Chapter 1

My husband's precious "true love" bowed to me, begging me to perform her heart surgery.

I refused. I told her that it was something I would never do.

In my previous life, I agreed to save her for my husband's sake.

But she deliberately hid her drug allergy, causing the surgery to fail.

Before she died, she held my husband's hand and said it wasn't my fault, urging him to live a good life with me.

He tearfully agreed and started treating me better than ever.

Then, on my birthday, he served me a plate of poisoned pufferfish.

As I choked to death, I heard his venomous words clearly.

"It was just a minor surgery for Mel. If you hadn't deliberately used a drug she was allergic to, she wouldn't have died! She forgave you, but I can't let this slide!" he shouted.

His face was twisted. "Evelyn Carter, go to hell!"

When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day his true love came to me for help.

*****

Melissa cried out, "Evelyn, I only trust you. Please, you're the only one I want doing this surgery."

Melissa clutched my pant leg desperately.

Her sharp nails dug into my calf, the pain snapping me back to reality.

I shook her off forcefully and took a big step back.

I said firmly, "I can't treat your condition. Find someone else."

I turned to leave, but my husband, Andrew Lane, grabbed my wrist, his voice tight with anger. "Evelyn, how can you be so callous about a human life?"

I looked up and met Andrew's hate-filled eyes.

I knew it then. He had come back too.

Melissa buried her face in Andrew's chest, her voice syrupy sweet. "Andrew, don't blame Evelyn. She just doesn't like me very much, but she wouldn't actually refuse to help me."

She looked at me. "Right, Evelyn?"

I couldn't help but let out a scornful laugh.

Any experienced doctor could perform this surgery.

Last time was the same. She begged me to operate but hid her allergy history.

It was all just a test to prove her importance to Andrew.

To cut these two out of my life for good, I took a deep breath, interrupting their intimate little moment.

I said, "Melissa, I'm not the only one who can do this surgery. You don't need to risk your life to prove you're the most important person to Andrew.

"Let me spell it out for you. In his heart, you come first. So, please stop harassing me."

Andrew's face darkened instantly.

"Evelyn, what are you implying?" His voice was icy. "Is this how a doctor speaks to a patient?"

"Apologize to Mel right now. Otherwise, I'll report you to the hospital for taking bribes and negligence," he demanded.

I was scared.

For a doctor, even an accusation like that, true or not, could ruin a career.

I never thought Andrew would be so eager to destroy me so quickly.

Before I could speak, Melissa burst into tears. "Andrew, don't say that. If Evelyn gets angry and refuses my surgery, I'll die."

Andrew's face twisted with concern. He held her close. "You won't. If your heart really fails, I'd give you my own heart if I could."

What did I just hear?

Last time, he poisoned me for her. This time, he offered his heart.

A bitter laugh escaped me. "Enough with the drama, Melissa. Your condition isn't fatal."

The words barely left my mouth when Andrew shoved me hard. I fell, instinctively throwing my hands out to break my fall. A sharp, sickening pain shot through my wrist.

He gathered Melissa into his arms, glaring at me with pure venom. "Evelyn, do you have a death wish? Shut your mouth if you can't speak properly. I won't let you operate on Mel anyway."

He looked down at Melissa, his voice softening. "I'll find another doctor for you, okay? Evelyn is a quack. She'd kill you!"

Listening to his slander, I laughed through the pain. "Andrew, you did that on purpose, didn't you?"