Chapter 1

The day I was promoted to chief surgeon, I picked up a forty-five-pound dumbbell and shattered my own right hand.

The injury cost me the only evaluation surgery I had waited five years for.

Everyone pitied me for throwing away a brilliant career. Meanwhile, I downed two entire bottles of vintage bourbon in pure relief.

In my previous life, I stood in the operating room for ten agonizing hours to pull a patient back from the brink of death.

That very patient was my wife's untouchable first love.

The moment the surgery ended, my wife accused me of abusing my position to deliberately murder him.

She bribed the scrub nurse to swear under oath that I swapped the medication and killed him on the table.

My reputation was destroyed overnight, and I became a hated monster in the eyes of the public.

My mother tried to prove my innocence.

Instead, she was relentlessly cyberbullied by the angry mob until she suffered a mental breakdown, slipped into a river, and drowned.

Driven mad by grief after hearing the news, I leaped off the hospital roof.

After my death, my wife inherited my estate and lived happily ever after with her supposedly dead lover.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the morning of that fateful surgery.

1、

"Did you hear about Dr. Nolan's hand? How did it even happen?"

"Who knows? Maybe he was terrified of botching tomorrow's surgery and losing his new vice presidency!"

I ignored the whispers and wild guesses of the passing staff.

With steady steps, I walked straight toward the Chief's office.

My phone screen lit up with a text message from my wife, Gia.

【Garrett, Mason is in your hands tomorrow. I know you will save him. Love you so much, hugs and kisses.】

It was the exact same message she sent me in my past life.

Back then, those three words made my heart flutter with joy.

Now, they only sent chills down my spine.

Chief Morrison stared at my heavily bandaged right hand, his forehead deeply creased with worry.

"How could you be so careless? Of all the times to get hurt!"

"I wanted tomorrow's operation to cement your authority. You know full well how many people opposed your appointment as vice president."

I lowered my gaze to my injured hand.

After a brief pause, I spoke in a calm, measured voice.

"I am sorry, Chief. I let you down."

"We should let my father-in-law take tomorrow's case. With his seniority and surgical skill, he is one of the best in the hospital."

Chief Morrison let out another heavy sigh.

"Well, that is our only option now. Take this time to rest and recover."

Leaving the hospital, I took a cab straight to my mother's house.

Watching the city scenery blur past the window, I felt an unprecedented sense of peace.

Everyone thought I had missed the golden opportunity to prove my worth.

Only I knew that tomorrow's high-stakes surgery was nothing more than a deadly trap laid out for me.

Before I could even pull out my keys, the front door swung open from the inside.

My mother stood there, her eyes red and filled with panic as she looked at my wrapped hand.

"Garrett! Is your hand going to be alright?"

Seeing her alive and standing right in front of me made my eyes sting.

I pulled her into a tight, desperate embrace.

"Mom, I missed you so much."

My mother froze for a second before gently patting my back.

"Sweetheart, did something happen at work?"

"Listen to me, ask for leave right away and just rest at home for a while."

"I do not care about fancy titles or success. I only want you to be safe and healthy."

A single tear rolled down my cheek.

Mom, I want you to be safe too.

In this life, I will rewrite our fate no matter what it takes.

After composing myself, I forced a relaxed smile.

"Do not worry, Mom. The Chief gave me a month of paid leave."

"I just need to stop by the hospital tomorrow, and then I will spend the rest of the month keeping you company."

My mother beamed with relief.

"An old woman like me does not need your constant company. You should spend time with Gia. You have been so busy these past few years, and she has been lonely at home."

Hearing Gia's name wiped the smile from my face.

Right on cue, another notification popped up on my phone.

【Garrett Nolan, why are you ignoring my texts? Mason said you did not even do morning rounds today. How are you running your department? Are you prepared for tomorrow's surgery?】