Chapter 2

"No!" Diane didn't budge an inch. "Joseph may be raving, but you can't lose your senses too, Nora! Kimberly isn't qualified for a surgery like this!"

She hadn't finished when Joseph exploded. "Don't you talk about Kimberly like that! I know exactly what she's capable of!"

Then, he shot me a fierce look. "Kimberly just wanted a full-time position. She wouldn't risk my life, and she'd never hurt me! Nora, you're the petty one. If you had just done what I said, Kimberly wouldn't have died!"

I knew he was talking about the previous life, but I wasn't about to tip my hand.

Diane looked confused, so I played along and let my brows knit. "What are you talking about? Why would Kimberly die?"

Joseph studied my face, as if confirming I hadn't come back with him. Arrogance and glee flashed in his eyes before he snapped, "Get me to her hospital now! If she dies, you won't live either!"

I clenched my hands until my nails dug into my palms, holding back the hate that threatened to spill out.

The memory of tires thudding over my body roared through my head. I wouldn't relive that kind of pain and helplessness.

Joseph had done it once, which meant he would do it again. This time, I wasn't giving him the chance.

Diane, missing the subtext, threw up her hands. "You really are crazy! Nora, tie him up and get him in the car!" she shouted, her whole body shaking with rage.

I didn't want to tip Joseph off that I remembered anything, so I made a show of obeying and stepped toward him.

He snatched up the nearest heavy thing and hurled it at my face. "You bitch! If you don't take me to Kimberly's hospital right now, I'll beat you to death!"

The heavy object crashed into my temple. Diane yelped in shock.

Joseph caught my wrist, yanked me to the floor, and drew back both fists to pound my head. Even with his legs broken, he was stronger than me, and I couldn't break free.

Diane screamed and finally caved. "Enough! Stop! If you hurt Nora, who's going to drive you to Kimberly?"

Joseph stopped, victory gleaming across his face.

I held my throbbing head and shoved myself to my feet. The gloating in his eyes only fueled the fire in my chest.

We drove nearly two thousand miles with me at the wheel for a day and a night without sleep, and we rolled in the next afternoon.

Diane and I rushed his admission. While Diane arranged Joseph's surgery, Joseph noticed the attending wasn't Kimberly and tore the consent form in half.

"I told you, I'm only letting Kimberly operate!"

A young nurse tried to help. "Dr. Parker isn't on today. Your legs look very serious. You really shouldn't wait. Let one of our surgeons take you."

Diane drew breath to argue, but Joseph had already called Kimberly.

Kimberly answered in a sweet tone, "Joseph, you've arrived? Sorry, I didn't expect you so soon. I'm walking my dog. Please wait for me. I'll head over now!"

Diane's chest heaved with rage, her eyes rolling back at the ceiling.

"It's fine. I'll wait," Joseph said, gritting through the pain. "With me as your case, they'll have to make you permanent."

Seeing this, I couldn't help but find it bitterly laughable.

I hadn't slept or had a sip of water all day, yet he hadn't spared me a single word of concern.

But now, I didn't need his concern anymore. This time, I wanted to watch those legs rot if that was where his devotion to Kimberly led.

We waited and waited, but Kimberly still hadn't turned up.

Joseph's panic deepened by the minute, until even the surgeon on call couldn't stand it and pulled me aside.

"You're his wife, right? He can't stall any longer. If he keeps waiting, he could lose function for good. Pick another surgeon and sign!"

Before I could answer, Joseph cut in with a grim expression. "You're just trying to take Kimberly's case! Forget it! Kimberly's doing my surgery!"

He turned that warning glare on me. "Listen, only Kimberly can treat my legs. If she isn't here, I'll wait until she is! If you don't want me to divorce you, then keep your mouth shut and do as I say!"

I didn't waste my breath on a response. From the moment I opened my eyes in this second life, my very first thought was to sever all ties with him.

But what I wanted to see even more was how an inexperienced intern would handle a surgery like this.