My First Love Died, Now My Step Uncle Wants Me-Chapter 155: Go Far, Far Away

When the person saw Nina Wynn, she panicked and ran toward the other side of the balcony, looking back at her in terror.

The light was dim, but Nina Wynn still got a clear look at her.

She was a young woman, around twenty years old, wearing only a long-sleeved dress in the dead of winter, which made her look exceptionally frail.

The balcony was enclosed, with only small windows cracked open for ventilation. After a few steps, the young woman ran out of room and found herself pressed against the far wall.

Seeing Nina Wynn and Warner Zimmerman looking at her, her eyes filled with terror.

In the dim light, the young woman’s face was strikingly beautiful, and her eyes were exceptionally gorgeous.

But her pretty face was smeared with blood and grime.

Nina Wynn’s gaze fell lower, and she saw that the woman’s wrists and ankles were still bleeding.

She seemed to realize something and exchanged a glance with Warner Zimmerman.

Just then, the young woman dropped to her knees with a THUD, her body trembling. "Please, help me get out of here," she begged. "Please, if I don’t leave, I’m going to die here!"

Nina Wynn took the coat from Warner Zimmerman’s hands, draped it over the young woman, and said in a low voice, "Let’s go to a lounge. We can’t talk here."

With that, she helped the woman to her feet and quickly guided her into the nearest lounge.

The moment they were inside, Nina Wynn locked the door and asked the woman, "Who are you?"

The light was bright in here, fully revealing the young woman’s face. She was breathtakingly beautiful.

But right now, that beautiful face was a mask of terror.

The young woman looked at Nina Wynn and Warner Zimmerman, her voice low. "I’m a maid for this family. I made a mistake, so the young master locked me up. I’ve been held for days. Today is his engagement party, and the person guarding me went off to drink, so I cut the ropes and escaped."

She began to cry, pleading with Nina Wynn and Warner Zimmerman. "Please, help me get out of here, or they’ll beat me to death! I was framed! I didn’t steal anything, and I didn’t try to seduce the young master!"

"Please, help me! If not, he’ll come and torture me to death tonight!"

She was so frail and covered in blood and filth; she looked utterly pitiful.

Nina Wynn looked at the young woman and was reminded of her former self.

"Miss Zimmerman, could you please go to the car and get a change of clothes for me?"

She looked at Warner Zimmerman. "Don’t let Caleb find out about this."

Warner Zimmerman said nothing, simply turning and leaving the room.

Nina Wynn helped the young woman over to the sofa, poured her a cup of hot water, then dampened a tissue to gently wipe her face.

Seeing that Nina Wynn was about her age and dressed from head to toe in top designer brands, the young woman assumed she was the daughter of some prominent family. She lowered her head and murmured, "Which family are you from? Thank you... You probably don’t believe me..."

"I believe you," Nina Wynn said.

In all her years with the Rhodes Family, she had seen and experienced more than she could count.

Only someone who has lived it can know how much bottomless filth is hidden behind the glamorous facade of these wealthy and powerful families.

Never mind a maid being locked up and trying to escape—she would have believed a story a thousand times more outlandish.

She quickly examined the woman’s hands and saw that her wrists were chafed raw, the skin broken and bloody. Her ankles were covered in the same deep ligature marks.

She took a deep breath, her resolve hardening.

A moment later, Warner Zimmerman returned with the clothes.

It was a matching set that Nina Wynn often wore, along with a white down jacket.

She had also brought a small first-aid kit.

After quickly dressing the woman’s wounds, Nina Wynn had her change into the clean clothes.

As they left, Nina Wynn and Warner Zimmerman walked ahead, with the young woman following closely behind, her head bowed.

At that moment, nearly all the guests and the Finch Family’s staff were in the main hall, so they were able to slip out a side door with ease.

Nina Wynn had Warner Zimmerman drive the young woman a few miles away, where she gave her some cash.

She looked at the young woman and said softly, "You said you were a maid, but I can tell you must have had a significant relationship with the Finch family’s eldest son. But for him to lock you up and hurt you like this... I doubt he cares for you very much. You should get far away from here."

"The Finch Family is very powerful. You’d be best off leaving Elysian City altogether. Otherwise, you’ll have a lot of trouble."

The young woman kept her head down and whispered, "Thank you!"

Then she looked up at Nina Wynn. "You were right. The eldest son and I did have a relationship once. But now my mother is dead and he’s getting married. It’s time for me to go. Thank you. I’ll repay you if I ever get the chance."

"What’s your name? Which family are you from?"

Nina Wynn shook her head. "You don’t need to know my name. In a way, I’m just pitying myself. You should go now. And don’t ever come back."

With that, she took a hairpin from her hair and pressed it into the woman’s hand. "You can sell this for some money. It’s the last thing I can do for you."

Then, without a backward glance, she got back in the car.

As the car pulled away, Nina Wynn watched the young woman’s retreating figure in the rearview mirror as she ran.

She suddenly felt a pang of envy for the woman. At least she was free to leave, to leave right this second. And she was lucky enough to have someone help her.

Lost in thought, she asked, "Miss Zimmerman, if I wanted to leave... would you help me?"

Warner Zimmerman replied, her expression blank, "No."

Nina Wynn lowered her head. After a moment of silence, she said, "You would. You’re a good person, Miss Zimmerman."

Warner Zimmerman didn’t reply, simply continuing to drive with a stony expression.

Back at the Finch estate, the moment she stepped into the main hall, Caleb Rhodes grabbed her wrist, his expression cold. "Where have you been?"

Then, his eyes caught sight of Warner Zimmerman following her in, and his gaze softened slightly. "Go sit over there. And don’t wander off again!"

Back in her seat, Nina Wynn scanned the room and sent a text to Noelle Landon, but she didn’t get a reply.

She stared distractedly at the bustling hall, her thoughts returning to the escaped woman, and a wave of despondency washed over her.

After some time, the main hall gradually fell quiet.

An emcee appeared on the red carpet in the center of the hall, beaming as he announced, "Thank you to all our friends and relatives for joining us at tonight’s engagement banquet!"

"Tonight, we celebrate the engagement of Miss Chloe Joyce of the Joyce Family and Mr. Zachary Lawson!"

The moment he finished speaking, the guests froze for a second before the hall erupted in a commotion.

Nina Wynn’s head snapped up, her eyes fixed on the stage.

A buzz of conversation rose up around her:

"Who is Zachary Lawson?"

"Why isn’t this an engagement between the Joyce and Finch families?"

"That’s strange. How come there’s no one from the Finch Family here? It’s just the Joyce Family."

...

Nina Wynn seemed to understand everything. She shot to her feet and hurried upstairs.

In a room on the second floor overlooking the main hall, Nina Wynn found Caleb Rhodes and Adrian Finch standing by the window. They were watching the scene below, speaking quietly to each other.

Seeing Nina, Caleb Rhodes beckoned to her. "Come here!"

Nina Wynn ran over, ignoring Adrian Finch’s presence, and threw her arms around Caleb’s neck. "Caleb Rhodes, why didn’t you tell me?"

Caleb Rhodes lifted her up and set her down on a high stool beside him so she could see the hall.

Then, he wrapped his arms around her from behind and murmured in her ear, "Do you like the surprise, Nina?"