My First Love Died, Now My Step Uncle Wants Me-Chapter 141: Refusing to Let Go of Caleb Rhodes
Caleb Rhodes pulled her closer. "Who are you talking about? Who else?"
Nina Wynn bit her lip and whispered, "It was Miss Lowell. She... she said Roy was a little stray, that he would shed, and called him a messy little thing."
’She was furious!’
’What right did she have to look down on my Roy?’
’What gave her the right to look down on my Roy?’
’She could bully me, fine, but bullying my Roy was simply unforgivable!’
Caleb Rhodes gently ruffled her hair. "She’s allergic to cat fur and doesn’t like cats. From now on, just keep Roy out of her sight, and she won’t be able to say anything."
Nina Wynn was still upset, murmuring, "But she still shouldn’t call Roy a messy little thing. He’s my kitten. He’s wanted. He’s not some stray that nobody wants."
Suddenly, a strange thought popped into her head: ’If Rosalind Lowell dares to bully Roy again, I’ll just monopolize Caleb Rhodes and never let him go. I’ll drive her absolutely mad with jealousy!’
Caleb Rhodes had no idea what she was thinking. He only found the way she protected her kitten adorable and couldn’t resist pressing his lips to hers for a long, deep kiss.
Before long, a message came from Warner Zimmerman, saying the guests from The Sundered Lands had arrived.
When Caleb Rhodes left the room, Rosalind Lowell was still waiting for him.
Seeing him emerge from the room, Rosalind Lowell immediately rushed over, her face a mask of concern. "I heard you scolded Nina until she cried, and you even threw her cat out just now. Young girls can be temperamental. As her guardian, you need to be more patient."
She glanced at the door. "You’re a man; it’s always going to be inconvenient having a young girl around. Why don’t you let me look after her for a few days? I guarantee I’ll have her properly disciplined for you. What do you say?"
Caleb Rhodes sidestepped her, his expression completely detached. "That won’t be necessary. She’s fine with me."
Rosalind Lowell’s eyes suddenly reddened as she looked utterly wronged. "Caleb, is it that you don’t trust me? Do you think I would bully her?"
’In the past, whenever there was a problem, she just had to act a little vulnerable and Caleb Rhodes would usually indulge her. This time should be no different,’ she thought.
’Leaving that Nina Wynn by Caleb Rhodes’s side is just too dangerous!’
’I have to get rid of her!’
’And that cat has to go, too!’
Just as she was plotting, Caleb Rhodes had already put on his jacket and was heading for the door. His voice was cool as he said, "I’ll handle Nina Wynn’s affairs myself. For now, come with me to the drawing room. A group of clients from The Sundered Lands has arrived, and you happen to speak their language. It saves me from having to call over a secretary for translation."
Rosalind Lowell froze. This was the first time Caleb Rhodes had ever rejected her so outright.
But a small flicker of triumph sparked within her almost immediately.
’At least I can be of use to Caleb!’
’Meanwhile, that little orphan girl is good for nothing but causing trouble. In time, Caleb will grow tired of her and naturally toss her aside.’
She hurried to catch up.
Nina Wynn napped for a bit, but worry over Rosalind Lowell bullying Roy soon drove her out of the room.
Jude’s living room was empty. Warner Zimmerman was gone, and so was Roy.
She searched around but found no one. Then, her eyes landed on the handbag Rosalind Lowell had left on the sofa.
It was a small handbag, clearly a high-end, custom-designed piece from a major fashion house—elegant and exquisite.
Peeking out from the bag was a small, custom-made tablet.
As if drawn by some unseen force, her gaze fixed on the tablet, and she slowly walked toward it.
The tablet was about the size of a smartphone, its back inlaid with countless tiny diamonds. It was obviously expensive.
And, as luck would have it, it wasn’t password-protected.
Nina Wynn hesitated. Just as she was about to put it down, her eyes caught a photo album on the home screen. Its title was a single word: Caleb.
’Photos of Caleb Rhodes?’
Clutching the tablet, Nina Wynn wrestled with herself for a few seconds before finally tapping on the album.
It was, indeed, filled with photos of Caleb Rhodes.
Nina Wynn swiped through and found photos of Caleb Rhodes from his younger days.
He looked exactly as he had when Nina first met him.
Incomparably handsome, with an air of noble aloofness.
The sight of him in a white shirt and black trousers had once been a breathtaking vision in the bleakest years of her youth.
Except, in every single photo, Rosalind Lowell was there too.
It was clear they were childhood sweethearts who had grown up together.
After swiping through a few more, she came across a photo of Caleb Rhodes and Rosalind Lowell together in a church.
In the photograph, Caleb Rhodes was dashing in a black suit, holding the hand of Rosalind Lowell, who was dressed in a white wedding gown. They looked like a prince and his bride, a devastatingly perfect match.
Nina Wynn’s heart felt as if it had been dealt a heavy blow, and a roaring filled her ears.
’It’s true!’
’They’re really married!’
She instinctively checked the photo’s timestamp. It was from two years ago.
She scrolled down and found several more photos of Caleb Rhodes and Rosalind Lowell. Judging by their attire, the pictures were from either an engagement or a wedding.
And it was in a church—openly and legitimately!
’I’m the real thief!’
She flinched as if shocked by electricity and backed out of the album, but in her haste, the tablet slipped from her grasp and clattered to the floor.
She stared at the tablet on the floor, her face deathly pale. A cold sweat soon broke out on her palms and forehead.
Just then, Warner Zimmerman entered, holding Roy in her arms.
Seeing Nina standing frozen by the sofa, Warner walked over and saw the tablet on the floor.
Without a word, she picked up the tablet, glanced at the screen, and seeing nothing amiss, placed it back into Rosalind Lowell’s bag.
She held Roy out to Nina. "I just took Roy to be dewormed, that’s why I was gone for a moment. The Third Lord Master is signing the contract with the clients from The Sundered Lands right now, but he should be finished soon. Miss Wynn, please get ready for dinner."
Nina Wynn felt as if she were drowning. She couldn’t clearly register what Warner Zimmerman was saying. Her mind and vision were completely filled with the wedding photos of Caleb Rhodes and Rosalind Lowell.
She didn’t reach out for Roy. Instead, she murmured, "Uncle... and Miss Lowell are married..."
’They’re married. So what am I? Just now, I did... that... with Caleb, right under Rosalind Lowell’s nose!’
Her face grew even paler, and a wave of nausea washed over her. She turned and slowly walked back to her room.
Her voice was so quiet that Warner couldn’t quite make out the words, but she guessed that Nina had seen something upsetting.
A woman’s intuition prompted her to blurt out, "The Third Lord Master and Miss Lowell... their relationship isn’t what you think it is."
As if she hadn’t heard a thing, Nina Wynn continued her slow walk into the room.
Just then, Caleb Rhodes walked in, with Rosalind Lowell standing beside him, a demure smile on her face.
Warner Zimmerman stated impassively, "Third Lord Master, Mr. Xavier sent an invitation for you. It’s for his son’s first birthday party."
Rosalind Lowell chimed in with a smile, "Evan Grant’s son is one already? I remember when we were his bridesmaid and groomsman two years ago, he said he wasn’t planning on having kids anytime soon. And now his son is already a year old! He really doesn’t keep his word!"
Before Caleb could respond, she covered her mouth with her hand and added with a delicate laugh, "Then again, they were childhood sweethearts. With the kind of bond that comes from growing up together, their relationship is incredibly strong. I wonder how many kids they’ll end up having!"
Caleb Rhodes didn’t reply. He looked toward the door to Nina’s room. "Hasn’t Nina woken up yet?"
