Grandpa rushed Mom to Belston City overnight. The surgery would take place the day after tomorrow.

When we spoke over FaceTime, Mom looked much better. I finally let out a breath of relief.

That night, I slept more soundly than I had in years.

In my past life, after Mom died from that failed surgery, I couldn't sleep through the night. Depression swallowed me whole, and medication was the only way I could rest.

When I woke up next, Christopher's face was right in front of mine. I nearly jumped out of bed in fright.

"How did you get in here?"

He rolled his eyes, looking at me like I was an idiot. Then it hit me that he still had a key to my place.

"Come on, get up. We need to get our marriage registered. Then, we'll visit Ms. Morgan. I wonder how she's doing."

Christopher urged me like he was genuinely worried about Mom. I frowned, disgust rising in my chest. I was done pretending.

"In our past life, you deliberately made her surgery fail and gave her kidney to Jennifer, didn't you?"

His face went stiff, but he quickly replaced it with a hurt expression.

"How could you think that of me? I loved you so much. Why would I ever hurt your mom?"

"Cut the act. I heard everything you said to your assistant surgeon. You went to great lengths for Jennifer."

His expression shifted again and again.

Finally, he dropped the pretense and snapped, "Even if the surgery had succeeded, Ms. Morgan wouldn't have lived much longer. Wouldn't it be better to give the kidney to Jennifer? At least she could go on living with it."

Rage exploded from within me. I gritted my teeth as I said, "You're shameless! Despicable! Have you forgotten how well my mom treated you?"

He glared right back at me, refusing to back down.

"Didn't I give you my entire future? Without me, could you have lived such a comfortable life?"

My eyes burned as I shouted, "I didn't need that! I just wanted my mom to live! You're a murderer!"

I was about to throw him out when I saw Jennifer who casually lounged on the living room couch.

My anger flared further. I pointed at the door. "Both of you, get out!"

Jennifer put down her cup and gave me a pitiful look. "Alice, please don't fight with Chris because of me. I know I'm not good enough for him…"

Christopher stepped in front of her, pointing at me angrily.

"If you've got a problem, take it out on me! Jennifer's innocent. Stop picking on her!"

Jennifer hid behind him, raising her eyebrow at me in blatant provocation. Her eyes gleamed with gloating satisfaction.

"I'm not marrying you. Now, get out of my house," I said coldly.

Jennifer stepped closer, still playing innocent.

"Alice, please don't be like this. I only came here today to witness Chris' happiness. I already backed off like you asked. After you warned me, I haven't dared to dream of being with him ever again."

She was slandering me again. It wasn't the first time this happened, but Christopher believed her every time.

Sure enough, his temper flared. He shoved me back hard.

"You've gone too far, Alice! How dare you threaten Jennifer behind my back!"

His strength caught me off guard. I stumbled back, and the back of my head slammed hard against the nail holding the calendar on the wall.

A sharp wave of pain shot through me. I reached back to touch it and felt warm blood on my fingers.

Christopher gasped and rushed to my side in a panic. "I-I didn't mean to."

I tried to call 911, but my body gave out, and I slumped to the floor.

I groaned weakly, "Help… Help me…"

Christopher was a surgeon. He knew how serious this was.

He hurriedly crouched down, trying to assess the injury.

Just then, Jennifer's voice rang out again.

"That looks like major blood loss, doesn't it? I think we have the same blood type. Our kidneys are a perfect match too. If she ends up in the hospital, maybe I could even donate some blood to her."

Christopher's hands paused halfway through performing first aid. His gaze flickered, as if weighing something in his mind.

I stared at him in horror, a morbid chill shooting up my spine.