Chapter 4

Jane's emotions, which had just stabilized, exploded again in an instant. She threw herself at the mayor's empty legs, large tears streaming down her face.

Her eyes bloodshot, she looked at Melissa.

"Dr. Cross, where are my husband's legs?"

Melissa's face instantly filled with panic, and her body began to shake. She stammered.

"Mrs. Carter, there's a reason for this. Please let me explain!"

However, Jane could not control her emotions. She slapped Melissa hard across the face.

"Explain? What explanation could there possibly be? You were the lead surgeon, weren't you? My husband was just in a car accident. The driver said it was only minor bleeding. Why has he been amputated? If you can't give me a proper explanation today, you'll all pay for this!"

Everyone in the department was frightened by Jane. Joe protectively pulled Melissa into his arms. Facing the intimidating presence of Jane and the officials, he suddenly pointed his finger at me.

"It's her! This is all Kimberly's fault! When the mayor came to the hospital for emergency treatment, she wasted time and caused him to miss the critical rescue window.”

"During the surgery, she was jealous that Melissa was lead surgeon, so she deliberately made mistakes that caused the mayor to bleed excessively. His legs became necrotic. Melissa had no choice but to amputate to save his life!"

Listening to his baseless slander, I found it absurd. To exonerate Melissa, he could actually make up something this ridiculous!

"I didn't perform the surgery."

I was about to explain when he stepped forward, kicked me to the ground, grabbed my hair, and forced me to kneel in front of the mayor's bed.

"Everyone in our department can testify that she deliberately delayed treatment. Her mistakes during surgery caused the mayor's amputation!"

At that moment, Melissa immediately looked at me with tears in her eyes.

"Kimberly, I can't keep covering for you anymore. Just admit what you did."

Everyone in the department looked at me coldly. Not a single person spoke up for me, allowing Joe and Melissa to twist the truth.

"Mr. and Mrs. Carter, we can testify that all the surgical errors were Kimberly's fault!"

"She used her father's money to buy her way into our hospital and became department director. In reality, she's completely incompetent and can't even write a proper prescription!"

"Mr. Carter, when she made mistakes during your surgery, she forced Melissa to take the blame, threatening that otherwise her father would have Melissa fired. Melissa did everything she could to save your life!"

"Her father's money is suspicious too, Mr. Carter. You shouldn't let him off the hook. Who knows how many officials he's bribed over the years to get that kind of wealth!"

The department colleagues spoke up one after another, throwing all kinds of accusations at me, even trying to drag my father down with me! Just like when they slandered me in front of the police in my previous life.

Everyone present completely believed Joe's version of events. I became the one responsible for the mayor's amputation.

Jane slapped me hard across the face. Then again and again. My ears rang, and blood filled my mouth.

Joe continued piling on.

"Kimberly, you used your family connections to become department director. Now you want to make Melissa take responsibility for your crimes. You've gone too far! I must have been blind to date someone like you!"

He began kicking me hard. My whole body hurt. The scene of my tragic death in my previous life surfaced in my mind. I absolutely could not let that nightmare repeat itself, and I could not let Joe and Melissa's lies become reality!

I shouted desperately.

"You were the ones who delayed the surgery for Melissa and made the mayor miss the critical treatment window. The surgical errors and the amputation have nothing to do with me."

Joe became even more furious after hearing this. "You still dare to argue?"

He kicked my abdomen even harder, as if determined to kill me. "A vicious woman like you doesn't deserve to live!"

Just as Joe was about to kick my head with full force, the hospital room door burst open.

"Everyone stop!"

Dad rushed into the room with a group of bodyguards. He held my barely conscious body in his arms, his eyes full of concern.

"Sweetheart, I'm so sorry I'm late!" His eyes bloodshot, he looked at everyone.

"Who gave you permission to touch my daughter?"

A department colleague said recklessly. "Kimberly made errors during surgery and caused a major medical accident. She's responsible for this!"

Dad nodded, and a bodyguard slapped that colleague to the ground.

"That's impossible!" Dad pulled out a tablet and showed it to everyone.

"The person who really caused the mayor to miss the critical treatment window and led to the amputation is Melissa Cross. I have surveillance footage as proof!"