Winnie paused for a moment and then continued as Gloria had no response.
“Gloria, Brian is a good man. If you like him, be nice to him. As for my two kids, Brian and I have
agreed that they will be brought up by me and I will try my best not to disturb your life. But after all, they
are the kids of the Bennet family. If you marry Brian, you will inevitably get along with them. Please
forgive them if my kids do anything wrong."
Winnie just wanted Gloria and Brian to get married soon.
Gloria did not state that she did not like Brian or marry Brian, but an imperceptible smirk could be
detected in her eyes.
"It's too early to say that, but I'm still surprised you broke up."
"It's normal. I do not meet the standard of Brian in choosing a wife. If we had not had kids, we would
not have been together.”
Winnie said indifferently.
The result might surprise others, but it was something she expected.
Winnie looked down at her watch and then spoke after saying that.
"I'm sorry, but my aunt is getting off the plane at this hour. If there's anything I can do for you, just call
me. I gotta go."
Winnie said and gave a calm smile, and then got up and left the cafe.
Gloria clearly wanted to marry Brian, but she hid the fact in front of Winnie.
Since Gloria had that thought, they would get married soon.
After Winnie received his aunt, they went directly to a restaurant for dinner.
Isobel were very happy to see the kids and the kids were excited to see Isobel, so the dinner was spent
in laughter.
Back home, the two kids played in the living room. Isobel called Winnie and Vanessa to her room.
"Our support team for Africa leaves next Monday. You..."
"So soon?"
"Too soon. I thought you'd be home for a few more days."
Two sisters interrupted Isobel at the same time, and they did not expect her aunt to leave so soon.
"Every day we stay at home, there are likely to be a few more deaths in Africa. The hospital has
decided to leave as soon as possible, so tomorrow you will go to the hospital and sign the consent
form."
Isobel said. The topic was serious, but she said casually, afraid that Winnie and Vanessa would worry.
"Sign the consent form? Why is it like..."
"It's just a routine signing. All the medical workers who go need family members to sign the content
form. You two are the only family I have now, so you can exercise your rights."
Winnie sighed and felt depressed.
"Aunt, now that you have made up your mind, I can't disagree. I just want you to take care of yourself at
work. Go out healthy and come back safe."
Winnie was worried since now, probably she would be relieved when she was back.
"I'll be all right, don’t worry. I had been there many times, I have experience."
Isobel comforted two sisters and then said.
"You two must have a good life at home. Don't stick to things you can't solve. If Brian doesn't have time
to help you out, you can go to his father. I'm sure he'll help. Just take care of each other and don't let
me worry."
Isobel was worried about them, so she had to remind them to find Rufus when they had difficulties.
At this moment in the world she could trust was only Rufus.
Two sisters looked at each other, they all knew that they could not ask Brian for help when they had
difficulties. Even if they asked, he might not offer help.
As for Rufus, they were not sure if Brian would agree Rufus to help.
"Aunt, work hard and protect yourself. I will take care of the two kids and Vanessa."
Winnie could trust only herself. If she really encountered difficulties, she had her friends. Even without
the help of her friends, she would not have turned to Brian.
"Aunt, I will try my best to help my sister take good care of the two kids. I will study hard so that you
don't have to worry about us. We'll go to Rufus if we need help."
Vanessa said to make her aunt at ease.
"Ok, good."
Isobel could only rely on Rufus, though she was worried.
"You go and look after the kids. I'll take a walk downstairs."
Isobel stood up and walked toward the outside.
She was not going for a walk actually, she just received Rufus' message.
Rufus was downstairs waiting for her.
She went out to meet him and had a few words to talk to him.
As Isobel came to the park of community, Rufus came over.
"I got out late because I had to talk with Winnie and Vanessa."
Isobel said with apology, feeling alienated.
"Can you not go?"
Rufus didn't care if Isobel was out late of not. He had waited for her for more than 20 years, these 20
minutes was not a problem for him.
What he cared about was whether Isobel could stay.
"No, it's all done. We are leaving on Monday."
Isobel said firmly.
Rufus was part of the reason of her leaving, how could she stay?
"Isobel, you can give this task to others. You are now retired and have no obligation or need to support.
You stay, I'll try..."
"Enough, Rufus, I am not going to change my mind."
Rufus tried to make Isobel stay, but Isobel had made up her mind.
Isobel continued.
"I came out to see you today because I want to ask you to help me take care of Winnie and Vanessa."
"You felt indebted to me, so make it up to me by taking care of them."
"And if I cannot come back, if things are inevitably exposed, please tell your son and daughter I'm sorry
for ruining their happy family."
Isobel felt it might be comfort to Brian’s son and daughter by saying that.
Isobel turned to leave after saying that.
"What about me, if you want to go?"
Hearing that, Isobel stopped her pace, facing away from Brian and feeling sad.
She did not know how to answer and if her answer would hurt Rufus.
"I know you have the same temper as Winwin, and I know you will never change what you decide. But I
wish you would at least think of me and give me a chance."
“You are the first and the last woman I ever love, if not, I couldn't have persisted waiting for you for
more than 20 years. We've been apart for more than 20 years. Can't you just give me a chance? Can't
you just..."
"No, no. If we are together, the two kids will be caught in the middle. Rufus, thank you for waiting for
me all these years, and I'm honored to be the only woman you've ever loved..."
"Not loved, I still love you. Would you please have some hope? Things can be solved. How do you
know it won't end work when we haven't even started? How do you know the kids won't understand?"
They each had their own ideas toward their relationship. One tried to save it, the other tried to avoid it.
"No, I'm leaving the day after tomorrow. I'll talk to you about it if I ever get back safe. If I don't come
back, I'm sorry, I will repay you in the next life."
Isobel strode away after that.
She had loved Rufus for more than 20 years too. But things had changed so much.
It was a destiny that they could not be together, even if they waited for more twenty years, they could
not be together.
The beginning was wrong, the end was wrong.
The next day Winnie and Vanessa came to the hospital to sign the family consent form, while Vanessa
sent her aunt away on Monday in tears.
Her aunt hurried back and left in a hurry, which made her have a feeling of unsteadiness.
Vanessa went to school after she was back from the airport. She felt that studying hard and living well
was the greatest comfort for her aunt.
But she saw Rufus standing at the gate of school. He looked sad, as if he had experienced something
unhappy.
"Rufus, what are you doing here?”
Vanessa came to Rufus and asked Rufus in a warm voice.
"Oh, nothing, I just came to see you."
Rufus’ mood did not turned good when he saw Vanessa, because he saw Vanessa had tears in eyes
and he knew the reason.
"Thank you for your concern, Rufus, but do you have something unhappy?"
She wondered why Rufus was in a bad mood.
"Nothing, I am happy, but I am just worried that you and Winnie have not come back."
It was truth. Isobel asked him to take care of them, so he felt more burdens on his shoulders and felt
more indebted to Vanessa.
She resolutely decided to go to Africa, leaving Vanessa to him. To tell the truth, he really was afraid that
he could not take good care of them and failed to live up to Isobel's entrust.
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda