My First Love Died, Now My Step Uncle Wants Me-Chapter 152: Take It Off

Feeling the woman in his arms suddenly go rigid, Caleb Rhodes squeezed Nina Wynn’s hand.

He looked down and saw her staring straight outside, her face pale and her hand trembling slightly.

He shot a cold glance outside, then kissed her hair and said in a low voice, "Don’t be afraid. Just follow Warner Zimmerman, find a quiet place, and wait for the show to start."

Nina Wynn didn’t say a word, her eyes fixed on the scene outside.

On the villa’s steps, Chloe Joyce and Adrian Finch, the heir to the Fawley Group, had already come out to welcome guests.

Chloe Joyce was radiant in a haute couture gown, looking both charming and glamorous.

Adrian Finch, beside her, was tall and imposing with a powerful air, clearly no ordinary man.

As Chloe Joyce’s companion for the day, Crystal Rhodes also stood by the steps. Her own haute couture dress complemented her flower-like smile.

And standing right next to her was none other than Finn Prescott.

Finn Prescott wore a smoke-gray suit and had a lazy air about him, but when his gaze swept over, it was exceptionally sharp.

The moment Caleb Rhodes saw him, his eyes went ice-cold. His voice was just as frigid. "Don’t you dare speak to Finn Prescott."

His sharp gaze landed on Warner Zimmerman. "Keep an eye on her! Don’t get out of the car until we’re inside!"

Warner Zimmerman’s expression remained unchanged. "Yes, Third Lord Master!"

With that, he opened the door and stepped out.

Adrian Finch and Cole Prescott were already approaching.

Caleb Rhodes’s sharp gaze swept past Finn Prescott. With a cold expression, he said to Cole, "You’re the one who brought him here?"

Cole Prescott chuckled. "Don’t be so petty. He didn’t do anything to your sweetheart, just found someone to rescue her cat. Besides, he’s only here today because the precious young lady of your Rhodes Family begged him to come."

As he spoke, he glanced toward the car and clicked his tongue. "Don’t tell me you actually brought her with you?"

Caleb Rhodes’s expression was glacial. "Control your brother. If he dares to say a single word to her today, I’ll chop off his fingers!"

Cole Prescott stifled a laugh. "And what if *your* girl starts talking to *my* brother first?"

Caleb Rhodes snorted. "Impossible. I know my woman."

With that, he turned to Adrian Finch. "How are the preparations?"

Adrian Finch glanced at Chloe Joyce in the distance, a flicker of disgust in his eyes. "Everything is going according to plan. Don’t forget, I want thirty percent of the shares."

Caleb Rhodes gave a curt nod and headed for the main hall.

The three men were all exceptionally distinguished, with first-class looks. Their appearance together drew the eyes of nearly everyone in the vicinity.

Caleb Rhodes, in particular, standing in the center, had captivated a host of socialites the moment he arrived.

The moment Dustin Joyce of Reboot Technologies saw Caleb Rhodes walk in, he rushed over to greet him with a beaming smile. "President Rhodes, it’s been a while! I hear your operations in Aethelburg are expanding significantly. Is there any opportunity for us to buy in?"

The Fawley Group, controlled by the Finch Family, primarily focused on export trade, handling a vast array of commodities, large and small. It had long held the title of the "King of Commerce."

Moreover, the Finch Family had a profound background. Mr. Finch was among those who had made significant contributions to the founding of modern Celestria.

Thus, the Fawley Group was also formidable. While it couldn’t compare to the Nash Group, it was still considered a titan in its own right.

Therefore, for Reboot Technologies, an alliance by marriage with the deeply-rooted Fawley Group was naturally a very satisfactory arrangement.

Caleb Rhodes shot him a look that was not quite a smile and said, his own smile not reaching his eyes, "Such a big appetite. Aren’t you afraid you’ll choke on it?"

Dustin Joyce was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing. "What are you saying? No one ever complains about making too much money!"

