Thirty-year-old Amanda had made an appointment for a top-secret beauty treatment at a high-end salon so that her wealthy boyfriend could find her even more desirable in bed. However, I, coming from a family of traditional medicine practitioners, warned her against it, explaining that the treatment could harm her uterus and make it difficult to conceive.

My friend took my advice and decided not to go through with the procedure. Her gold-digging boyfriend, however, felt she was no longer attractive enough and quickly found himself a younger girlfriend. Furious, Amanda blamed me, saying, “It's your fault I lost my meal ticket! You must be jealous of me!”

She then stabbed me in the stomach.

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself reborn. This time, I was determined to let Amanda make her own choices, even as she prepared to pay for another dubious beauty treatment.

——

"Amanda, why don't we make an appointment together for the top-secret beauty treatment?" The familiar voice of my best friend, Amanda Collins, rang in my ears.

I opened my eyes and the esthetician let out a small gasp. The serum on my face dripped into my eyes and I realized I had been reborn. Instinctively, I covered my stomach. The memory of the knife piercing my skin felt fresh in my mind as I tried to protect the life growing inside me.

I looked around, finding myself back in the salon. The beautician, seeing me freeze with wide eyes, reminded me gently, "Ma'am, you need to keep your eyes closed during the treatment."

Amanda noticed my lack of response and urged, "Samantha, say something."

I took a deep breath and forced a smile. "With this body, it's not worth it."

"But you, Amanda, you're stunning. You should go for it," I said, trying to sound encouraging. "I guarantee it will make him adore you even more."

Hearing this, Amanda seemed to make up her mind and turned to the salon manager standing nearby. "Manager Smith, please sign me up for the top-secret beauty package."

The manager, Ms. Smith, smiled warmly. "Ms. Collins, you've come to the right place. We have top experts in female beauty care and this technique is our exclusive offering. Celebrities, socialites and influencers have all made appointments with us. Take a look," she said, handing over her phone. "We women need to maintain ourselves in every way, so men stay captivated by us."

I frowned slightly as I listened. The so-called top-secret program was designed to make a woman more appealing to men by artificially enhancing certain attributes, effectively turning her into an object of desire.

Amanda was clearly tempted; this was exactly what she craved. She had always felt insecure, worried that she wasn’t attractive enough to men. Without hesitation, she transferred the twenty thousand dollars deposit, a satisfied smile spreading across her face.

"Your man is lucky," I said, offering a flattering smile. I knew she loved hearing things like that.

"Absolutely, he says he loves a woman with a little maturity like me," Amanda responded, casting a disdainful glance my way. I had been preparing my body for pregnancy and had gained some weight recently.

"Samantha, aren't you going to book an appointment too?" she asked.

I smiled and rubbed my stomach, feeling the new life growing inside. "No, I'm pregnant," I replied, letting the esthetician wash away the beauty lotion that was burning my skin.

Just as my face was being cleaned, the salon manager walked in, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. "Ms. Collins, congratulations! One of our top specialists has a slot open tomorrow. It's the perfect time, especially with our current promotion. You’ll enjoy lifelong care at a great price."

“You're also one of our VIP clients,” she added. “I'll give you a discount and all the restorative products will be free. Would you like to book the appointment for tomorrow?”

I glanced at the brochure and pretended to be impressed. “These restorative products are from big brands,” I remarked.

I saw Amanda’s excitement. After a moment of hesitation, she made her decision and said firmly to the manager, “Please book the appointment for tomorrow.”

After saying goodbye to Amanda, I headed to the hospital. When I saw the report confirming that everything was healthy with the baby, I realized I truly had been reborn. Thinking back on everything from my previous life, I couldn’t help but grit my teeth.

Amanda Collins was my best friend and a well-known yoga instructor. She had a beautiful face and a graceful, flexible body. Even in her thirties and unmarried, she still held her charm in the eyes of men, often more so than the younger women. In her past life, she had been dating a wealthy man, a second-generation heir. Men like him were drawn to women who exuded a certain allure and maturity.

When Amanda first heard about the beauty treatment, she was immediately intrigued. She had undergone an abortion once and that experience left her feeling she could not compete with younger women. Amanda was desperate to elevate herself, to force her way into the upper echelons of society.

