My First Love Died, Now My Step Uncle Wants Me-Chapter 74: Doing Strange Things

Caleb Rhodes watched her frail form, the darkness in his eyes growing deeper.

Suddenly, he lifted her chin and, right over the fresh blood at the corner of her mouth, kissed her fiercely.

The sweet, metallic taste of her blood gave him the illusion—and the pain—of devouring her whole.

’If he could, he would tear her limb from limb, chew her up, and swallow her down. Then things wouldn’t be so troublesome. He wouldn’t have to exhaust his thoughts, nor would he have to worry about her developing a will of her own.’

His fingertips trembled slightly. For the first time, he felt as if someone was forcing him to concede.

’Why couldn’t she understand? He just wanted her to be obedient. As long as she stayed by his side, behaved, and didn’t run off, he would give her anything.’

But she wasn’t as obedient as she appeared. Outward compliance and secret rebellion—that was her usual style.

His inability to completely control her gave rise to a certain dark mentality within him.

He didn’t understand feelings, let alone love.

Since childhood, he had been groomed as the heir to the Rhodes and Ainsworth families. He was taught that business is war and that the human heart is more terrifying than any ghost. The information and knowledge he acquired were far more systematic and profound than that of an ordinary person.

But when it came to matters of the heart, his knowledge was a blank slate. No one had ever taught him how to handle a relationship.

’Still, it wasn’t a big deal. He didn’t want much—he just needed Nina Wynn to be obedient.’

In fact, he rather regretted it now.

When Nina Wynn first came to the Rhodes Family, he should have taken charge of her himself instead of letting her grow up by Lana Shaw’s side. Her difficult life had fostered this disobedient personality.

Spurred by the scent of blood, he suddenly felt that everyone who had made her this way deserved to die.

Nina Wynn hadn’t expected Caleb Rhodes to kiss her under these circumstances. She was already in pain and now had to endure the suffocating lack of air. She could only push against him ceaselessly with her hands.

But she couldn’t move him an inch.

After what felt like an eternity, just as she was about to lose consciousness, he finally released her.

He picked up a nearby towel, wiped the blood from the corner of his own mouth, and then began to gently clean the blood from hers, bit by bit.

His movements were gentle, but his voice was devoid of any warmth. "Nina Wynn, just accept your fate. If you think this little trick will make me compromise, you’re mistaken. It won’t work!"

His fingers traced over her blood-stained lips, pressing down gently. "I know what you’re thinking. Don’t be so impatient."

Nina Wynn’s consciousness was hazy, but she could still understand what Caleb Rhodes was saying.

In her heart, where the embers had nearly died, a tiny flame suddenly flickered back to life.

With hope came sensation, and her body could once again register pain. She clutched Caleb Rhodes’s shirt, her voice faint. "It hurts..."

It really, really hurt.

The moment she’d hit the wall had been the most painful, but she had been so tense, her focus entirely elsewhere, that even excruciating pain could be ignored.

Now that awareness returned, the pain radiated from her abdomen throughout her entire body.

The pain was so intense her toes curled.

While wiping the blood from her lips, Caleb Rhodes said to the driver, "Drive faster. I remember there’s a hospital near here."

A short while later, the car pulled up to a private hospital in the vicinity.

After she was given an injection for the pain and medication to stop the bleeding, the doctor who usually treated Nina Wynn rushed over.

The examination revealed gastric bleeding.

The violent impact had likely injured her already fragile stomach.

Once Nina Wynn’s condition stabilized, Caleb Rhodes had her transferred to the hospital he had purchased.

After two months of renovations, the hospital had discarded all its old, outdated equipment and replaced it with the finest, most advanced instruments.

Even many of the doctors had been replaced. The ones practicing there now were mostly well-known physicians from Elysian City.

No one knew why Caleb Rhodes would invest in such an unremarkable private hospital. It wasn’t until much later that people pieced it together: the hospital had been prepared exclusively for Master Rhodes’s perpetually ill "little golden canary."

Although she had vomited blood, this incident wasn’t as severe as the last two. Strangely, however, Nina Wynn remained asleep for a very long time.

It was as if her previous bouts of illness and injury had completely drained her energy and vitality. Now, even a minor sickness was almost too much for her to bear.

This time, the old traditional Chinese medicine doctor said little. He simply prescribed another herbal remedy and had someone take it to be decocted.

Nina Wynn slept for three days. She woke a few times, but she was always listless and would drift back to sleep after eating a small amount of food.

