My First Love Died, Now My Step Uncle Wants Me-Chapter 21: Let Her Do It

He gazed down at her, his voice cold. "Nina Wynn, I’ll decide what I need to do. I don’t need you making decisions for me!"

Nina was startled and didn’t dare to look him in the eye.

He was always showing up here, bringing these strange gifts. She really didn’t dare to think too deeply about it.

A faint thought flickered in her mind that his behavior was crossing a line, but who was Caleb Rhodes? She wasn’t arrogant enough to think that a man like him would be interested in her.

She bit her lip and said in a tiny voice, "Uncle, I wouldn’t dare. That’s not what I meant."

Caleb Rhodes’s gaze swept over the lip she had just bitten.

A faint sheen of moisture still glistened on it. His eyes darkened, and he let her go. "Go eat breakfast!"

His voice wasn’t loud, but it was filled with an icy chill, as if no one could defy a single word he said. Nina had no choice but to sit down and eat a little.

But the more she ate, the more something felt wrong. She couldn’t help but sneak a glance at Caleb Rhodes.

Caleb Rhodes ate rather quickly, but his movements were elegant. As if noticing her gaze, he set down his utensils and looked at Nina. "If you have something to say, just say it."

Nina didn’t dare to meet his gaze, but she couldn’t hold it in any longer. She said quietly, "Uncle, you don’t have to send me things anymore. The clothes, the jewelry... it’s all too expensive..."

Caleb Rhodes’s expression was cold. "You don’t like them? Then we’ll switch brands. This afternoon, I’ll have my assistant bring over a selection of brands and styles for you to choose from."

Nina was speechless. After a long pause, she finally managed, "No, that’s not it, Uncle. I don’t need those things..."

Just then, Caleb Rhodes’s phone suddenly rang.

He answered it immediately. "Crystal?"

The room was very quiet, and Nina could clearly hear the voice on the other end. "Uncle, I’ve been back for three days and I haven’t even seen you. I miss you."

It was Crystal Rhodes’s coquettish voice, sounding so sweet and docile. It was as if she were a completely different person from the one who always bullied her.

The moment Nina heard that voice, she instinctively tensed up, her hands clenching into tight fists.

She was instantly reminded of Crystal’s words: "Do you know how Evan Chapman died?"

’How did Evan Chapman die?’

She remembered that winter, the scene of Evan Chapman falling from the building. He was broken like a rag doll with its limbs torn off, a bloody image seared into her nightmares.

She had been secretly seeing a therapist for two years just to be able to sleep soundly again.

Crystal’s fawning voice continued from the phone. "Uncle, when are you coming home? Grandpa said you haven’t been back in days."

Caleb Rhodes’s tone was much gentler than usual. "I’ve been busy these past two days. I’ll take you out for a big meal when I’m done."

"No, I don’t want a big meal! I want you to take me shopping at the mall. I’ve already picked out so many bags, clothes, and pieces of jewelry. Uncle, you have to buy them for me."

"Fine, I’ll buy them."

"Thanks, Uncle! Love you! Uncle, are you coming home tomorrow night? Dad and Grandpa said the whole family is getting together. I also invited a few friends over. They all really admire you and want to meet you."

Caleb Rhodes said lightly, "I have an important meeting tomorrow night. I might not be able to make it back."

Crystal was not satisfied and whined, "No! Not ’might,’ you *have* to come back! Uncle, I haven’t seen you in a year or two, and you’re just going to brush me off like this? I’m mad!"

Caleb Rhodes sounded a bit resigned. "Alright, I’ll have my assistant push back tomorrow night’s meeting."

A cheer came from the other end. "You’re the best, Uncle!"

The two chatted for a few more moments before Caleb Rhodes hung up. He looked up to see Nina’s pale face and her body, which was as stiff as a board.

"Not feeling well?" Caleb Rhodes’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He reached out to touch Nina’s forehead, but she flinched away instinctively.

She dug her nails into her palms, so tightly they nearly drew blood. "Uncle, I want to be discharged."

Caleb Rhodes’s eyes turned cold. "No."

Nina stood up, her voice quiet but firm. "I want to be discharged."