I came from a family with a strong tradition in herbal medicine, particularly in gynecology and women's health. I warned Amanda that the treatment could severely damage her uterus and harm her body’s natural functions. I explained that not only could it cause infertility, but it might even lead to systemic infection, organ failure and, ultimately, be life-threatening. I told her she was in excellent health and didn’t need to risk her life for such a procedure.

I worked as a lesser-known practitioner of traditional medicine at a general hospital and I also helped people restore their health in my spare time. I had experience in this area, so I spoke from knowledge and concern.

Amanda eventually listened to my advice, hesitating for a long time before canceling her appointment. But I never imagined that her wealthy boyfriend would leave her for a younger model. Losing her "golden ticket," Amanda was devastated. She had always thought she was better than me, ever since we were children. But now, without her wealthy benefactor, she was left with nothing.

Consumed by anger and resentment, she stormed into the hospital with a knife, stabbing me violently. I fought desperately to protect my stomach, trying to shield the baby inside. I had struggled for so long to conceive and this child was precious to me. But Amanda, with a cruel smile, stabbed my belly, targeting my uterus, cutting my unborn child from me with a blade.

"He said I wasn't young enough, not desirable enough and it's all because you stopped me from getting the treatment," she hissed. "You're just jealous of me! You can't stand to see me live a good life. My life in that mansion—ruined, all because of you!"

A flicker of hatred crossed my eyes as I remembered that terrible day. Now, I was back, given a second chance. This time, I knew better than to try and stop her.

As I finished my facial, I could already smell the strong chemicals in the beauty products they used at this salon. The so-called "top-secret treatment" was likely filled with dangerous substances. I could only imagine the damage it might do to someone’s body.

If Amanda was determined to follow a destructive path, why should I stop her? Let her choose her own fate.

When I got home, my thoughts returned to the hospital where I worked. After being stabbed to death there in my previous life, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy. The security measures were inadequate and the stress on the doctors was immense.

“Honey, I’m thinking about quitting my job and taking some time off,” I said.

Michael paused, looking at me with concern. "Sweetheart, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, just tell me," he replied gently. "We don't need the extra income."

He raised his eyes and continued cautiously. As a doctor, my job was always demanding and he had often encouraged me to take care of my health. But I had always dismissed his concerns, driven by my desire to advance my career.

“Are you hiding something from me, love?” Michael's mind seemed to race through countless scenarios. Eventually, a specific thought crossed his mind and his eyes filled with tears.

"No matter what it is, we'll find a way to cure it," he declared, his voice trembling. "Even if we have to spend every cent we have! I've saved up a lot over the years."

I smiled, raising an eyebrow and handed him the report from the obstetrician.

"I'm going to be a dad?" he exclaimed, his face lighting up with joy. He lifted me into his arms, alternating between laughter and tears.

After a while, he calmed down and promised, "Don't worry, darling. I’ll take the best care of you."

So, I spent the next few weeks at home, focusing on my pregnancy. As I did, my body softened and filled out.

A month later, I saw Amanda again. There was a new, flirtatious air about her. She came over with several gifts, saying, "Hey, Samantha, it's been over a month! You've put on some weight!"

She looked at me with feigned sympathy. "I bought these clothes especially for you—they’re all from high-end brands."

I glanced at them. They were, indeed, designer labels. But the sizes she chose seemed intended to accentuate my fuller figure in the least flattering way.

I knew exactly what she was up to. "Amanda, I can't wear these," I said, deliberately sounding regretful. "It's a waste to give them to me."

Then, with an overly admiring tone, I added, "Not like you—everything looks fabulous on you, even a burlap sack."

Amanda beamed, clearly pleased with the compliment. She patted my hand and said, "It's okay, Samantha. You can wear them once you’ve slimmed down. We've been like sisters since we were little. We should go shopping together more often!"

With that, she strutted out in her trademark high heels, clearly enjoying the chance to flaunt her appearance. As the scent of her perfume lingered in the air, I wrinkled my nose and turned on the air purifier. A hint of a smile tugged at my lips—the perfume had an odd, faintly fishy undertone. It seemed she had developed a mild infection.

I glanced at the expensive clothes she’d brought over, my expression unreadable. Even though I couldn’t wear them, they were still valuable. I took them and decided to hang them up for sale at a local seafood market. Might as well make some use of them.

I guessed Amanda hadn't been seeing her wealthy benefactor recently. If she was so desperate to get back in the game before her body had fully recovered, she was bound to catch something nasty.