My First Love Died, Now My Step Uncle Wants Me-Chapter 112: Throw the Flowers Away

He was only wearing his usual white shirt and black trousers, yet his intimidating aura hadn’t diminished in the slightest.

Noble and cold.

The moment Rosalind Lowell saw him, her feet seemed to freeze. She called out cheerfully, "Caleb," and rushed over.

She intimately looped her arm through Caleb Rhodes’s.

Caleb Rhodes’s brow twitched almost imperceptibly. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his tone flat.

Rosalind Lowell seemed accustomed to his coldness. She pouted coquettishly. "You’re horrible. You haven’t come to see me in days, and now you’re asking what *I’m* doing here?"

She affectionately pulled Caleb Rhodes to the sofa, acting as if she were the mistress of the house. "Butler Zimmerman, a cup of Blue Mountain coffee, one sugar cube."

Warner Zimmerman glanced at her arm, which was still looped through Caleb Rhodes’s, then looked away.

"I’m sorry, Miss Lowell," he said, his face a blank mask. "Our Third Lord Master hasn’t been drinking much coffee lately, so we haven’t stocked any fine beans. They likely wouldn’t be to your liking."

Rosalind Lowell frowned. "But Blue Mountain is my favorite. Why wouldn’t you have some on hand? Fine, then make a cup of Lapsang Souchong. You must have Caleb’s favorite black tea, right?"

Without even lifting his gaze, Warner Zimmerman replied, "We’re out of Lapsang Souchong as well. We finished the last of it yesterday, and the new shipment hasn’t arrived."

Rosalind Lowell’s expression faltered. She let go of Caleb Rhodes. "Caleb, did I come at a bad time? Am I not welcome here?"

Caleb Rhodes said nothing, casting a surprised glance at Warner Zimmerman.

If he remembered correctly, a new shipment of coffee beans and tea had arrived just yesterday. And because Nina Wynn liked lattes, Warner Zimmerman had even made a point of learning how to prepare them.

However, Warner Zimmerman remained completely stone-faced, seemingly ignoring Caleb Rhodes’s scrutinizing gaze.

"Brew some Da Hong Pao for Rosalind Lowell," Caleb Rhodes said coolly.

Warner Zimmerman’s face remained cold, his eyes fixed forward. "That’s gone too. We used the last of it making milk tea for Miss Wynn yesterday. Would Miss Lowell care for some Longjing?"

It was a custom in the Rhodes Family to serve green tea to more distant guests, signifying a ’light’ or less important connection.

Rosalind Lowell’s expression flickered. Just as she was about to speak, her eyes fell on the side table. On it lay a half-eaten bag of milk candies, a half-empty packet of small cookies, and an entertainment magazine flipped open to the middle.

Rosalind Lowell’s heart sank.

Caleb Rhodes never ate sweets, never allowed these sorts of messy snacks in his home, and absolutely despised entertainment magazines.

’Now, both have appeared at the same time. It means he’s already accepted the presence of someone who likes these things.’

She nonchalantly glanced at the large bouquet of sunflowers on the table and asked softly, "And Nina Wynn? I hear she’s living here with you now?"

Caleb Rhodes’s expression instantly turned frigid. He glanced toward the hallway, then back at Warner Zimmerman. "Has she admitted she was wrong yet?" he demanded coldly.

Warner Zimmerman’s face remained impassive. "Not a peep."

Rosalind Lowell’s eyes glinted, but her voice was exceptionally gentle. "What’s wrong, Caleb? Did you punish your little niece?"

Before Caleb could answer, she continued, "The girl seems gentle enough, but for someone from her background... and with her aunt’s reputation..."

She spoke slowly, "It’s only natural for her to have some bad habits. Actually, I’ve heard the Elysian City Women’s College is quite good. Why not send her there to learn some etiquette? I’m acquainted with the dean and can ask her to be strict."

The Elysian City Women’s College was notorious for its strict and harsh discipline. Its students were almost exclusively the illegitimate daughters of wealthy families.

Once enrolled, they were treated like inmates, allowed only two visits a month until they were deemed "reformed."

Rumors circulated that in order to achieve its goals, the school employed cruel methods and techniques on these illegitimate daughters, who had no one to stand up for them.

Of course, someone like Caleb Rhodes, who paid no mind to such trivial gossip, would never have heard these unsavory rumors.

It was Warner Zimmerman whose expression shifted slightly. "Has anyone in Miss Lowell’s family ever attended this college?"

