Chapter 1

“Lily, take this.”

A familiar voice rang out, sending a chill down my spine.

Tiffany Owens pressed a small box into my hand and winked at me. “I know it’s that time of the month. This is an imported painkiller—it’ll make you feel better.”

Just three minutes ago, I had finished a major surgery and was getting ready to head home for some rest. That was when Gareth called, saying his mother had been critically injured in a car accident and that she only trusted family to operate on her.

Pain flared in my abdomen, sharp and unbearable. I curled up slightly to ease the discomfort.

As I stared at the box in my hand, hesitation filled my mind. In my past life, the only thing I had consumed before surgery was this very painkiller from Tiffany.

Could this have been the drug that led to my downfall?

I waved a hand, suppressing the pain. “No need, Tiff. I just need to rest for a bit.”

Seeing that I wasn’t opening the box, Tiffany snatched it back, popped out a pill, and shoved it directly into my mouth.

“Lil, you have to stay in top form for this surgery! You can’t afford to be careless.”

I held the pill under my tongue, studying Tiffany’s earnest expression with suspicion. She showed no trace of guilt.

When I didn’t swallow, she quickly tilted a cup to my lips, forcing me to gulp down a mouthful of water. The pill slid down my throat before I could stop it. I immediately started coughing violently.

I lifted my head, locking eyes with Tiffany. Her expression remained perfectly composed as if nothing was wrong. With no proof, I couldn’t confront her directly. I didn’t want to alert the enemy before I had solid evidence.

Tiffany’s medical skills were average at best, and she only had this hospital job because of my recommendation. I never imagined that my so-called best friend would go to such lengths to sabotage me.

But if this was the source of the illegal drug, then what about Madam Pratt’s blood type?

Had I really been mistaken?

No—if the blood type had truly changed, then the blood bank and the nurses would have caught it.

“What’s wrong, Lil? How did one sip of water make you choke so badly?”