Chapter 48

“Even if it costs me my life, I have to do this.” Emma ignored Josiah’s frantic warnings. Josiah couldn't fully grasp the catastrophic potential of the impending explosion, but Emma knew its grim reality all too well, having witnessed its aftermath in her previous life.

As she hurried through the crowd, haunting images flashed before her—newspaper photos of Sean, his features obliterated by burns, and the list of victims: a recent high school graduate, a couple celebrating their long-awaited engagement, a son who’d brought his terminally ill mother to what might be their last concert. These were ordinary people, their simple hopes and dreams cruelly extinguished by a merciless explosion. Behind the countless victims lay a world of shattered families. Sean, once vibrant, now existed in a vegetative state, a mere shadow of his former self.

Weighing heavily on her heart, Emma was resolved—she would prevent this tragedy at any cost.

“Boss, I found it! It’s on the west side of the roof, D29, at ten o’clock!” Josiah reported.

“Got it!” Emma left the concert and sprinted toward the roof. With Josiah’s guidance, she quickly located the bomb. The roof’s surface was soft and treacherous. Emma, utilizing her athleticism, crawled across the expansive, slippery expanse. At first glance, everything appeared normal.

“Boss, there’s nothing here,” Josiah said.

“Look.” Emma rotated the camera.

Josiah gasped. “It’s… it’s C4.”

“Yeah, it’s tucked inside the steel framework in a massive black box,” Emma added. C4, known for its devastating power, could send shockwaves strong enough to severely damage structures. Emma’s face hardened as she pulled out her tools, ready to disarm the bomb.

“Boss, this isn’t safe. The police are on their way, and the roof can’t bear much weight. You need to get off here, now!” Josiah warned.

Emma was precariously positioned, practically suspended in mid-air, half her body leaning over the edge as she reached the black box. Any mistake could trigger the explosion, killing her and many others.

Emma clenched her teeth. “Don’t worry. I’ve got this.” Her past experiences had taught her a crucial lesson: to survive, one must confront fear directly. The greater the danger, the calmer she became.

Josiah recognized that resolute expression—it meant things were serious. He hadn’t seen her so determined in ages.

Trained in bomb disposal, Emma understood the immense physical and mental strain. Any error could be catastrophic.

Taking a deep breath, Emma worked methodically. Her bold yet careful approach made disarming the complex device manageable.

Below, the concert had begun. Though not in her seat, the music’s vibrations reached her, mingling with the tension of her task. The threat of the bomb beneath her hands caused sweat to bead on her forehead.

Meanwhile, across from the arena, Liam was stuck in a traffic jam in his Rolls-Royce. He was supposed to meet Emma, but the congestion had delayed him. As they passed the last traffic light, Levi’s phone rang; his face paled as he reported, “Mr. Hall, there’s trouble! The police just called about a dangerous object near the arena. They’re blocking roads and evacuating the area.”

Liam’s eyes widened. “Stop the car; we need to go now!”

“Mr. Hall!” Levi protested, but it was too late. With Emma potentially in danger, Liam couldn’t wait.

Meanwhile, the police were en route. On the roof, Emma continued her work, unaware of the looming threat.

“You foolish woman…” A shot rang out, but Josiah’s sharp senses alerted him.

“Boss, get down!” Josiah roared.

Reacting instinctively, Emma ducked, narrowly avoiding the bullet. The threat was swiftly neutralized.

“What’s behind me?” Emma asked, her focus unwavering.

“There’s a building at your six, but whoever was there seems to have left—they didn’t want to give away their position,” Josiah responded.

“I’m almost done here. Keep your eyes on the surrounding buildings,” Emma instructed.

“Got it, Boss,” Josiah assured her.

The bomb wasn’t overly complicated, and Emma was making good progress. As she snipped the final wire, a muffled “Bang!” echoed. A silenced bullet shot toward her from the spectator stands.

“Boss!” Josiah exclaimed.

The silenced shot was unexpected, especially from the crowd. Amid the festive chaos, no one noticed the sinister act. Then, more bullets flew. Emma, already struggling to maintain her balance, lost her footing and fell—a hundred-foot drop.

“Boss!” Josiah’s panicked voice filled the phone.

Meanwhile, at the concert, Sean felt a sudden chill. He glanced toward Emma’s usual seat, finding it empty. His concern grew. He’d just finished a song, the crowd’s cheers mingling with fireworks. Unnoticed in the festive chaos, a girl was falling.

‘Am I going to die?’ Emma wondered, gazing at the night sky.

After the fireworks ceased, darkness enveloped the sky. Memories of a past fire, which had lit the night like day, flashed through her mind. It reminded her of Liam’s engagement ring, sparkling brilliantly when he proposed. Now, all seemed to be slipping away.

Emma closed her eyes, resigning herself to fate. Suddenly, a helicopter’s beam cut through the night, piercing the silence.