Among the crowd of middle-aged n in their forties and fifties, he was exceptionally striking, his presence overpowering everyone else’s.
This was the first ti Nina Wynn had ever seen Caleb Rhodes in his elent, commanding the world of business.
He sat on the dais, listening to the speaker’s presentation.
From Nina’s vantage point, his profile was as sharp as a sculpture. There was an insurmountable gap between his refined, noble air and the people beside him, as if they existed in different worlds.
Now she finally understood why so many heiresses in Elysian City were willing to throw themselves at him like moths to a fla.
In that mont, she could clearly hear her own heart pound.
Just as she was lost in her staring, Caleb Rhodes suddenly looked in her direction.
The mont their eyes t, Nina saw a coldness and detachnt in his gaze that she had never seen before.
It was as if she were just another person in the conference hall, as if they were rely superior and subordinate, or even strangers.
Her heart sank a little. Nina lowered the curtain.
’We’re from two different worlds,’ she warned herself, ’and he doesn’t have a single genuine feeling for . Only an idiot or soone hopelessly in love would get upset over this.’
After a while, she took out her phone and saw that Zyler Rhodes had sent her dozens of ssages.
She casually tapped one open and replied.
A short while later, Zyler Rhodes ca in.
The mont he entered, he rushed forward to hug Nina, his expression anxious. "Nina, I can only be out for three minutes. Let just hold you."
Nina pushed him away, her expression placid. "There are people outside."
Unwilling to give up, Zyler grabbed her hand again, staring at her face as if searching for so confirmation.
"Nina, what you promised ... was it real?"
Nina didn’t answer, rely lowering her gaze.
Zyler grew frantic. "Are you lying to ? You just agreed to be with a few days ago, so why are you completely ignoring today?"
Nina glanced at the door and said softly, "Zyler, I’m sorry. I can’t stand Ivy Lawson, and I can’t stand you having two won. I can’t do it. We shouldn’t contact each other anymore."
Zyler’s expression changed instantly. He gripped Nina’s hand, saying urgently, "I’m already preparing to discuss this with my family! I was planning to bring it up with my uncle in the next couple of days, too. What more do you want from ?"
He grabbed her where her finger had been broken, and she winced in pain, furrowing her brow as she violently shook him off.
Zyler continued, "Nina, in families like ours, marriage and love are separate. As long as I don’t touch her, she won’t have any children. I’ll only have you. As long as you give a child, you can have anything you want. Even she will have to defer to you."
A profound coldness filled Nina’s downcast eyes, but her voice was soft. "I don’t want to destroy your marriage, Zyler. My mother jumped to her death because of a howrecker. I will not be a mistress. Not ever!"
This was the only true thing she had said to Zyler Rhodes in a long ti.
Whether it was Zyler Rhodes or Caleb Rhodes, neither of them was worthy of making her a mistress.
Zyler panicked. "How is that being a mistress? I told you, I’ll only have children with you! No one else will ever have my child. If you don’t believe , I can swear on it!"
Nina shook her head firmly and pushed him away. "Zyler, let’s just stop. Don’t contact anymore."
As she said this, she wavered for a mont.
’If Zyler Rhodes backed off now, I wouldn’t go through with my plan tonight. But if he’s determined to court death, then I’ll make sure he is utterly destroyed!’
But Zyler was already overco with emotion, and Nina’s "Don’t contact anymore" had pushed him over the edge.
He pulled Nina into an embrace and bent his head to kiss her.
But Nina just stared at the door, unmoving.
Just as Zyler’s lips were about to descend, Nina tilted her head to dodge, but the door was suddenly pounded on with great force.
Zyler frowned and muttered a curse. He turned and snapped viciously, "Who is it? You got a death wish?"
The words had barely left his mouth when the knocking grew even more frantic. Hugh Collins’s voice ca from outside. "Mr. Rhodes, if you would please open the door."
When Zyler heard it was Assistant Collins, he went to open the door, still muttering curses.
The mont he opened the door, the color drained from his face.
Caleb Rhodes stood in the doorway, his expression as if it had been frozen in ice.
He didn’t even glance at Zyler; his gaze shot straight to Nina.
But Nina just kept her eyes downcast, refusing to look at him.
Zyler sensed sothing was wrong but couldn’t put his finger on it. He had no choice but to brace himself and say, "Uncle, Nina and I were just talking for a bit..."
"Get out!" Caleb Rhodes’s tone was exceptionally sharp.
Zyler froze for a second. "Uncle, Nina and I were just..."
"Shut up!"
Caleb pushed past him, strode forward, and grabbed Nina’s wrist. His voice was glacial. "Nina Wynn, is this why you ca out?"
Nina lowered her head and tried to back away, but Caleb held her fast.
She looked helpless, terrified of Caleb Rhodes.
Seeing her like that, Zyler was suddenly reminded of how she used to look whenever she was bullied.
A powerful wave of regret and pity washed over him. He stepped forward, pried Caleb’s hand away, and pulled Nina behind him protectively. "Nina, don’t be afraid. I’ll explain everything to my uncle."
Nina’s hand trembled. She slowly lifted her head to look at Caleb Rhodes.
His expression was incredibly ugly, the malice in his eyes so thick it terrified her. She quickly lowered her head again and whispered, "Zyler, you should go. We can talk about this later."
Zyler refused. He said in a low voice, "I won’t let you be bullied anymore."
He didn’t understand why Caleb Rhodes had suddenly exploded with such rage.
In his mory, Caleb was always a cold, dignified man with imnse self-control who rarely lost his temper.
But recently, he had lost his temper twice, both tis with a terrifying intensity. And both tis, it was because of Nina Wynn.
Their lover-like squabble made Caleb Rhodes lose his last shred of patience. He stared at Nina, his voice so cold it could shatter glass. "Nina Wynn, you really are sothing else!"
With that, he turned and walked away.
Nina watched him go, feeling as if his very back was coated in a layer of frost.
She pulled her hand free from Zyler’s and said in a low voice, "Zyler, we’ll talk tonight. Uncle is angry right now, I have to go to him."
Zyler said worriedly, "Uncle is definitely angry, but why? Even if I have a fiancée, it’s not like he should get this mad over talking to you for a bit!"
A strange glint flashed in Nina’s eyes. She said softly, "I broke his favorite vase just now. He’s probably angry about that."
After saying that, she stopped talking to Zyler and slowly walked toward Caleb Rhodes’s office.
Zyler, still worried, chased after her, wanting to go in with her.
Nina’s expression suddenly changed, her tone turning icy. "Are you annoying or what? I said I’d go by myself. Why do you have to follow ?"
With that, she left a stunned Zyler Rhodes behind and entered Caleb Rhodes’s office.
The mont she stepped inside, before Nina could even get a clear look at the room, a powerful force grabbed her and dragged her into the bathroom.
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