Finally, on the afternoon of the third day, she awoke with a clear head.

Caleb Rhodes had someone prepare a fragrant millet porridge and several of her favorite light dishes, all cooked until they were exceptionally soft.

The courtyard house was nearby, so the food was still hot when it arrived. Nina Wynn glanced at the porridge bowl in Caleb Rhodes’s hands, her expression still listless. After just two mouthfuls, she turned her head away.

Caleb Rhodes then offered her a bowl of snow-white fish broth, patiently coaxing her. "Have a little. There’s a reward for being good."

The soup had been simmering for hours and was full of nourishing ingredients. The old doctor had specifically instructed that if Caleb could coax her into drinking a few more sips, she would recover faster.

She had eaten far too much fish lately. The smell alone made Nina Wynn feel ill. She frowned. "The smell is making me nauseous."

Caleb Rhodes brought the spoon to her lips. "Finish this bowl, and I’ll make you whatever you like tonight."

Nina Wynn had no choice but to take a sip. "I want osmanthus sweet soup," she whispered, "with a soft-yolked poached egg in it."

Caleb Rhodes handed her the small tureen. "Drink this, and I’ll make it for you tonight."

Frowning, Nina Wynn took it.

It took her nearly half an hour to finish the small portion of fish broth.

Caleb Rhodes took a napkin to wipe the grease from the corner of her mouth. Halfway through, he paused. ’Her lips looked so soft, so very kissable.’ His eyes darkened. He lowered his head and took her lip between his, nibbling delicately.

Lacking any strength, Nina Wynn tried to dodge and push him away. "I haven’t brushed my teeth..."

Caleb Rhodes pinned her disobedient hands together and continued his delicate kisses for a long while before finally letting go.

He caressed her delicate, still-pallid cheek, his breathing slightly unsteady. The darkness in his eyes was intense. "Nina, get well soon. I’ve waited too long."

Nina was a little frightened when he looked at her like that. ’It was as if a wild beast lurked in his eyes, ready to tear her apart and devour her at any moment.’

Besides, she understood exactly what he meant by that.

She knew it was inevitable, but the mere thought of doing... *that*... with him filled her with uncontrollable terror.

Even though they weren’t related by blood, he was only a few years her senior, and the Rhodes Family had never even acknowledged her existence, she still found the nature of their relationship and interactions to be inconceivable.

’When I was very young, I thought this ’little uncle’ was impossibly handsome and impossibly powerful. He was like a divine being in my eyes. I used to hide in dark corners just to watch him secretly; his presence had been a breathtaking light in the most barren period of my life.’

’But in my heart, he was always untouchable, someone I could never get close to.’

’How could a celestial being, high on his pedestal, be with an ordinary person like me and experience the mundane trivialities of mortal life?’

Now, he had stepped down from that pedestal and was forcing her to do things only couples and lovers should do. She couldn’t accept it.

She could already imagine the public outcry if their relationship ever came to light!

The heir to the Rhodes Family, the President of the Nash Group, together with a little orphan like her—it was a forced collision of two different worlds!

The chorus of voices declaring she was unworthy would drown her.

The thought made her terrified and frightened all over again, and she began to resist even his slightest touch.

Her constant sleep over the past few days, her unwillingness to wake up, was partly related to this fear.

And now, here he was, sitting before her, feeding her, kissing her, and whispering things only lovers should hear. Her heart ached with misery.

’But I also know that without Caleb Rhodes, I’ll never be able to accomplish the things I need to do.’

’The people I want to punish... I might never even get near them in this lifetime.’

’Before he loses interest in me completely, I can’t let this opportunity slip away.’

She closed her eyes, took a few shallow breaths, and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Uncle, I’m scared."

It was rare for her to initiate contact like this. Caleb Rhodes froze for a second, then his expression softened remarkably.

"What are you scared of?"

Nina nuzzled against his neck and whispered, "I keep dreaming. I’m scared in my dreams."

Caleb Rhodes savored this display of dependence. Even knowing it was a choice born of having no other choice, it still brought him a sense of pleasure.

He picked her up and settled her on his lap. "What did you dream about?"

Nina rested her head on his shoulder, her lashes lowered, hiding the emotion in her eyes.

Her voice was low and soft. "I dreamed they were cursing at me. They said horrible things. It scared me a little."

Before Caleb Rhodes could reply, she added in a whisper, "They called me a mistress. They said I wasn’t worthy of you, that I’m a shameless whore they chased and beat."

