Chapter 1

"Dr. Adams, I'm requesting to be suspended. They're accusing me of lacking medical ethics! I absolutely refuse to condone such improper accusations!

Dr. Alec Adams, the head of my department, had been trying to persuade me not to argue with the patient's family. Still, I firmly chose to step down.

My husband, Quinton Surrey, barged in angrily. "I don't agree with this at all! How are you going to be considered for promotion if you're suspended? Fiona Xavier, what's gotten into you this time?" He was a doctor too, but we worked in separate departments.

I replied in a sharp tone. "I shoved a patient's family member. Shouldn't I be suspended? If I have no medical ethics, how could I even consider going for a promotion?"

Quinton stomped his foot in frustration beside me.

"Fiona, I know the patient's family's attitude toward you made you impulsive. Just apologize to Dr. Adams, and this matter will blow over."

I deliberately gritted my teeth, further elevating the conflict. "Dr. Adams, this is a medical scandal. Why should I tolerate it?"

Alec's expression darkened. "What do you want then?"

"As I just said, I'll just take the suspension and go home to reflect!"

Quinton stood off to the side, visibly exasperated. "Have you completely lost your mind?"

He pointed at me, clearly ready to shout, when someone outside the room called out, "Dr. Surrey, a patient named Joanna Chance is here to see you."

Quinton shot me a glare and stormed out.

I turned to Alec and said calmly, "Since I'm suspended, I'll go home now."

Joanna was Quinton’s childhood sweetheart. She’d been admitted for a stomach issue and was scheduled for tests today. In my previous life, this was the day she was diagnosed with appendicitis. It wasn’t a major surgery, yet Quinton insisted I perform it because Joanna didn’t trust anyone else.

After the surgery, she ended up paralyzed. She cried and accused me of practicing medicine illegally, claiming I’d caused a catastrophic medical accident.

I begged Quinton to speak up for me, but he replied curtly, "I know you’ve always been jealous of Joanna, but crippling her? How is she supposed to live from now on?"

Public opinion immediately turned against me. Even the hospital’s surgical room surveillance showed that I hadn’t followed proper procedure.

No matter what I said, I couldn’t clear my name.

Suddenly, Joanna’s ultra-alpha husband lunged at me from the crowd and stabbed me to death.

I died without ever understanding why she had become paralyzed or why the surveillance showed my steps were wrong. All I saw was the internet cheering for the outcome of the medical scandal.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Joanna was admitted for testing.

This time, I requested a suspension just to avoid being involved in her surgery.

The day after my suspension started, Quinton called me.

"Fiona, why didn’t you show up for work? Joanna’s appendectomy is scheduled for this afternoon. She only trusts you."

"I can’t do it. I’m suspended."

"What the hell is wrong with you? I told you to just apologize to the department head, but you had to pull this stunt! If something goes wrong with another surgeon, will you take responsibility?"

"I didn’t do the surgery. Why would I be responsible?"

"How can someone as heartless as you even exist? Joanna trusts you! You better never come back to the hospital!" He snapped, then hung up in anger.

After a week of suspension, I returned to the hospital—and found Joanna collapsed in the corridor, crying.

I was stunned. I hadn’t done the surgery this time. So why was she still paralyzed?

While I stood frozen, the man beside Joanna suddenly raised his phone and started recording me.

Joanna burst into tears again.

"It was her! She practiced medicine illegally and caused me to be paralyzed after a minor appendectomy!"