The next day, Emma was out with Noah, as usual. They were both third-year college students, enjoying the winter break and spending almost every day together. Today, while shopping, they were in high spirits, chatting and laughing. Suddenly, Emma's phone rang loudly, cutting through the peaceful atmosphere. The caller was a servant from home, clearly in a state of panic. "Miss, the master suddenly had a heart attack. He's been rushed to the Smith family's private hospital. Mr. and Mrs. are on their way there too. You'd better come quickly."
Emma was stunned by the unexpected news. The phone almost slipped from her hand as her face turned pale. She muttered, "That's impossible. Grandfather has always taken his medication on time and has regular checkups. How could this happen... It must be a minor issue, it'll be fine…" As she spoke, tears began to flow uncontrollably, and she rushed toward the hospital.
Noah, alarmed by Emma's sudden emotional collapse, hurried after her, asking frantically, "Emma, what's wrong? What happened?"
Barely able to stand, Emma, tearful and frantic, grabbed Noah's arm tightly, her voice choking. "Noah, my grandfather had a heart attack! He's been taken to the hospital! What should I do? What… should I do?"
Noah froze for a moment but then comforted her. "Don't worry, Emma. It might just be something small. Let's go to the hospital together. You're not alone."
When Emma and Noah arrived at the hospital, the corridors were cold and silent, the air heavy with tension. In front of the emergency room, her parents stood, her father furrowing his brow, while her mother leaned into his arms, tears streaming down her face. The butler stood nearby, his face grim, clearly under immense pressure.
Seeing this scene, Emma's heart sank. She hurried over to them, her voice trembling, "Dad, Mom, how is Grandfather? Is he… is he okay?"
Her father turned around at the sound of her voice, his face showing fatigue and pain he couldn't conceal. He walked toward Emma and said softly, "Emma, don't worry, the doctors are still working on him."
Emma anxiously watched the emergency room doors, tears welling up again. "But why did he suddenly get sick? He's always been so careful, he shouldn't be in trouble..." Her voice dropped, almost as if trying to comfort herself, as if trying to convince herself that this was just temporary.
Her mother lifted her head, still teary-eyed, and spoke in a gentle, trembling voice, "Emma, it will be alright, everything will be fine."
Suddenly, the door to the emergency room opened. Both Emma and her mother turned, their eyes fixed on the door, their hearts racing, breaths growing shallow. Every second seemed to stretch endlessly, and the hospital corridor felt even more empty and cold. The doctor slowly walked out, his face serious, his eyes scanning Emma, her parents, and the butler. His steps were steady, but his eyes betrayed a deep sadness.
"The head of the family...," the doctor paused, his tone heavy. In that moment, Emma's heart nearly stopped. She looked at the doctor, feeling the immense pressure radiating from him. Her eyes quickly welled up, and her throat went dry, making it nearly impossible for her to speak. She wanted to ask, "How is Grandfather?" but the words got stuck in her throat, unable to escape. Her hand trembled uncontrollably, her face turned pale, and her legs grew weak, almost causing her to lose her balance.
The doctor finally spoke: "I'm sorry, it's been too long, and we couldn't save the head of the family." Emma's tears burst from her eyes, and everything in front of her became a blur.
After the funeral, the house was still filled with endless sorrow. Months passed, and both Emma and her mother were deeply immersed in grief, while her father, William, seemed preoccupied with something, rarely coming home. He spent more and more time and energy on the affairs of the Smith Group. One day, however, Uncle Oliver, who had been a loyal follower of her grandfather, suddenly called. His voice was filled with urgency and caution: "Miss Emma, you need to be careful of your father. He has ill intentions towards the Smith family."
These sudden words made Emma feel uneasy. Her father, William Brown, had always been the picture of a gentle and refined gentleman. Why would Uncle Oliver call to say such things? His voice came through again on the phone: "Emma, after your grandfather, Mr. James, passed away, William secretly teamed up with the powerful Williams family from City B. He began acquiring Smith family stocks in large quantities and gradually took control of the family's real power. Those of us who were loyal to the Smith family were all pushed out. Charlotte and I found out that William had been scheming for years. He allied with external forces, built up power within the family, and aimed to turn the Smith family business into his own Brown family empire. Even your grandfather James's death..." At this point, Oliver's voice trailed off for a long moment before he continued, "We suspect that James's death may be linked to William. We were in the middle of investigating when William found out, and now several people have fallen into his hands."
Emma's heart jolted.
"Not only that," Aunt Charlotte's voice came through the phone, "he also has a mistress and two illegitimate children. His mistress is Mia Armstrong, your grandfather's nurse. We suspect Mia replaced your grandfather's heart medication. His illegitimate daughter, Olivia Brown, is only three months younger than you, Miss Emma, and his illegitimate son, Logan Brown, is just two years younger than you. This means that William has been unfaithful to your mother and the Smith family for over a decade. Miss Emma, you must be careful and guard yourself against him."
Emma felt a coldness throughout her body, almost unable to breathe. But as she recalled how distant her father had been toward her mother and herself since her grandfather's passing, everything Uncle Oliver and Aunt Charlotte had said seemed to fit. Emma had never felt so torn and tortured. On one hand, her suspicions about her father, William, grew deeper; on the other hand, she desperately clung to the last thread of hope, praying that Uncle Oliver and Aunt Charlotte's accusations were a misunderstanding. With these conflicting emotions, she hurried out, determined to verify the truth and uncover the reality.