My First Love Died, Now My Step Uncle Wants Me-Chapter 53: All Afternoon

"This is a natural hot spring. A soak will be good for me and the baby."

"Leo told me that Caleb owns half the equity in this hotel. And what’s Caleb’s is as good as the Rhodes family’s, which means it belongs to my son, too. We’re visiting our own family’s hotel, so there’s no need to hold back. Let’s find the best suite."

Through the gaps in the dappled bamboo leaves, Nina Wynn saw Lana Shaw in a silk cheongsam, one hand resting on her slightly protruding belly. Her face was a mask of arrogance, the very picture of opulent wealth.

The Rhodes family’s housekeeper, Mrs. Zimmerman, followed behind, reaching out to steady her. "Ma’am, the Nash Group is an Ainsworth family enterprise. It has nothing to do with the Rhodes family. It’s an asset from the Young Master’s maternal side. Perhaps we should keep a lower profile."

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Lana Shaw’s face, but her voice remained loud. "So what if it is? His surname is Rhodes. In the future, all of these things will naturally come to the Rhodes family. Surely he isn’t going to favor outsiders over his own kin, is he? No matter how capable his mother was, she was still just a woman. In the end, they all have to rely on their sons."

She proudly patted her stomach. "This baby in here is a true Rhodes. He’ll have to call Caleb his uncle—his very own uncle. So what’s wrong with us using a little of it now?"

Mrs. Zimmerman could only smile and agree. "Yes, Ma’am, you’re right."

Suddenly, Lana Shaw’s expression soured, her tone turning nasty. "It’s all that damn girl Nina Wynn’s fault. Because of her, I’m a laughingstock among the other society wives. All my years of effort, completely wasted. There’s been no word about that wench. It’d be best if she just died out there. Otherwise, she’ll only come back and cause more trouble for me."

Stroking her belly, she lifted her chin again. "Thankfully, I have a son on the way now. So what if those women are the original wives? More than half of them don’t have sons. Soon, it’ll be my turn to laugh at them. I’ve finally made it to the top."

Just then, Mrs. Zimmerman’s phone rang. After answering, she said, "Ma’am, why don’t you head on first? Miss Crystal is here. I’m going to go get her things."

With that, she hurried off, leaving Lana Shaw standing awkwardly in place.

She lowered her head and muttered, "Still just a girl," before holding her belly and heading toward the main hall.

Nina Wynn watched Lana Shaw’s retreating figure, memories of their past together surfacing one by one. A dull pain bloomed in her chest, as if a deep gash had been torn open, bleeding profusely, impossible to ever mend.

To avoid running into Crystal Rhodes, Nina Wynn deliberately took a secluded path back to her room. As luck would have it, she was only halfway there when she saw Crystal approaching from the other end.

She quickly ducked into a nearby rest area.

Crystal Rhodes was walking and talking on the phone, her voice carrying clearly.

"There’s been no word on that bitch for two months. After getting hit by that bus, she’s most likely dead. And if she’s not dead, she’s as good as crippled."

"Zyler Rhodes, why are you searching all over for her? You want to help her? I’m telling you, not a chance! Chloe Joyce’s face still hasn’t healed, and that bitch is the one who cut her. How dare she hurt my friend! If she’s still alive, you just wait and see how I’ll deal with her!"

"Zyler Rhodes, I’m telling you, that bastard in Lana Shaw’s womb is already three months along. They say it’s a boy. If you don’t come up with a plan, you and I will end up just like that bitch Nina Wynn—dead without even knowing how it happened."

"I’m going to find Uncle Caleb now. In this family, Dad’s attention is entirely on his new son. Only Uncle Caleb can help us..."

...

Crystal Rhodes’s voice gradually faded into the distance.

Nina Wynn sat just inside the rest area. A breeze drifted through the crack of the slightly ajar door, lifting her thin bangs to reveal a pair of cold eyes, filled with an inexpressible disgust.

Nina Wynn didn’t emerge from the rest area until evening.

In the dim light, she was curled up on the small daybed in the rest area, fast asleep.

The door opened softly, and a tall, imposing man stepped inside.

His hand, with its well-defined knuckles, gently grazed her soft cheek. It tickled, and she rolled over in her sleep, inhaling the crisp, clean scent of cedarwood in the air.

Even in her sleep, she shivered involuntarily, and her eyes snapped open in an instant.

"Uncle..."

The room was unlit. Caleb Rhodes wore a white shirt, and his clean, elegant figure seemed to glow in the night, making Nina Wynn stare blankly for a second.

But a moment later, Caleb’s hand pressed against her lips. His voice was cold. "You’ve been in here all afternoon?"

Nina didn’t answer. After a moment, her soft hand closed around Caleb’s wrist. "Uncle, I don’t want to stay here anymore."

She kept her head lowered, her voice still soft and hazy with sleep, making her sound as if she were pleading.

Caleb’s hand paused for a moment before he bent down and scooped her into his arms. "Is it because of them?"

Nina clutched his shirt, saying nothing. After a long moment, she whispered, "I saw them."

Caleb fell silent.

In the dim light, his expression was unreadable. No one could see the frighteningly deep darkness and chill in his eyes.

After a long while, Caleb pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Are you hungry?"

Nina suddenly rested her head on his shoulder and nuzzled her face against his neck. "Uncle, can we please leave?"

Caleb’s body went rigid at the seemingly unintentional gesture, and his arms holding her tightened.

However, he didn’t grant her request. "The hot springs are good for your injuries. We’ll leave in a few days. That way, you won’t have to go back to the hospital when we get home."

Nina said nothing, simply wrapping her other arm around Caleb’s neck as well.

This was the first time she had ever actively held onto him while he was carrying her.

A flicker of something passed through Caleb’s eyes. He carried her out the door, not noticing that even her fingertips were trembling.

All along the way, Nina kept her head buried in his chest, not lifting it for a single moment.

As they passed through the most crowded area, Caleb felt the woman in his arms trembling slightly. He frowned and quickened his pace.

She didn’t lift her head until they had entered their private suite. Then, revealing her small face, she quickly scanned the courtyard and the living room.

Then, as if a great weight had been lifted, her whole body relaxed. She took her arms from around Caleb’s neck. "Uncle, I’m a little hungry."

Dinner was already laid out on the table.

The dishes were different from what they’d had for lunch, but the main staple was still fish congee.

Nina ate a little more than she had at noon. She still grimaced when she took her medicine, only looking slightly relieved when the butler brought out a dish of candied fruit.

She was meant to soak in the hot spring three times a day. Since she had missed the afternoon session, she stayed in a little longer in the evening.

Caleb seemed to be in a good mood; surprisingly, he just held her and kissed her for a while today, without forcing her to do that strange thing.

When the soak was nearly over, Caleb lifted her out and set her down on a lounge chair in the adjoining rest area.

Nina couldn’t help but tense up again, but Caleb did nothing more. He simply pressed a remote on the wall, and the fabric canopy on the glass roof slowly retracted, revealing the crystal-clear night sky.

The weather was nice today; it was a rare treat to be able to see the stars in the suburbs of Elysian City.

Nina Wynn gazed up at the sky full of brilliant stars, her mind drifting.