Stand Me Up? I'll Marry His Billionaire Uncle novel Chapter 87

Sunny only needed a minute. When she looked up, all traces of tears had vanished from her eyes.

"Feeling any better now?" Stellan asked gently.

She managed a small, faint smile. "A little. It's okay, Uncle Stellan. I'm alright now."

"Sunny," he said quietly, "you and Tristan are no longer engaged."

Her heart clenched.

Stellan's sharp eyes narrowed slightly. "So, you don't have to call me Uncle Stellan anymore."

He smiled, a little playful now. "I'm only seven years older than you. Isn't it fair if you call me ‘big brother' instead?"

Sunny just stared at him, lost for words.

Her voice was rough. "Why?"

He batted his long lashes, feigning confusion. "Why what?"

"Why do you want me to call you that?"

Stellan's Adam's apple bobbed. His tone turned lazy, almost teasing. "Maybe I just like being an older brother to people."

He leaned back, more serious now. "I'm not joking. Think about it. Tristan's my nephew, and he owes you. As his uncle, I can make it up to you on his behalf."

Stellan studied her face, lingering on the sharpness that had settled there in just a few days.

"Any terms you want, just name them. I'll agree—anything at all."

Sunny's amber eyes flickered with doubt. "Anything?"

"Absolutely," Stellan said, firm and unwavering. "Whatever you want, I promise."

Anyone watching would have sensed something off in his voice, something deeper.

But Sunny was still drowning in grief, too numb to analyze anything.

"I understand," she forced out, her lips barely moving. "Thank you, Stellan."

"You're welcome. Remember what I said today. I'll let you get back to it—I have to run."

He walked away with a lightness in his step.

Privately, he repeated her words in his mind, savoring the way she'd said his name.

Stellan.

A new beginning.

Next time, he thought, maybe she'd drop a syllable—just two simple syllables instead of three.

-

Chloe stalked off in a storm of irritation. Why would Mr. Stellan go out of his way to talk to that little tramp?

There'd been a warmth in his eyes she'd never seen before, a tenderness she couldn't process.

Just the idea that Sunny might catch the attention of a man even more powerful made Chloe's stomach churn.

Tristan and Luna arrived last, separate from the Lawsons.

After paying his respects, Tristan glanced around, searching for that woman—but she was nowhere to be found.

Luna noticed his restless eyes, her anger spiking though she kept her face perfectly composed.

Feigning indifference, she asked, "Tristan, are you looking for someone?"

He shook his head, forcing a laugh. "No, it's nothing."

"Luna, I'll be right back. I need to use the restroom. Wait for me here, okay?"

"I won't."

He spun on his heel and headed in that direction.

All his earlier sympathy for Sunny evaporated in a heartbeat. Now there was only one thing on his mind—who was that man?

No wonder she'd been so quick to break things off. Was she hiding someone all along?

When Tristan rounded the corner, he found Sunny crouched by herself, burning a small pile of memorial papers.

"You—"

He swallowed the accusation, the word "man" dying on his lips.

"Are you alright?" His voice was rigid, but his eyes betrayed his concern.

Sunny glanced up at him, barely making eye contact before looking away.

"Thank you. I'm fine."

"Sunny, you don't have to pretend. If you need anything, just ask me."

"Is that so?" Sunny's voice was barely audible.

She watched the last slip of paper burn to ash in the metal tray. Rising, she dusted off her hands. "So, anything I ask—you'll agree?"

Tristan hesitated, cautious. "As long as it's something I can do, yes."

"Alright, then."

A faint, unreadable smile touched Sunny's lips. "Tristan, my only wish is that you never appear in front of me again. Ever."

"My one and only request is that I never see you again. Can you do that, Tristan?"