Looking at his rather stricken expression, Nina thought to herself, 'This brat! Weren't you gleefully calling me Aunt before?

Now I've really become your aunt, and here you are acting all surprised and awkward.'

"My dear nephew!" She raised an eyebrow at James, and smiled at him a little smugly.

The young man was even more stunned then. As far as he could remember, this was the first time that Nina had bothered to actually acknowledged him, much less respond to him. And she was even calling her nephew!

A flush crept up his neck. He had always known this day was bound to come, but he still could not help feeling embarrassed. A couple more beats passed before he fully came to his senses, and he rushed over to Nina with a big grin on his face.

"No wonder Uncle John treats you differently from all the other women around him. You're his one and only wife, all right!" James sidled up next to her and spoke in a conspiratorial voice. "Aunt Nina, please take care of me in the future. I took good care of the task you've entrusted me last time, you know. Perhaps you could put in a good word for me to Uncle John? I have this goal of making a name in the entertainment industry, you see."

James had always harbored a desire to be in the spotlight, and he had mulled over his options over the years. Now he was more determined than ever to break through the scene.

"You want to get into show business? Don't tell me you just want to establish a new hunting ground for pretty girls so you c

n half a meter—far too close for John's liking.

"James, move away," he said to his nephew, his tone cold and blunt.

The young man felt chills scamper down his spine. He didn't need to be told twice, and quickly stepped back from Nina. He glanced at his uncle warily, only to be met with a pointed glare. Helpless, James took a couple more steps away from Nina, until he felt the wall against his back.

"Uncle John, I'm your nephew, you know." He felt like crying. Why was he being treated this way?

He knew his uncle was possessive towards Nina, but did he really have to put up guard against him, too?

The answer to that was a resounding yes. To John, no other man was ever allowed to get close to Nina, regardless of who it was.

Nina grinned and sauntered over to her husband,

and his arm was already outstretched to tuck her by his side.

"You know this has nothing to do with me, right? James was the one who kept sticking close." She had learned early on that John was no to be trifled with when it involved other men. When she had stayed over at Noah's place for a couple of days last time, he had given her hell for almost a week. And there wasn't even anything going on between her and Noah!

John seemed to consider his wife as he gazed down at her pouting mouth.

James could only stare in loss, quickly followed by a sense of dread.

'Aunt Nina, how could you?!'

He couldn't believe she really did that. She was abandoning him in the face of a lion bearing its fangs!