Rosalind Lowell couldn’t understand why the normally reticent Warner Zimmerman was so talkative today.

She glanced at Warner Zimmerman, her eyes welling up. "Butler Zimmerman, did I do something to offend you? Why are you being so hostile toward me today?"

Warner Zimmerman’s expression remained unchanged. "Not at all," he said politely. "I simply act and speak according to the Third Lord Master’s wishes."

Rosalind Lowell fell silent, looking at Caleb Rhodes with a wounded expression.

Caleb Rhodes’s eyes darkened.

The two words Nina Wynn had used—"break up"—were like a thorn lodged in his heart.

’Even though I know she’s still firmly within my grasp, and this is just a temporary tantrum, it still bothers me.’

’We’ve been together for so long. This little thing’s personality isn’t as docile and obedient as she looks. She seems soft, but she’s actually incredibly stubborn.’

’She’s run off several times already, and now she dares to defy me like this over Noelle Landon. If something else comes up, who knows what shocking thing she’ll do next.’

At this thought, the coldness in his eyes deepened. "Warner Zimmerman," he said icily, "look into that school."

"Its reputation is abysmal," Warner Zimmerman stated, his face a mask.

Before Caleb Rhodes could respond, Rosalind Lowell looked at him, her eyes red-rimmed and her expression one of pure innocence.

"Caleb, Nina Wynn may look young, but she’s twenty. She calls you her uncle, but you’re not actually blood relatives. There are some things you can’t really manage yourself."

"If you’re truly worried about sending her to that college, then let her stay with me. I can look after her for you for a while. I’ll be sure to teach her properly."

Caleb Rhodes didn’t answer.

His face was grim, his thin lips pressed into a tight line. After a long silence, he said coldly, "We’ll discuss this later."

This was a clear sign he was in a terrible mood.

Having known him for many years, Rosalind Lowell naturally recognized the signs.

’But in my eyes, Caleb is a man of exceptional self-control. He rarely gets angry in front of others, always maintaining that cold, noble demeanor of his.’

’But this time, he actually lost his temper over that little orphan.’

Not only that, but she had also heard that Caleb Rhodes had gotten into a major conflict with his family over the little orphan, protecting her as fiercely as a mother bear protects her cub.

’I didn’t believe it at first. I simply couldn’t fathom that someone as aloof as Caleb would fly into a rage over some unwanted orphan.’

’But now, I have no choice but to believe it.’

’This room now contains things that don’t belong to Caleb. They aren’t many, just small items, but this silent, creeping invasion is the most terrifying thing of all.’

’A little bit of ground gained at a time. By the time I realize what’s happening, their lives will be even more deeply entangled, and it will be impossible to tear them apart.’

’And given how much Caleb indulges that little orphan, if she gets any ideas, it’s entirely possible something could happen between them.’

A deepening sense of crisis sparked a murderous intent in Rosalind Lowell’s heart.

She stood up and said gently, "I’m just going to use the restroom."

When she emerged from the restroom, parts of her face were red, and a rash had broken out on her neck.

She looked on the verge of tears. "Caleb, there are too many flowers in here. I’m having an allergic reaction."

Caleb Rhodes frowned and glanced at the large bouquet of sunflowers in the vase.

His eyes darkened. "Warner Zimmerman," he said coldly, "Rosalind Lowell is having a reaction. Get rid of the flowers."

Without a word, Warner Zimmerman expressionlessly removed all the sunflowers and irises from the room.

「Soon, it was time for lunch.」

Warner Zimmerman looked at the dishes on the table—several of Nina Wynn’s favorites—and said in a low voice, "Miss Wynn didn’t eat breakfast."

Caleb Rhodes’s expression tightened. "Missing one meal won’t kill her," he said coldly. "She can come out when she admits she was wrong."

Rosalind Lowell’s eyes glinted. She stood up. "I’ll go see her."

Caleb Rhodes’s thin lips were a tense line. After a long moment, he said, "Warner Zimmerman, open the door. Let Rosalind Lowell see her. But remember, she is not to come out!"

Warner Zimmerman, stone-faced, led Rosalind Lowell to the door of the room.

As the door opened, Rosalind Lowell said to Warner Zimmerman, "Butler Zimmerman, I’d like to speak with Nina Wynn alone for a moment. Please don’t follow me in."

With that, she stepped inside and shut the door behind her.

The room had only a single small window, and with the curtains drawn, the space was extremely dim.

Rosalind Lowell stood at the doorway and saw a figure lying on the floor.