Winnie took a breath and went on.
"Aunt, no matter how good it is, I hope you will come back soon. After being out all this time, you
should be back. If play not enough, come back first and stay for a few days, then you can go out
again."
She said so, but she was ambivalent. When her aunt came back, her aunt would know that she broke
up with Brian. Her aunt had always wanted her to keep her distance from Brian, but she could not
accept such a breakup.
"Winwin, I have something to tell you. Even if I go back, I have to leave at once."
Isobel was guilty, and Winnie was worried.
"Why? What's the matter?"
"Nothing, but I want to join the medical volunteer team and go abroad for medical support."
Isobel put her ideas out, not to ask for Winnie and Vanessa's opinion, but to inform them, because she
had decided.
"Medical support abroad? Which country? How can you go out and support, you're retired?"
Winnie could not calm down. Twenty years ago, her aunt left for medical support, and now she would
not know when she would be back.
Besides, her aunt was old, she would be worried if her aunt went abroad for medical support.
"Winwin, listen to me."
Isobel knew Winnie would be worried, so she had made a decision before she called Winnie.
"It's a small country in Africa that's having a plague. Even though I'm retired, I don't think I'll have any
problem joining the medical team. I got retired for sick, if according to the normal age, I am not old
enough to get retired. One of my colleagues is now the director of the hospital. She asked me for help
and I couldn't refuse."
Isobel told the basic situation and the reason she could not push off.
"Aunt, the conditions in Africa are so bad that you are too old to adapt to them."
Winnie was still worried, although she knew her aunt's medical skill, but after all, her aunt was old, it
was difficult to adapt to the local natural conditions there.
"It's all right. I have been there before. It is no problem for me. I have signed up for it, so support me."
Isobel sought for support, afraid that Winnie would ask her to stay and she would loathe leaving them.
Winnie was silent. Since her aunt has said so, she had no objection.
"How long will you be gone, Aunt?”
Winnie continued.
"That's not certain. It depends on whether the plague can be controlled. In my experience, I'm back in
two months."
Isobel gave the time to appease Winnie. According to her experience, two months was the shortest
period. If the plague lasted a long time and could not be effectively controlled, the time might be
extended a lot.
"Alas......"
Winnie could not help sighing. There was always a feeling that her aunt was escaping from something.
For so many years she had been trying to make money, putting all her energy into paying off the debts,
not paying attention to her aunt's feelings, not thinking about what she needed, not looking into her
aunt's inner world.
"Aunt, I wonder if you will come back before you go. You can't just go away."
Winnie compromised since she could not force her aunt to stay.
"Yes, I will go back in two days. But don't tell anyone. I don't want to see anyone.”
Isobel clearly expressed her meaning, and Winnie knew her aunt referred to Brian.
"I see. Let me know in advance when you will be back. I'll pick you up at the airport."
Winnie could do that. She and Brian had broken up, so it was not difficult.
Winnie put down the phone and kept breathing, always feeling her heart under the pressure of
countless stones, which made her breathless.
It was one thing after another and never gave her a break. Now she had finally got rid of Brian, but her
aunt wanted to leave.
She even felt that she had been cursed in a previous life, so her life had been suffering.
Isobel did not feel good. Although she volunteered to participate in the medical team, she was worried
about Vanessa and Winnie. She knew that she joined the medical team partly out of love for the
medical profession and partly out of a desire to avoid the reality completely.
Although she did not want Brian and Winnie to be together, she could see smile and happiness on the
face of the kids and Winnie when they were on video chat.
Since the family of four was so happy together, she wanted to give them more time to enjoy their
happiness. If they wanted to be happy, Isobel must stay far away, so that it won't affect their happiness.
Isobel thought of a person and thought he should be noticed, so she made a call to him.
Rufus was sitting in the living room when his mobile phone rang. He took one look and immediately got
up and went to his room.
Isobel never took the initiative to call him, and from the last call to now, they had no contact. Isobel's
call no doubt made him happy.
