Chapter 1

My daughter was deliberately locked inside an MRI machine overnight by a newly arrived intern.

I didn’t argue or make a scene. Instead, I comforted her and said it was okay.

Because in my previous life, when I rushed into the examination room, my child was already cold all over, her lips purple.

Blinded by rage, I not only reported the intern, Keira Narl, but also exposed her to the media.

She got fired from the hospital and blacklisted from the industry.

My husband, who had already been having an affair with that intern, came to hate me from then on.

He sued me on charges of defamation and extortion, forcing me into a divorce with nothing to my name.

Even when our daughter’s condition worsened and she desperately needed him, a nationally renowned pediatric expert, to save her life, he ignored my desperate pleas and shut both me and our daughter out.

He even used his connections to warn every hospital not to treat her.

In the end, my daughter died on the night of his wedding to that intern.

Holding her small body, I jumped from the rooftop.

So this time, given another chance, I wouldn’t make a scene anymore.

As soon as I opened my eyes, I shoved open the exam room door.

Anny was trapped in the MRI machine, her lips almost white.

"Mom."

She saw me and weakly reached out her trembling hand.

"Mom, I'm scared."

"That woman said you didn't want me anymore."

I rushed over, pulled her into my arms, biting down hard on my lip so I wouldn't cry out.

In my last life, this was the exact moment I completely broke down.

Holding Anny tightly, I rushed out of the exam room, screaming hysterically down the hospital hallway.

I was determined to find the person who locked my daughter in there and make them pay, no matter what it took.

But this time, I just gently patted Anny's back and whispered in her ear.

"Don't be scared, honey. I'm right here. I'll never abandon you."

Anny nodded, being so mature for her age, her little hand clutching my collar tightly.

Jolsen rushed in.

"What happened?"

"Why is Anny in the exam room?"

Before I could get a word out, Keira, trailing behind him, rushed forward, tears streaming down her face as she pleaded her case.

"Dr. Besson, this is all my fault. Before I left, I checked the room and thought everyone was gone, so I locked the door."

"I really didn't know Anny was still inside. I promise, I never meant for this to happen."

She acted like she was the real victim here.

Jolsen's frown deepened.

"As her mother. you didn't stay with your daughter during the exam?"

In my last life, hearing that would've made me explode right then and there.

I would've shouted at him, "It was your beloved intern who purposely sent me away. She said she'd take Anny for the scan and told me to go pay the fees."

"When I got back, Anny was gone! Don't give me that 'accident' crap. She did it on purpose!"

This time, I simply stood up, holding Anny steady in my arms.

"It's my fault."

"I shouldn't have let Anny out of my sight."

Jolsen looked stunned, momentarily speechless.

Keira was caught off guard too, tears still in her eyes, not knowing what to say.

"I'm taking Anny for an examination."

"She was left in the cold all night. We need to see if she's suffered any harm."

With that, I held Anny tight and headed straight out.

Behind me, I caught Keira quietly murmuring to Jolsen.

"Dr. Besson, I swear I didn't mean for any of this to happen."

"I just thought if I took Anny for the scan, it would give Nelin a break. I never expected things to go so wrong... Is Nelin mad at me?"

Jolsen let out a sigh. "Don't blame yourself. She should've watched her kid better."

I hugged Anny even tighter, holding her close.

Anny buried her face in my shoulder and whispered, "Mom, she did it on purpose."

"When she locked me in, she was smiling and told me to stay inside and think about my behavior."

My eyes stung with tears as I gently kissed her forehead.

"I know."

"Honey, let Mom handle this. You don't need to say a word, okay?"

Anny nodded sensibly.

After Anny's check-up, the doctor said she just got a bit cold and was scared out of her wits. She needs to rest for a few days.

With the test results in hand, I headed home with Anny.

The moment I stepped inside, my phone started ringing. It was Jolsen calling.

"Where have you been with Anny? Why didn't you pick up your phone?"

I glanced at my screen and saw more than a dozen missed calls.

"We were at the hospital getting checked out," I said, keeping my voice steady.

"What did the doctor say about the results?"

"She's okay, nothing major. The doctor said she just needs some rest."

There was a brief silence on the other end before Jolsen spoke again.

"Keira wants to say sorry to Anny in person. Let me know when you're free."

My hand tightened around the phone.

In my last life, I would've hung up right then and rushed to the hospital, ready to get into a shouting match with Keira.

But this time, I just let out a small laugh.

"No need. Anny's fine, really. No need to bother her."

Jolsen was left speechless by my response.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, really."

"I just honestly don't think we need to bother her. Anny needs peace and quiet to recover, and having anyone over would only mess with her rest."

There was a long pause on the line before Jolsen finally spoke.

"Nelin, what exactly do you want to do? Keira's just trying to be nice and apologize, and this is how you respond?"

What did I want to do?

I just wanted to stay alive. I wanted Anny to stay alive. I wanted to get as far away from you and Keira as possible, and live a quiet life with my daughter.

But I kept all that locked inside.

"Honestly, I don't want anything."

Jolsen went quiet again. After a moment, he said, "I've got surgery tonight, so I might not make it home."

"Alright, do your thing."

After hanging up, I glanced at Anny, curled up on the couch.

She looked so small, hugging her knees and staring at me.

"Mom, is Dad going to see that woman?"

I went over and pulled her into a hug. "Anny, if Mom and Dad ever got divorced, who would you want to live with?"

Anny replied instantly, "With you, Mom."

My eyes stung with tears. "Why?"

"Because you love me."

"Dad doesn't love me. That woman said it's my fault Dad doesn't come home. She said I'm just a burden."

I hugged her even tighter, tears finally spilling down my cheeks.