"Borrow money?" Jackson’s voice was muffled, and there was a noticeable whooshing sound in the background. “Yeah, it's just a nuisance. I'm playing along with them for now. You should head back.” Emily's suspicion was piqued by Jackson’s vague tone. “Jackson, are you in some kind of trouble?” “No way. Who am I? Jackson, the king of the road! No one would dare give me trouble. Anyway, Emily, be a good girl and take Bert home to rest. I’ll be back a bit later. That's it, I’m hanging up.” Beep… Beep… Beep… Jackson had indeed hung up the phone. Bert asked, “Is something wrong? Is Jackson in trouble?” “He said he ran into some old friends,” Emily echoed, her concern mirroring Bert's. However, she knew her best course of action was to avoid adding to Jackson's burdens. “Let’s go. Jackson knows what he’s doing.” With Jackson absent, it fell to Amy to drive them back. This was Emily’s second experience with Amy behind the wheel, and it was every bit as nerve-wracking as the first. The ride was a rollercoaster, leaving her on edge and worried they might crash at any moment. At one point, Amy had to slam on the brakes to avoid a tree in the middle of the road. She looked at Emily with a mix of embarrassment and shock. “Miranda, I’m so sorry… I’m really not a good driver…” Emily sighed and rubbed her forehead. Just moments earlier, in her attempt to avoid a car overtaking from behind, Amy had yanked the wheel and floored the accelerator, nearly slamming into the tree in the median. Though she managed to avoid the collision, the car ended up sideways, blocking two lanes of traffic. This was still the main road leading to the airport, and despite it being the middle of the night, traffic was steady. Within minutes, their car had caused a massive traffic jam. Impatient drivers around them started honking their horns furiously, and a few, more aggressive ones, got out of their cars and began banging on the windows. Amy was terrified, nearly on the verge of tears. “I’m so sorry, so sorry, it’s all my fault. I’ve already called the police…”But this was a major route to the airport, and many people had planes to catch. Tempers were flaring, and despite Amy being a woman, there was little patience as angry drivers began to berate and blame her. This was Bert’s first time encountering such a chaotic situation. “Emily, what do we do now?” “We’ll wait for the police,” Emily replied calmly. “There’s no way we can move, and these people are too riled up to reason with. The police will have to handle it.” Amy, now crying, said, “This is all my fault, Miranda. Maybe I should get out and apologize to everyone?” Emily shook her head. “No, stay in the car. It's safer here. If you get out, things could get out of hand. Just sit tight and wait for the police.” “But…” “Just listen to me,” Emily softened her tone. “Amy, how long have you had your driver’s license?” Amy hesitated, as if trying to remember. “It’s been five or six years, but I haven’t really driven since I got it.” Emily nodded, understanding now. Luckily, the police arrived quickly. A uniformed officer knocked on the window and showed his badge. “Good evening. Please step out of the vehicle to assist with the investigation.” Amy looked to Emily, who nodded reassuringly before answering. “Okay, I’ll get out.” Amy, being a bit of a scatterbrain, made Emily nervous. She turned to Bert. “Uncle Bert, stay in the car. Don’t get out. I’m going to talk to the police.” Bert nodded, his concern evident. “Be careful.” “Don’t worry, Uncle. The police are here to handle the accident. They won’t give me any trouble.” As soon as Emily opened the car door, a barrage of complaints and accusations was hurled at Amy. “…Do you even know how to drive? If not, you shouldn’t be on the road! Blocking traffic like this is a crime!” “Miss, because of you, I missed my flight. I’m going to sue you for damages, including my ticket, hotel, and any work I miss…” “Let’s clear the traffic first! I might still make my flight. Please, can we get traffic moving again?”The crowd was chaotic and loud. Amy stood in the middle, looking like a frightened rabbit, her hands covering her head, helpless and scared. Emily walked over and stood behind her. “Don’t be scared. I’m here.” “Miranda… I’m so sorry…” “It’s okay. Don’t cry.” The police officer glanced at Emily, his eyes briefly widening in surprise at her beauty. “I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before.” Emily smiled slightly. “Officer, that’s a pretty outdated pickup line. We acknowledge this accident was our fault, and we’re willing to compensate. But could you please clear the traffic first so these people can get to the airport and avoid further delays?” The officer quickly regained his composure and nodded, refocusing on the task. “Of course. Please wait on the side while we clear the traffic. We’ll discuss compensation afterward.” “Thank you.” Emily then opened the car door and called out, “Uncle Bert, come on out.” Bert got out, looking bewildered and not understanding much of what was being said. “Emily, what’s going on?” “It’s alright, Uncle. Don’t worry. Amy, please take my uncle to the front of the street and get him a cab back to the hotel. I’ll stay here and deal with the police.” Amy hesitated, concerned about leaving Emily alone. “Miranda, it’s late, and it’s not safe for you to be here alone.” Emily chuckled softly. “The police are right here. What could possibly happen? Escorting my uncle is the most important task right now. Make sure he gets back safely.” Amy nodded firmly. “Alright, Miranda. I promise I’ll get him back safe, as long as I’m not driving.” Emily couldn’t help but laugh. “Good. I trust you. Now go.” Bert grabbed Emily’s hand. “Emily…” “Don’t worry, Uncle. Amy is my assistant. She’ll take care of everything. Just go back to the hotel and wait for me.”Watching Amy and Bert leave, Emily felt a weight lift off her shoulders. As long as they were safe, she could handle the mess that remained. Emily moved to the side of the road, waiting calmly as the police began directing traffic. Before long, a tow truck arrived and pulled their car off to the side, clearing the lanes. Traffic slowly began to flow again. The anxious passengers heading to the airport quickly sped away, but those who had suffered damages were not so quick to leave. They gathered around, determined to demand compensation from the person responsible. A group of tall, burly men surrounded Emily, making her look even more petite in comparison. “Miss, you need to compensate us for our losses.”