Caleb Rhodes frowned. "Keep your voice down. She’s timid."
"Tsk. Look at you, getting all protective. You’re so worried—don’t tell she’s actually underage, is she?"
Suddenly, Nina Wynn spoke up in a small voice. "I’m really twenty. I’m about to graduate from college."
Her voice was quiet, soft, and delicate, a stark contrast to the deep tones of the n around her.
The n froze for a mont, then broke into laughter again.
Nina Wynn lowered her head and fell silent, her small, pale hands twisting tightly together.
In the light, her face was deathly pale, but the tips of her ears were bright red.
Caleb Rhodes glanced at her, then suddenly snapped, his voice as cold as ice, "Can we just eat a proper al? If not, then get out!"
The laughter died instantly. Soone clicked their tongue in annoyance. "Still has that sa vicious temper. Three years away and you haven’t llowed out one bit."
"Alright, alright, bring in the food! It’s a new nu. They poached a top chef from Shenton. I heard his family served as imperial chefs for generations."
Then, it was ti for the dishes to be served.
The others continued to chat and laugh, their conversation filled with topics Nina Wynn barely understood: the stock market, new policies, official governnt directives, and the like.
Caleb Rhodes said little, only chiming in occasionally, but he always seed to be steering the direction of the conversation.
’It seed he was the center of their group, too.’
As Nina Wynn ate, she couldn’t help but glance at the n.
She was startled by what she realized.
Of the five n, she recognized three. One was Adrian Sutton, the youngest vice-mayor in Elysian City’s history. He was in his early thirties, exceptionally capable, and rumored to have a terrifyingly powerful family background.
Another was Nathan Fletcher, the son of Oriens’s richest man. He was a notorious playboy who frequently made entertainnt headlines and had dated countless starlets. He was a household na in Veridia.
Another man looked familiar, and after a mont, Nina Wynn realized he was soone she had just seen in the news yesterday—a young, promising figure with a significant background.
She didn’t recognize the other two, but given the status of these three, the other two were surely just as formidable.
’But these n always seed so composed and reserved on television. Were they always this unguarded in private?’
’Was Caleb Rhodes’s entire social circle filled with such dissolute people?’
As she mulled this over, the once-delicious food lost its appeal. Her expression grew listless, and she wished she could leave right away.
Just then, the door swung open. A man walked in, a brilliant smile on his face. "Well, now. Having a dinner party and you didn’t invite ?"
The mont he heard that voice, Caleb Rhodes’s face darkened.
Beside him, Adrian Sutton’s brows knitted together. He lowered his voice. "Who invited him?"
Nathan Fletcher, however, looked at the newcor with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "Dr. Sullivan. What brings you here?"
Finn Sullivan smiled as his gaze swept around the room. It paused on Nina Wynn’s face for two seconds, a flash of surprise in his eyes, but his voice was perfectly calm. "I saw Caleb’s car outside and asked the manager. He said you were all having a reunion. I figured, since we haven’t all been together in two or three years, and you’re finally back, we brothers ought to catch up. Not very cool of you to leave out!"
Nathan Fletcher scoffed. "Tsk. Well, you’re here now. Might as well sit down. Cut the chatter."
Finn Sullivan, ever the social chaleon, made himself right at ho, and the table quickly returned to its lively state.
Only Nina Wynn felt increasingly uncomfortable.
She kept feeling Finn Sullivan’s eyes on her, and his gaze was cold and sharp as a knife, leaving her breathless.
After a while, she couldn’t take it anymore. She gently tugged on Caleb Rhodes’s sleeve and said in a tiny voice, "Uncle Caleb, I’m full. May I go sit over there?"
Caleb Rhodes glanced at the nearly untouched food in front of her. His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. "Nothing you like?"
Nina Wynn humd in agreent, then lowered her head and said no more.
Caleb Rhodes beckoned a server over and murmured a few instructions. The server then respectfully led Nina Wynn to a nearby lounge area.
A mont later, a platter of sliced fruit arrived, along with an assortnt of nuts and dairy-based drinks.
Nina Wynn sank into a plush sofa, occasionally glancing at her phone before staring blankly out the window.
’I don’t understand why Caleb Rhodes brought to a place like this. I feel so uncomfortable.’ Her discomfort had peaked after Finn Sullivan arrived.
Even her stomach was starting to churn.
She paid no mind to when the dinner party ended, not until she realized Finn Sullivan had co over at so point.
"Nina Wynn. I didn’t expect to see you here."
Finn Sullivan looked distinguished and refined, but for so reason, Nina Wynn disliked him. ’I can only attribute it to the fact that I dislike all of Caleb Rhodes’s friends, and everyone associated with the Rhodes Family,’ she thought.
But now, with him standing right in front of her, she had no choice but to force herself to murmur, "Hello, Dr. Sullivan," as her eyes subconsciously scanned the room.
’Caleb Rhodes isn’t here?’
As if reading her mind, Finn Sullivan smiled. His voice was light and smooth. "Your uncle stepped out to take a call."
Nina Wynn fell silent again, repeatedly poking the small yogurt carton in her hands with her straw.
Finn Sullivan’s gaze turned hostile. "Caleb and Rosalind Lowell are getting married. You’re not going to tell you didn’t know, are you?"
Nina Wynn didn’t answer, but she pressed down harder with the straw, nearly piercing the carton.
She looked up at Finn Sullivan. "What does that have to do with ?"
Finn Sullivan’s eyes narrowed, a flash of contempt and disdain in them. "I heard your mother was driven to her death by a mistress."
Nina Wynn’s hand trembled, and the carton fell to the floor. The sound wasn’t loud, but it felt like it had gouged a pit in her heart. She stared at Finn Sullivan, utterly lost.
Finn Sullivan smiled and adjusted his glasses. His voice was gentle. "Of course, you’re a good girl. You would never do sothing like get involved in soone else’s relationship."
"You’ve been with the Rhodes Family for so many years. You must know about Caleb and Rosalind. They grew up together and are incredibly close. Everyone in Elysian City knows it. They were supposed to get married three years ago, but Rosalind made a small mistake, and Caleb got angry. He ran off to Aridia and stayed there for three years."
"Caleb holds a grudge and has a nasty temper. He’s still sulking at Rosalind right now. But no matter how he plays around or who he’s rumored to be with, he always goes back to her in the end. This isn’t the first ti sothing like this has happened over the years. This ti, though, he’s taken it a bit too far, and Rosalind has beco a bit depressed again lately."
His voice grew cold, his teeth a stark white. "I heard your mother committed suicide because of her depression. It just goes to show how despicable the other woman can be. People like that... they deserve to be sliced into a thousand pieces!"
Nina Wynn heard every last word Finn Sullivan said. With each one, her face grew another shade paler. She clutched her skirt tightly, her gaze lowered. Her curled lashes trembled like the tattered wings of a butterfly, casting shadows that obscured her expression.
Finn Sullivan let out a soft snort, turned, and walked out the door.
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