Chapter 1
The memory of my son's painful death in my past life was still fresh and clear in my mind.
I dropped everything immediately and rushed to the IV room.
There stood Lily Ellsworth, just about to insert the needle into my little boy's arm!
"Stop! Lily! Don't touch him!" I shouted, panic rising in my voice.
Lily instinctively pulled back the metal tray holding the medication bottles, looking flustered.
"Dr. Maddox, what are you doing here? Don't you trust me? I graduated from a top medical school, you know." She finished with a soft, playful blink.
My hands shaking, I snatched the tray right out of her hands.
"Graduated from a fine school and still can't measure the correct dosage?" I said through gritted teeth. "Read the prescription properly!"
Lily's face turned as white as a sheet.
"Elaine, do you really doubt me? The hospital director always says we must trust one another and have each other's backs! And anyway, I prepared this exactly according to your prescription!"
I was so angry I almost laughed. I stepped forward, ready to slap her across the face.
But the moment I raised my hand, a strong grip clamped down hard around my wrist.
My husband, Alan Whitlock, stood there in a sharp, tailored suit, staring at me with clear impatience.
"Dr. Whitlock, what is the meaning of this? How dare you try to hit someone?"
As soon as Lily saw Alan, her expression shifted instantly to one of hurt and grievance, and she pouted.
"Alan, it's all my fault. I'm just so clumsy. But Dr. Whitlock has no patience at all for new staff like me!"
Alan looked at me with clear disdain and irritation. "Elaine, what is this about? Why are you picking on a young girl like Lily?"
Ever since Alan had taken the position as legal counsel for this hospital, he visited here far more often than he went to his own law office.
In my previous life, I had been foolish enough to think he did so just to be closer to me.
Only later did I learn the truth. He came here so he could hook up with Lily in secret.
I forced down my rage and explained exactly what had happened. To my shock, he acted as if it were nothing serious at all.
"Lily only mixed the medicine wrong. No harm was done, so why not let it go?"
I could not believe those words came from a man trained in law, and worse, from my own son's father.
"Do you realize if I had arrived just one second later, our son's life would have been in danger?"
Alan let out a cold laugh, his expression turning even more hostile. "Don't exaggerate things. Now go and apologize to her!"
"Apologize?" I shot back. "Mr. Whitlock, when you can't even tell right from wrong, are you still fit to serve as legal counsel for this hospital?"
I had always been known for being reasonable and easy‑going, but this sharp reply caught everyone off guard. The onlookers exchanged uneasy glances, too afraid to step in.
"Fine, if you don't apologize, then hand over the case of that VIP patient to Lily. Consider it your way of making amends."
His words left me both furious and speechless.
What nerve he had, trying to take my own patients away from me.
"In your dreams! I will not apologize, and I will never give her the chance to harm anyone under my care!"
Lily stamped her foot and put on a pitiful act. "Alan, please don't argue over me. I'm too clumsy, I don't deserve it."
Alan glared at me coldly. "How have you become so bitter and unkind all of a sudden? Lily may be a little slow, but her heart is in the right place. Is this really necessary? Enough of this. Everyone, get back to work!"
Once the crowd dispersed, Alan did not even spare a single glance for our son.
He simply put his arm around Lily's shoulders, whispering soothing words as they walked away together.
The commotion had frightened my little boy, and he stood trembling until I pulled him tight into my arms. Only then did he finally let out a loud, scared cry.
Holding him safe and alive, I was washed over by the overwhelming feeling of having a second chance, followed quickly by a cold wave of fear.
"It's all right, honey. Mama is here."
I took my son straight to my parents' house right away.
As I watched him finally fall asleep, his face relaxed and peaceful, my heart ached with deep sadness.
Thinking of the man I had spent years of my life with, who had protected his mistress while letting her kill me and my son, my anger flared up again.
After a moment of thought, I sent a message to a trusted contact.
When I received a firm reply, I finally felt the tightness in my chest ease just a little.
In this new life, I would make sure they both paid for every single thing they had done.
