However, that afternoon, Mia Armstrong boldly appeared at the Smith family mansion, mocking Emma's mother, Sophia. "Well, well, Sophia," Mia's tone dripped with sarcasm, "you still manage to sit here and act so elegant, huh?" Sophia's face turned pale, her grief over the past months leaving her looking extremely worn out. "Who are you? Why are you here?" she asked.
"Haha, who am I?" Mia laughed loudly, leisurely walking toward Sophia. She eyed her with a mocking gaze, "I am William's true lover. His first love, the only woman in his heart."
"What?" Sophia's face grew even paler, her eyes filled with disbelief. She stood up, her voice trembling slightly. "I don't know what you're talking about. William is my husband!"
Mia sneered, "Your husband? How laughable. If it weren't for your Smith family's power, do you really think he would have chosen you, a dull and incapable woman?" She coldly laughed, "William and I have two lovely children. He dotes on them endlessly. And you? You're nothing more than a decoration."
Sophia's hand trembled slightly, as though struck by a heavy blow, but she fought to maintain her composure. "You're lying! William would never treat me this way, he would never do such a thing!"
Mia suddenly stepped closer, lowered her head, and whispered in Sophia's ear, in a tone only they could hear: "Looks like you really don't know anything. Do you remember the medication your father, James, was taking? William and I were the ones who switched it."
Her voice dripped with malicious satisfaction. "The day your father's illness flared up, the servants in the house were arranged by William. We watched him struggle, watched him painfully lose consciousness until he finally passed away. Do you still think it was an accident?"
These words struck Sophia like a thunderbolt, shattering her reason. Her body swayed, and she seemed unsteady on her feet, her voice trembling as she tried to speak, "No… no way… you're lying…"
"Lying?" Mia scoffed disdainfully. "Do you think I have any reason to lie to you now? William has long been playing with your Smith family, and you? You're just a joke."
Sophia's mind finally broke. Her face turned ashen, her eyes filled with despair and pain. She staggered backward a few steps, murmuring to herself, "No… this can't be true… it's not true…"
When Emma rushed back inside, she saw a woman, gorgeously dressed and elegantly made-up, leaving the Smith family mansion with a haughty air. Before Emma could make out her features, the woman had already gotten into an unfamiliar luxury car and driven off. A feeling of unease washed over Emma as she quickly entered the house, only to find her mother's eyes vacant, as if her soul had been drained. Sophia stood motionless by the balcony.
Emma hurried over, trying to steady her mother. "Mom, what's wrong? What happened?"
Sophia weakly lifted her head, her voice low and faint. "Emma… William… he… he killed your grandfather… he… betrayed us…" Before she could finish, tears suddenly welled up in her eyes, and her body collapsed backward.
"Mom!" Emma screamed, trying to grab her mother, but saw her figure fall over the balcony's edge. She only managed to catch the corner of her mother's clothing. In that instant, Emma's world completely collapsed. She knelt by the edge of the balcony, tears streaming down her face as she cried out in agony, "Mom, don't leave me! Mom—" Her cries echoed through the empty mansion, but no servants came to her aid.
Sophia's death tore Emma's heart apart. She knelt on the floor, her hands covering her face as tears poured through her fingers. The intense pain in her chest made it nearly impossible to breathe. She finally understood that what Uncle Oliver and Aunt Charlotte had said wasn't just a warning—they were telling the truth. Her father had betrayed the family's traditions and responsibilities for his own gain.
"Emma!" Isabella rushed in, and seeing Emma crumpled on the floor, immediately knelt down and held her. "Emma, you still have me. We'll get through this!" Isabella tightly grasped Emma's hand, her tone resolute. "And Noah will stand by your side. We can use the power of the Garcia family to take back the glory of the Smith family!"
When Emma heard Noah's name, a trace of hesitation flashed in her eyes, but she nodded in agreement. "Alright... let's go find him."
They drove to Noah's apartment, but what greeted them was an unbelievable scene.