“Miranda, there are still good people in this world. As soon as I arrived, two young men saw I was lost and immediately offered to help me find my way. I’m really grateful to them,” Bert said with a relieved smile. Miranda gently reminded him, “Uncle Bert, I go by Miranda now.” “Oh, right, Miranda. I’ll remember that,” Bert said, tapping his forehead. “Getting old, my memory isn’t what it used to be.” Bert, though just fifty years old, looked much older, the wear and tear of life showing clearly in his features. Years of hardship had taken their toll on him, making him appear far older than his years. He had spent over twenty years abroad, searching for the man who had wronged his sister, and upon returning, had devoted himself to caring for William. His entire life had been a series of burdens, leaving little room for anything else. Miranda felt a pang of sadness and linked arms with him. “You’re not old at all, Uncle Bert. Don’t say that.” Bert chuckled heartily. “You’ve grown so much, Miranda. How could I not feel old? I remember when you were just a baby. Back then, I was a clueless twenty-something, didn’t even know how to hold a baby, let alone feed one. William and I somehow managed to raise you.” At the mention of William, tears welled up in Miranda’s eyes. The man who had raised her like a daughter, who had been her rock, was gone. And she hadn’t been there when he passed. She hadn’t been able to fulfill her duty to him, and that regret would stay with her forever. Noticing her sorrow, Bert gently consoled her, “Don’t be too sad. William passed peacefully, without pain. He just went to sleep and didn’t wake up. It was a calm and gentle end.” Miranda’s heart ached. “Did… did he leave any final words?” Bert sighed. “You know our family’s situation. We only had that old house, which isn’t worth much…” “Uncle Bert, that’s not what I meant. I was asking if William had any unfulfilled wishes. Now that I have the means, I want to make sure his wishes are honored. But he’s gone now, and I couldn’t even be there to pay my respects. I’ve failed him.” Bert wiped away her tears with his rough hand. “Don’t cry, Miranda. William’s greatest wish was for you to live a good life. What happened back then… it terrified us all. We couldn’t understand why fate was so cruel. Your situation was almost identical to your mother’s. I was in shock, completely at a loss. Thank God Mr. Parker was there. He secretly took you away and found someone to treat you. If something had happened to you, William and I wouldn’t have survived it.” As she listened, Miranda’s face slowly paled. Her gaze dropped to her flat belly, where a life had once been. Now, only an ugly scar remained. She had considered having the scar removed but ultimately decided against it. She began to understand why Mr. Satan had kept his facial scar—it was a constant reminder of the pain and mistakes of the past, a wound that didn’t need to be hidden. Let it stay, she thought. Let it remind me of how fatal those mistakes were. “Let’s not dwell on the past. I’ll take you to the hotel to rest, and tomorrow I’ll show you around,” Miranda suggested, her voice soft but firm. Bert nodded. “Whatever you say, Miranda.” “Miranda, but Jackson hasn’t returned yet,” Amy reminded from the side. Miranda suddenly remembered that Jackson had gone to the broadcast station to find someone and hadn’t returned. She wasn’t used to driving on the right-hand side, and Amy’s driving skills… well, she wasn’t confident they’d make it back to the hotel in one piece. They had to wait for Jackson. She pulled out her phone and called Jackson. Ring… ring… ring… The phone rang for a long time with no answer. There hadn’t been any broadcast announcements either, only updates on flight arrivals and departures. Miranda sighed. “He must have gotten held up somewhere. Let’s wait here a bit longer.” Bert leaned in conspiratorially. “Miranda, has Mr. Parker been with you all these years?” Miranda understood what he was getting at and gently denied it. “He has been in Europe, but he has his own work. His cars sell very well there. It’s not like he’s been by my side the whole time.” Bert’s expression was a mix of confusion and disappointment. “So you don’t have any feelings for him?” “Uncle Bert, I just want to focus on my work now. I want to fulfill my mother’s wishes and take good care of you.” Bert patted her hand. “But you need to think about your own life too. You’re not young anymore, Miranda. You’re thirty now. You can’t spend your whole life caring for your uncle and never get married.” Miranda smiled warmly. “You didn’t get married for my mother’s sake, Uncle Bert. Why can’t I do the same for you?” “You’re different from me…”“What’s different?” “I’m a man. When I’m old and can’t move, I can just go to a retirement home, live a carefree life. But you’re a woman. When I’m gone, if you don’t have a husband to take care of you or children to look after you, how can I rest easy?” Miranda’s smile softened. “Don’t worry, Uncle Bert. I can take care of myself.” “You’ve always said that, ever since you were old enough to understand. Every time I asked if you were tired, you always said you could take care of yourself. But look what happened. You married Nathan and endured four years of hell. Then you met Mr. Norman, and we all thought everything was finally going well. You were planning your wedding, and then… well…” Miranda’s smile became a little strained. “Life is unpredictable. We’re all pawns in the hands of fate. Whatever happens is already written. But it’s okay. From now on, I won’t let my fate be controlled by anyone else. I’ll be the master of my own life.” Amy, curious as always, piped up, “Miranda, who’s Mr. Norman?” “Someone from the past.” “What do you mean by that?” “Someone I used to know but don’t want to see again.” Amy looked even more confused. “If you know him, why wouldn’t you want to see him? Did you have a fight? Does he owe you money?” “No, he doesn’t owe me money. In fact, he gave me a lot of money.” “Oh…” Bert quickly interrupted their conversation. “Alright, that’s enough about that. From now on, we focus on the present. You are Miranda now, and the past is behind us. But where’s Jackson? Why hasn’t he come back yet?” Jackson had indeed run into trouble. A big one. Dylan stood in front of the broadcast station, blocking his path. “Mr. Parker, long time no see.”