Caleb Rhodes looked at her pale little face and noticed a thin sheen of sweat had formed on her forehead. He stared at her. "If you don’t like this hospital, we can switch. A private hospital would have better facilities."

Nina turned away and said in a low voice, "I’m already better, Uncle. Thank you for taking care of me these past few days. You don’t have to look after me like this anymore. I’m not Crystal. I’m not used to being managed like this."

Caleb Rhodes’s voice was exceedingly cold. "Nina Wynn, do you think I see you as my niece?"

Nina froze completely. Her intuition screamed that she did not want to hear what Caleb Rhodes was about to say. She wished she could just disappear. But Caleb Rhodes wasn’t about to let her go. He said in that same icy tone, "Nina Wynn, listen closely. I’m only going to say this once. From the day you first stepped into the Rhodes Family’s home, I have never seen you as my niece. You were young before, so I gave you plenty of freedom. Ten years have passed. You should have had your fun by now. You’re twenty now, an adult. You should know what’s coming. You’d best prepare yourself."

Nina’s head snapped up. Her heart sank to the bottom of a pit, and her limbs went cold.

’What does Caleb Rhodes mean?’

’He never saw me as his niece? Then what does he see me as?’

’Hardly anyone in Elysian City didn’t know about him and Rosalind Lowell. They were going to get married. What is he trying to do?’

Caleb Rhodes stood up, his tall frame almost completely eclipsing Nina. "If you don’t like this hospital, we’ll switch to another one. Get some rest. I’ll be back tonight."

With that, he took the tie handed to him by the butler, his voice like ice. "You can go. Have her do it."

The butler glanced at Nina and silently withdrew.

Nina didn’t dare to turn around. She stood frozen in place, digging her fingers into her palms, wishing she could just faint.

There wasn’t a trace of warmth in Caleb Rhodes’s voice. "Come here!"

Nina remained rooted to the spot, her body stiff. She still hadn’t recovered from the shock of Caleb Rhodes’s words.

Caleb Rhodes stared coldly at her back. "Nina Wynn, don’t test my patience. Come here!"

His tone was devoid of any warmth, like a king issuing a decree. Not wanting a direct confrontation, Nina could only brace herself and slowly turn around.

Caleb Rhodes’s gaze swept across her pale face. He held out the tie. "Tie it."

It was a silk tie with gray, blue, and white stripes—well-made, simple, and elegant. It should have been light, but to Nina, it felt as if it weighed a thousand pounds.

She didn’t dare to look Caleb Rhodes in the eye. Keeping her head down, she said in a tiny voice, "Uncle, I don’t know how."

Caleb Rhodes’s gaze softened slightly, but his voice remained cold. "You mean you don’t dare."

After a pause, he called out to the door, "Warner Zimmerman, come in and show her how it’s done."

Warner Zimmerman entered with a blank expression, skillfully tied Caleb Rhodes’s tie, and then left again.

Caleb Rhodes stared at Nina. "Now, untie it and do it again."

His gaze was cold, deep, and focused, carrying with it an infinite sense of pressure. Under his stare, Nina felt it was difficult to even breathe.

But she was powerless to defy him. With trembling hands, she reached up to untie his tie.

But he was so tall that she had to tilt her head all the way back just to reach it.

They were so close she could even feel his breath ghosting across her forehead.

It tickled, and the crisp scent of cedarwood mixed with his purely masculine aura clung to her like a spell she couldn’t shake off. Her heart pounded with such panic that her body began to tremble.

It took a great deal of effort to get the tie off, but tying it again proved to be exceptionally difficult.

Having only seen it done once, she couldn’t quite remember the steps. Compounded by her extreme nervousness, she tied it incorrectly three times in a row.

By the fourth attempt, her palms and forehead were slick with nervous sweat.

Caleb Rhodes just watched her. As her body pressed closer and closer, his gaze grew darker and more profound.

Suddenly, he reached out, clasped her slender waist, and pulled her into his embrace. Her entire body was flush against his.

The moment their bodies touched, she felt the distinct difference between a man’s and a woman’s body. Her face instantly turned crimson.