Mr. Anderson chuckled. “That gentleman looked like a big boss. He probably makes back the money he spent on this trip in a minute!” An older man sitting nearby asked, “If he’s so rich, why’d he join a low-budget senior tour group like ours? Five hundred euros wouldn’t even cover the cost of his round-trip flight.” Mr. Anderson glanced slyly in Emily’s direction, grinning. “Maybe the trip wasn’t the main attraction for him…” At his comment, the group’s curiosity shifted, and it didn’t take long for most of them to piece it together. The young woman traveling with her uncle, sweet, kind, and attractive, had probably caught the big boss’s eye. That’s why he joined the tour. Bert, however, wasn’t too pleased with the speculation. He nudged Emily’s shoulder, speaking softly. “Miranda, switch seats with me. I get dizzy looking out the window.” After they swapped seats, Bert sat upright, shielding Emily from the group’s gossiping eyes. His silent gesture made it clear, and the others quickly took the hint, retreating from their earlier assumptions. “Emily.” Bert couldn’t hold back any longer and used her real name, noting Emily’s worried look before explaining, “Don’t worry, they can’t hear us. What’s the deal with that big boss the guide mentioned? Did he come here because of you?” Emily nodded, her expression calm. “Kind of, but it’s not really about me. It’s because of his wife. She passed away, and I happen to look a little like her. He spoke to me a few times, but that’s all.” Bert sighed in relief. “So that’s it. I couldn’t tell at first. Guys like him, you can never really trust them—too many women fluttering around someone like that.” Emily chuckled softly. “True, even if he isn’t chasing women, they’ll always come to him.” “Exactly,” Bert agreed with a firm nod. “You and Nathan had a good thing going before everything got complicated. It’s all because of Sophia—her mother raised her without any shame, and she actually went after her own brother-in-law… Oh, right! She reached out to me before I left the country.” “She had the nerve to contact you?” “She’s out of options!” Bert sighed, shaking his head. “You wouldn’t know, but in the years you’ve been abroad, she’s faced her own form of punishment. Following her mother’s advice, she hooked up with a rich man she met at a nightclub, but those places are no good. There are some sick people with money there. I heard she ended up having her uterus removed and caught some kind of disease. Her body’s covered in scars now, living a miserable life.”Emily gave a neutral “oh,” showing no further reaction. Everyone walks their own path, and Sophia had chosen hers. The consequences were hers to bear. Why should Emily care now? When she tried to seduce Nathan, did Sophia ever think about what the future held? “But… Sophia is still your father’s only blood relative. As pitiful as she is now, if we don’t help her, she might actually die from her illness. I don’t feel sorry for her, but I pity your father. His life was ruined by his first wife, and even the daughter she left behind is a disgrace. How can he rest in peace knowing all this?” Emily caught the implication in Bert’s words. “How much money did you give her?” Bert shifted uncomfortably. “What? Oh, no, no, I didn’t give her any…” “It’s fine if you did. I’m not angry.” “Really? You’re not mad?” Bert asked, still unsure. Emily shook her head gently. “In the end, Sophia only wanted to harm me and my father. She never did anything to you, so it’s natural you’d feel sorry for her.” Bert sighed heavily. “When your father was cremated, you were abroad, and there were no younger family members around to carry out the rites. Sophia offered to do it. I couldn’t refuse. After the funeral, she came to me, showing me the scars all over her arms and legs. She looked like a beggar, covered in disease. I didn’t have much money left after the funeral, but I gave her everything I had—just over three thousand dollars.” Over the years, Emily had heard bits and pieces about Sophia’s condition, mostly through Jackson. It was Jackson who had told her that Sophia, egged on by her mother, had started dating a wealthy man she’d met at a nightclub. Jackson had said, “That guy is a rich, uncultured businessman. He’d gotten into trouble back home and had to leave the country for a while. His family pulled some strings to get him to the States until things cooled down. He’s back now, but… well, you know the saying, ‘A leopard can’t change its spots.’ He’s back to his old ways. It’s no secret in our circles. Sophia’s in for a rough ride.” As for what kind of trouble that man had gotten into, Jackson had been vague, muttering something like, “It was… relationship stuff. You know the old saying—ten deaths, nine of them because of lust.” Emily didn’t care. Sophia’s fate wasn’t her problem anymore. “Do you still have money, Uncle Bert?” Emily asked, changing the subject.“Ah, yeah, I do, I do.” Bert patted her hand reassuringly. “Don’t worry about me. I’m still in my fifties. When I get back, I’ll find a job and support myself.” At his age, though, jobs weren’t easy to come by. Bert remained optimistic. “I can work security, be a gatekeeper at a factory, or even work as a cleaner. Young people don’t like those jobs, but I don’t mind. Even if I only make two or three hundred dollars a month, it’s enough for me. You go on and focus on your career abroad. I’ll be fine, and I’ll have a great story to tell everyone—about my amazing niece, the architect in England!” Emily felt a pang in her heart. “Uncle, why don’t you come to England with me? We could live together there.” Bert waved his hand dismissively. “No, no, no. I wouldn’t know a thing over there. I can’t eat the food. I’d rather stay home and cook some noodles. You’ve already been through so much, and now things are finally looking up for you. I can’t drag you down. You stay in England, build your career, find a good man, have some kids… and don’t come back. I’ll save up, and when you have a baby, I’ll come visit and meet my little grand-nephew.” Emily’s eyes misted, and she smiled. "Alright, Uncle."