Chapter 1

The hospital room reeked of disinfectant.

The patient, Ted Wolfe, was curled up on the bed, his face pale as he vomited nonstop.

His family crowded around him, rubbing their hands anxiously and staring at me, waiting for me to decide what to do.

Seeing the scene, my heart sank hard, my nails digging into my palm.

In my last life, this was where I took my first fall and became the department's laughingstock.

Sure enough, the next second, the thoughts of the beautiful intern nurse, Sonya Row, echoed in my ears.

[What should I do? Should I tell the family this painkiller can be addictive and really bad for the body? If they just wait a few more minutes, he'll recover on his own. There's no need to spend money at all.]

I immediately looked toward the corner.

Sonya was lowering her head and fiddling with the IV stand, looking obedient and harmless, but I caught the way her eyes subtly swept over Ted and his family.

Just as expected, the moment her thoughts ended, the expressions on Ted, his wife, Olivia Wolfe, and their daughter, Cheryl Wolfe, all changed.

The three of them turned toward Sonya at the same time, doubt and surprise flashing across their faces.

Meanwhile, the other patients and families in the room showed no reaction at all.

My heart jolted. I hadn't expected Sonya to be able to choose who could hear her thoughts.

"Dr. Strickland!" Olivia shot to her feet, her finger nearly poking my face. "What exactly are you doing? You know this painkiller is addictive, and you still want to use it? Aren't you just trying to rip us off?!"

Cheryl jumped, too, practically spraying spit in my face. "Exactly! My dad doesn't need that harmful junk. You're the worst doctor I've ever met!"

I forced myself to stay calm and explain it to them.

"The vomiting is caused by acute gastrointestinal spasms. Pain medication can relieve the symptoms immediately and prevent dehydration and shock. It's only for short-term use and won't cause addiction."

However, they didn't listen at all.

The sudden commotion left the other patients and families confused, and they all turned to look.

An older woman asked with concern, "What's going on? Why are you all shouting?"

Olivia immediately turned to her and said angrily, "That nurse said this painkiller is addictive, and if we wait a bit, he'll get better anyway. There's no need to spend the money!"

As soon as she said that, the looks from everyone else in the room changed instantly, shifting from confusion to suspicion and blame.

"Is that true? That sounds unethical…"

"I used pain meds yesterday, too. Don't tell me…"

"Doctors these days will do anything for money…"

The buzzing voices closed in, each word stabbing at my ears.

This was exactly how it had happened in my previous life. Sonya's thoughts turned everyone against me.

Thinking of that, I clenched my fist and deliberately raised my voice.

"Fine. If you insist, we won't use the medication. But if the patient's condition worsens, you'll take full responsibility."

"I'm not afraid of you!" Olivia snapped, waving her hand to shoo me away. "Get out. I don't want to…"

Her words suddenly caught in her throat.

On the bed, Ted began convulsing violently. Vomit burst from his mouth, and immediately after, the heart monitor let out a sharp, piercing alarm.

The anger on Olivia's face froze and turned into pure panic. "Wh-what's happening? Didn't you say he'd get better if we waited?"