did you get confused and mistake me for someone else?"

"I didn't make a mistake." Stella quickly shook her head, her slender fingers instinctively curling around his arm as she made to clutch him.

Rowan raised a brow. "No hugging. Stay in your seat."

It had been hard enough getting her to let go earlier, and now that they were in the car, she was back at it again. There was no one else around, and Rowan’s face darkened as he told her to stop. Only then did Stella obediently release her grip.

He wondered what had gotten into her. Why was she so eager to throw herself at him? Was she like this with Randy, too?

Rowan's gaze hardened as he thought about it.

Stella froze, and her fingers curled slightly upon grazing Rowan's sleeve. Her lips were lightly bitten, and her eyes were misty as she gazed at him piteously.

Rowan frowned, his eyes narrowing. He held her clear, steady gaze. There was hurt in her sparkling eyes, and she looked so forlorn that one might think Rowan had abandoned her.

Something was off, he realized. Something was wrong with the troublemaking young lady before him! His eyes narrowed into slits, his dark gaze unreadable as he asked, "You said you didn't make a mistake, but do you even know who I am?"

Stella's lashes fluttered like delicate butterfly wings as she answered softly, "You're Rowan Mansfield." In a voice barely above a whisper, she added, "You're my Rowan."

Rowan's heart careened from beat to beat. His brows furrowed as he suddenly raised his hand, curled his fingers, and lightly pressed the back of his hand to her forehead. He asked pensively, "Are you sick? Are you delirious from a fever?"

The back of his hand was cool against her skin, and she suddenly flashed back to the cold embrace he'd given her during his last moments. She clenched her fists and said in an even quieter voice, "No."

Rowan drew his hand back and crossed his arms. He lifted his brow and stared at her questioningly, "Then what is it? Did you come up with a new trick to mess with me?"

As he said this, he suddenly thought of something, and his expression hardened. "If I remember correctly, the Fairchilds are throwing a party tomorrow. I heard that loser Randy bought a ring and plans to propose to Celina tomorrow. The Morses and the Fairchilds seem inclined to proceed with the engagement."

A month ago, Stella was thrown out of the family because all the evidence pointed to her staging Celina's kidnapping, which nearly ended with the latter getting assaulted. Stella's parents were so disappointed in her that they publicly disowned her. Because of this, Stella and Randy's engagement was called off as well.

Rowan scowled, and there was no warmth in his gaze as he leveled a sharp look at Stella. "Are you planning to use me to spite Randy, Stella?"

Rowan had seen Stella slap Celina before he got out of the car earlier. He had panicked at that moment. He'd always known Stella had a foul temper, but he never expected her to abandon all sense of decorum at a public event like that.

At the time, Rowan figured Stella had blown her top because of Randy.

Worried she would get into trouble, Rowan hurriedly got out of the car, thinking he could step in if anyone gave her hell for slapping Celina. But he never thought that by showing up, he'd given Stella the chance to mess with him instead!

Rowan thought about the two light kisses Stella had planted on his lips. He could still taste the sweetness of them. A cold gleam flashed in his eyes. "You don't hold back when it comes to Randy, do you, Stella?"

He was still considering shoving the silly young lady out of his car when Stella asked him, "Who's Randy?" She added. "I don't know him."

Rowan was quiet for a couple of seconds, then leaned forward to tap the glass divider as he ordered Vincent Rhodes, who was in the driver's seat. "Take us to Lionheart Hospital."

Lionheart Hospital was a psychiatric hospital.

"Yes, Mr. Mansfield," Vincent said slowly. Without hesitation, he steered the car toward Lionheart Hospital.

Stella bit her lip as her brows knitted together. Rowan must truly think she'd gone mad. She had recovered from the shock of being reborn and was certain she had returned to the past. She saw no harm in feigning memory loss if it could make Rowan believe her. After all, she couldn't care less about anyone else but him.

He was the only person in this world she needed to remember and love.

She was still pondering this when Rowan warned icily, "This is your last chance, Stella. Come clean about whatever game you're playing. Don't expect to come out of Lionheart Hospital once they take you in."

In the car's dim lighting, Stella studied Rowan's indifferent expression and pursed her lips.

Before she was burned in her previous life, she always thought his gaze was as cold as an iceberg that would never thaw. But later, she realized that beneath Rowan's icy exterior was a heart that burned so fiercely that it could melt even the hardest ice.

She lowered her gaze and said softly, "I'm not playing games. I only want to love you."

Rowan had kept a cool and collected front until he heard those words. She said she wanted to love him, but how? His lips pressed into a thin line, and he suddenly sneered, "Stella, do you think I'm stupid?"

Stella looked up and saw a wry smile curving his lips. "Need I remind you what you said about me when we met at the hotel lobby this morning?"

Stella blinked. Memories from that morning seemed so distant that it took her some effort to recall what had transpired.

She did see him that morning at the hotel lobby. He had come out of the elevator just as she was entering. When they brushed past each other, she'd told Erin pointedly, "Take out the perfume and start spritzing. The smell of pretentious fools is stinking up the whole elevator!"

With that, Stella even glared at Rowan and scoffed. "What a bad start to the morning!"

Stella's gaze flickered as the memory played in her head. Rowan snorted. "Judging from the look on your face, I take it that you remember now?"

The next second, Stella shook her head in confusion.

"No, I don't remember." She tipped her head to the side, her doe eyes so full of puzzlement that it was as if she had truly forgotten. She asked innocently, "How did I speak to you this morning? Did I tell you how handsome you looked, that you smelled wonderful, that I like you a whole lot, and that I love you very, very much?"

Shit! As Rowan cursed inwardly, he prodded the roof of his mouth with his tongue. His fingers twitched, and he gave Stella a hard flick on the forehead. "Don't bother acting dumb, Stella! Your tricks won't work on me!"

Damn, had she worked her charms on Randy just like this, too?

Stella blinked as she pressed her palm to her forehead. She stared at him blankly and asked, "Then what will work on you, Rowan?"

Rowan scoffed. "Nothing will work on me—"

But before he could finish speaking, Stella had launched herself at him with another kiss. His eyes widened, and their faces were so close together, Rowan could feel her lashes brushing against his skin. The ticklish sensation made him close his eyes instinctively.

The kiss lasted for three seconds before Stella pulled away and asked in a soft, silky voice, "Does that work on you?"

Rowan swallowed hard and pressed his lips. "No—"

She leaned forward again and captured him in another kiss, her soft, warm lips brushing against his. Rowan could practically feel the delicate texture of his lips.

He suddenly snapped to his senses and gripped her face, shoving her away. He gritted his teeth. "Stella—"

"If that still doesn't work, open your mouth and let me kiss you for real, Rowan," Stella cut him off and met his gaze, her eyes sparkling. She inched closer to him, wrapping her arms around his neck as she tipped her face up to look at him. Starlight glittered in her eyes as she whispered expectantly, "Please?"