"Johnson family?" Emma paused for a moment, her voice filled with doubt. "But they're one of the top families in City N, with immense power—probably even stronger than the Smith family at its peak. Why would they help me?"
Isabella smiled slightly, her voice full of confidence. "The Johnson family isn't a monolith. Right now, they're in the middle of a serious internal power struggle. Their main branch is actively expanding their influence, and City B is one of their targets. Although the Miller family isn't a top-tier family, we do have some connections in City N. My sister-in-law is a relative of the Johnsons, so my father got wind of this information early. If you offer the remaining resources of the Smith family as leverage, along with your connections in City B, they might just be swayed."
Emma furrowed her brow, her inner conflict evident. But deep down, she knew she had no other choice. She took a deep breath, her eyes growing determined. "Alright, let's give it a try."
With the Miller family's help, Emma showcased surprising negotiation skills, using the last remaining resources of the Smith family to reach a preliminary agreement with the main branch of the Johnson family. The two sides agreed to meet the following day in City N to discuss the details further. That night, Emma sat by the window, gazing at the starry sky, her heart filled with a long-lost sense of hope. Yet, fate had no intention of letting her off easy.
The next day, Emma drove alone to City N. The winding mountain roads echoed with the howling wind, and the surrounding stillness was unsettling. The soft music in the car played as Emma gripped the steering wheel, her mind focused on the negotiation details ahead. Suddenly, a massive truck came speeding toward her from the opposite direction, its headlights blinding her. Instinctively, she jerked the steering wheel to avoid it, but it was too late—the truck collided with her head-on, flipping the car over with a deafening crash. Emma felt the world spin as the seatbelt held her tight. After a few seconds, the car finally came to a stop. Blood was streaming from her forehead, and her vision was blurry. She struggled to lift her head and tried to see clearly. Through her hazy vision, she recognized the figure of the truck driver—it was Elijah! The troublemaker who had followed her half-brother around for years.
"You..." Emma weakly questioned. "You actually... dared to do this?" Elijah stood outside the car, sneering at her. "Miss Emma, don't blame me. This is Master William's orders. You can only blame yourself for getting in their way!"
Emma's chest heaved with pain. Her vision was fading, but her spirit still burned with defiance. She weakly called out, "They won't succeed... The Smith family will never fall into their hands..." Elijah scoffed. "Then go to hell and watch it happen!" He said, and quickly fled the scene.
Emma lay on the cold ground, the last tear slipping from her eye. In her mind, flashes of Sophia's smile, Isabella's encouragement, and the unfinished mission she had left behind passed by.
"I... can't..." She tried to say something more, but her consciousness finally slipped away. Her heart was filled with regret and unwillingness. She had so many unfinished tasks, so many unfulfilled wishes. She couldn't accept leaving this world so soon, nor could she let her father and the betrayers win. But fate had already made its choice. Emma Smith's life was frozen at that very moment.