Caleb Rhodes’s body went rigid, his voice turning cold. "Nina Wynn, do you care about that?"

Nina closed her eyes and said nothing, her body trembling slightly.

Caleb Rhodes placed her back on the bed, then lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.

"Nina Wynn, listen closely. I’m only going to say this once."

"First, you are not a member of the Rhodes Family. We have no blood relations. Second, we aren’t relatives of any kind. To put it bluntly, your aunt is not acknowledged by the Rhodes Family. Even if she were to have a child, they would never be entered into the family’s ancestral records."

Nina Wynn’s face paled. "Why wouldn’t they be entered into the records?" she whispered.

Caleb Rhodes looked at her. "The Rhodes Family would never acknowledge a child born to a woman of her status."

Nina felt a wave of sorrow for her aunt.

’She went to such lengths, schemed for so long, and now she finally has a son... only to find out he’ll be treated as nothing more than illegitimate. I can’t imagine how she’ll react when she learns the truth.’

She fell silent for a moment, then whispered, "What if... what if I have a child someday?"

Caleb Rhodes stared at her pale face and bloodless lips. After a long moment, he said softly, "I won’t let you have my child."

’At least, not until her body has fully recovered. He wouldn’t allow a child to happen before then.’

Even though she knew the answer and understood her own status, an inexplicable sadness still bloomed in Nina’s heart.

’Yes, didn’t he just say so? Only those of noble status were worthy of bearing a Rhodes child.’

’I’m just an orphan, trapped in this twisted relationship with Caleb Rhodes. How could someone like me ever be worthy of carrying the Rhodes family line?’

’My child, of course, would also be unworthy of being entered into the ancestral records.’

’Caleb Rhodes is such a calculating, farsighted man. He must have planned it all out long ago. He would only want a child with Rosalind Lowell.’

’Perhaps when Caleb and Rosalind Lowell are officially married, this shameful relationship between us will naturally come to an end.’

’Since it’s bound to end, a child would only be a burden.’

Once again, she felt a chill of fear at the depth of Caleb Rhodes’s calculations and his long-term planning.

’He thinks of everything. What will I do if he discovers my secret?’

She bit her lip, her face growing even paler.

She quickly composed herself, admonishing herself internally. ’I have to accomplish my goals quickly and then get far, far away. By then, Caleb Rhodes will be married to Rosalind Lowell, they’ll have children, and he’ll never give me a second thought.’

At this thought, her clenched fists relaxed. She pressed herself closer into Caleb Rhodes’s embrace. "Uncle, I’m a little cold."

It had, in fact, grown colder over the last few days.

Caleb Rhodes draped a white wool shawl over her. "Do you want to go sit on the balcony? Your drawing board is still there."

Nina Wynn rubbed her cheek against his hand, her voice soft. "I have no energy. I can’t walk."

She had never been so docile and gentle with Caleb Rhodes before. It surprised him, but it also plunged him into a complex silence.

An inscrutable light flickered in his eyes. He bent down and scooped her into his arms. "So you wanted me to carry you?"

Nina wrapped her arms around his neck, a sudden blush creeping up her cheeks.

Her voice was barely a whisper. "I saw online... that this is what people do when they’re dating."

Caleb Rhodes’s body stiffened. "Dating?"

’What is... dating?’

’Does she want us to be all lovey-dovey like those young couples? To do... strange things?’

’But that seems so troublesome. Besides, I don’t know how.’

Seeing the displeasure on his face, Nina knew she had misspoken.

’How could Caleb Rhodes possibly date her? Theirs was nothing more than a transaction—a dark, sordid, unethical arrangement that could never see the light of day.’

She quickly changed the subject. "Uncle, you can put me down. I can walk on my own."

Caleb Rhodes remained silent, but he didn’t release her. He carried her to a chair on the terrace.

Her drawing board and easel were still there, along with her paints and brushes. Even the half-finished portrait of Caleb Rhodes from last time remained.

She replaced the sheet of paper and began to sketch and paint again.

She had only made a few strokes when Caleb Rhodes suddenly said, "It’s true that I don’t know how. But I can learn."

Nina didn’t know what he was talking about and looked up at him.

Silhouetted against the light, he stood there in a white shirt and black pants, tall, lean, and impossibly handsome. Only his eyes remained as cold and deeply shadowed as always.

This time, however, she thought she could see her own reflection in them.

For a moment, Nina was stunned. Her heart suddenly hammered against her ribs, and she hastily averted her gaze.

"Uncle, what did you say you would learn just now?"