Just then, Crystal Rhodes came over and affectionately linked her arm through Caleb Rhodes’s. "Uncle, you haven’t been home in so long. Grandmother has been asking about you constantly!"

She glanced around behind him. "Why didn’t you come with Miss Lowell? I heard she went to Aethelburg to keep you company!"

Caleb Rhodes pulled his arm away, his expression indifferent. "You’d best go home now. Don’t meddle in other people’s affairs."

Crystal Rhodes glanced up at Finn Prescott, a rare, shy look on her face. "I just came to watch and learn a thing or two."

Caleb Rhodes said coldly, "Then this is the path you’ve chosen. Don’t blame anyone for not warning you."

With that, he strode directly into the banquet hall. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Crystal Rhodes found his words strange. She wanted to run after him and ask why, but she was afraid Caleb Rhodes would embarrass her even more publicly.

She was still terrified of Caleb Rhodes.

Ever since Caleb Rhodes had taken Nina Wynn away a few months ago, their relationship had dropped to a freezing point. She was furious, but there was nothing she could do.

She didn’t dare approach him, so she directed all her resentment toward Nina Wynn, silently cursing her a hundred times over.

As it happened, she turned her head and saw Nina Wynn and Warner Zimmerman walking in through the main entrance.

Her expression soured. She hadn’t expected Nina Wynn would dare to show her face at a place like this.

This time, however, she wasn’t as impulsive as she used to be.

The last time, Caleb Rhodes’s slap had left her completely dazed. It was from that moment she realized Nina Wynn held some importance in Caleb Rhodes’s heart.

She glared viciously at Nina Wynn and stepped forward.

However, before she could reach Nina Wynn, Warner Zimmerman said coldly, "Miss Rhodes, has the Third Lord Master’s slap from last time not woken you up yet?"

Crystal Rhodes’s expression grew even more unsightly. Staring at the limited-edition cocktail dress Nina Wynn was wearing, her eyes filled with scorn. "You think putting on a nice dress makes you a princess? Let me tell you, Nina Wynn, you will always be an outsider. My uncle and I are family. Your days of being smug are numbered!"

Nina Wynn tugged on Warner Zimmerman’s sleeve and whispered, "Just ignore her. Let’s go find a place to sit."

As she did, a beautiful diamond bracelet on her wrist came into view.

The sight of it made Crystal Rhodes gasp.

She recognized the jewelry set at once. It was the "Selene’s Serenity" set from an auction a few days ago. It had been purchased by a mysterious buyer for eighty million, causing quite a stir at the time.

She never imagined that this jewelry would end up on Nina Wynn. She felt like she was going to lose her mind.

Her own credit cards had been restricted, and she hadn’t been able to buy any decent clothes or bags in ages. The very dress she was wearing had been bought for her by Chloe Joyce.

Yet here was Nina Wynn, not only wearing a haute couture dress available only to VIPs, but also adorned with jewelry worth tens of millions.

She was so furious she could scream.

Besides, that jewelry was a matching set for a couple. ’What right does *she* have to wear it?’

’If anyone should be wearing it, it’s Rosalind Lowell!’

’Nina Wynn, that lowly orphan, deserves nothing more than plastic beads from a street stall—the kind you get three for a dollar!’

Her eyes reddened with fury. Unable to restrain herself, she lunged forward and grabbed Nina Wynn’s dress. "Nina Wynn, you bitch! Are you worthy of wearing this jewelry? Take it off!"

Nina Wynn shook her hand off and glanced at the dress Crystal was wearing, a peculiar look flashing in her eyes.

She said in a low voice, "Sister, you’d best behave yourself today. Otherwise, you might find your credit card won’t even cover a ten-dollar purchase in the future."

After a pause, she added in an even lower voice, "Sister, if you dare to hit me here, you’ll be stuck wearing shoddy dresses like this one from now on. And this dress... it’s truly hideous. The quality is just terrible."

Crystal Rhodes looked ready to explode. She raised her hand to strike.

But the next second, her wrist was seized by a large hand.