After closing the door and making sure no one would come in, Rufus connected the phone.
"Isobel, why called me? Are you in trouble?"
He was happy but also worried, because Rufus knew Isobel would not call him for no reason.
"There's something I want to tell you. I'm going abroad for medical support, probably for more than two
months. The reason I called is to let you know that I can come back anytime if you need me."
Isobel's idea was simple. She told Rufus was because she was afraid he thought that she was
escaping and that she did not want to face responsibility.
"Abroad? Medical support? Can you not go?"
After listening to Isobel's words, Rufus's heart suddenly sank, and the joy was gone.
"I am alone, so I can be anywhere. I am needed there, it is a proof that I am still useful. I've signed up. I
have to go."
Isobel took a deep breath. Rufus’ words gave her mixed feelings. It was impossible to stay and she left
for everyone, including Rufus.
He had a good, easy life now. Isobel hoped he could live like this forever. And everyone's forever
happiness based on her disappearance.
"You are old, let the young go."
Rufus was worried about Isobel. He had learned that it was backward country, where there was
epidemic. It would be dangerous if the medical staff had mishap.
"I have been doing medical work in various countries for many years and I have more experience than
young people. And young people have parents and kids, once infected, they may not come back. What
should their family do if they have accident? I am alone, so I'm not afraid of anything. I can go…"
Isobel clarified the fact and did not want young people to take risks.
However, Rufus did not let her finish speaking. He did not hope that Isobel could not come back.
"Stop it, don't say you have no care, don't say you are alone. For so many years I have been waiting
for you, for so many years we have no chance to be together. Can’t you give me a chance at this old
age?"
"Isobel don't go, I hope to spend the rest of my life with you."
Rufus said frankly. He did not want Isobel to accept such a dangerous task. He hoped Isobel could be
happy in the rest of her life.
He had ruined her whole life, so at least give him a chance to fix it.
Isobel did not know if she should be moved or sad. If Rufus treated her with this attitude 20 years ago,
maybe all the misfortune would not exist now.
She had not married or had a boyfriend for so many years, she did not deny that she was still in love
with Rufus. But even so, with Brian and Winnie and the two kids, they could not be together.
"I must go; don't try to persuade me. I don't know when I'll be back or if I'll be back. Rufus, when I am
absent, please help Winwin and Vanessa if they have any difficulties."
Isobel could only entrust Rufus, so that she could focus on work.
"I gotta go."
Isobel had not else to say, so she hung up the phone.
They were both old, and too many obstacles were in the middle, probably, it could never be removed.
So no matter what she and Rufus thought, they could not be together.
Brian had a party after work, and it was more than 10 p.m. on his way home after the party.
He drank a little wine before he was in a bad mood. He sat in the back of the car massaging himself.
"Mr. Bennet, Officer Lee is calling you."
Albert looked at the caller id, asking for Brian's opinion whether to answer the phone.
"Give it to me."
Brian took the phone from Albert and then connected.
“Officer Lee.”
He talked to Officer Lee enduring his headache.
"Mr. Bennet, I don't know if I'm disturbing you at this hour. You hurried to leave, so I have not told you
yet."
Officer Lee called for what happened the day. Brain did not understand the specific situation and did
not realize how dangerous it was to Winnie, so he called Brian at this late hour.
"Please go ahead."
Brian said coldly. He could not calm down because of the headache.
"Well, the ability of our police force is limited and we can't protect Miss Chamber. I hope you can find
someone to protect Miss Chamber privately."
Officer Lee heard that Brian's tone was not friendly, so he wanted to solve the problem as soon as
possible.
"If Penny comes out, it will pose a threat to both you and Miss Chamber. But the harm to Miss
Chamber is bigger."
"Why?"
Brian asked, puzzled.
Brian didn’t understand why Officer Lee said so. Penny hated him the most, after all, it was him made
Penny lose everything and made the Burns Group go bankrupt.
Brian asked not to argue who would be in greater danger, but felt that Officer Lee had his reason.
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