Just before I returned home earlier, Susan had been on a video call with Wilfred. He was trying to make her keep me a little longer, so that I wouldn't get in the way of him and his beloved.

Watching Susan's nervous demeanor, I purposely hurried back, my breath heavy and ragged.

"Susan, Wilfred's colleague said that he's not working late tonight. I called him as well, but he didn't pick up!"

A flicker of guilt flashed across Susan's face, but she quickly masked it, trying to defend Wilfred. "Maybe someone asked him to step out for a bit. If you can't reach him now, try again a little later."

At that moment, Bernice O'Neil, Wilfred's aunt, arrived on the scene. She was accompanied by Sarah's in-laws, Henry Pruett and Edna McKellen.

As soon as Bernice spotted me, her brow knitted into a frown. "Where's Wilfred? Isn't he the obstetrician? Why haven't you notified him? What exactly are you doing here then?"

Bernice was my late father-in-law's older sister. Since his passing, she had taken charge of all matters concerning the O'Neil family.

In my previous life, Bernice had slapped me twice when the doctor said Sarah had passed away.

"You're Sarah's sister-in-law, for crying out loud. How could you just stand there and watch her die?" she had snapped.

This time, I refused to let her have that power over me.

I forced a bitter smile. "Bernice, Wilfred can't be reached. He told me this morning that he was working overtime, but when I checked just now, his colleagues said he didn't come in today. I've tried calling him, but there's been no answer."

Susan paused, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. But in the end, she chose to remain silent.

"Are you an idiot? Why didn't you keep trying if you couldn't get through?" Bernice retorted.

I quickly pulled out my phone and kept dialing Wilfred's number repeatedly.

On the tenth attempt, the call finally went through.

I switched it to speaker immediately.

"Honey—"

"Are you crazy? Why are you calling nonstop? Didn't I tell you I'm working overtime? I'm busy! Stop bothering me!"

"Honey, Sarah had a bad fall and is bleeding heavily. She's still in surgery and hasn't come out yet. We found you're not at the hospital. Where are you?"

There was a sudden silence on the other end. Out of nowhere, a woman's sharp, pretentious voice broke through.

"Ariana, the fact that you went to the hospital to look for Wilfred says a lot about your trust in him. Wilfred, do you think your colleagues would misunderstand the situation?

"Ariana, if you want answers, why don't you ask Wilfred directly? Instead, you show up at his workplace without a word and even wish harm on Sarah. Doesn't that seem a little malicious?"

"No, I'm not bluffing. Wilfred, Sarah is actually in the operating room. If you don't believe me, you can—"

Wilfred stopped me short. "Enough! If you're going to lie, at least make it believable. How could Sarah possibly fall at her mother-in-law's house? Even if you're jealous or throwing a tantrum, that's no excuse to cause trouble at my workplace.

"If my year-end evaluation takes a hit because of this, I won't let you off easy."

Before I could speak again, the call was suddenly disconnected.

The murmurs at the entrance to the operating room faded into an eerie silence.

I forced a bitter smile, pretending to be deeply wounded.

Susan quickly averted her gaze. A flicker of embarrassment flashed across Bernice's face, but she stayed silent.

Henry and Edna sighed, their faces twisted in disdain.

Just then, the operating room door flew open. A nurse hurried out, anxiety written all over her face.

"The patient is experiencing an amniotic fluid embolism! Aren't you all Dr. O'Neil's family? Someone, please contact him immediately!"

My eyes widened in surprise. Everything was unfolding just as it had in my previous life.

Susan's legs gave way, and she collapsed to the floor.

Meanwhile, Bernice couldn't keep up her indifferent facade any longer.

She quickly dialed Wilfred's number, whispering to herself, "It's okay, it's okay. Wilfred is the best obstetrician. He's saved countless patients with amniotic fluid embolism. He can definitely save Sarah."

The golden window for saving a patient with amniotic fluid embolism was measured in mere minutes. It was essentially a battle between the doctor and the grim reaper.

In the past three years, Wilfred had saved five women from this condition. Only one life had slipped through his hands.

His success rate had solidified his position as the top obstetrician in the hospital's department.

At last, Bernice's call connected.

In a panic, she cried, "Wilfred, you need to come to the hospital! Your sister is experiencing an amniotic fluid embolism. You're the only one who can save her!"

On the other end of the call, the sounds of children laughing and glasses clinking filled the air.

"Aunt Bernice, must you spiral out of control like Ariana? Isn't this chaos enough already? I spend all 365 days of the year catering to her every need. I just want one peaceful day. Can't you just let me be?

"Kelly and I aren't involved in any way. Her family just returned, and I was simply having a meal with them. Please, just stop calling me!"

"I'm not making this up, Wilfred! Sarah is in grave danger. She has an amniotic fluid embolism, and only you can save her! You need to come back, or you'll regret it!"

"I'll only regret it if I come back!" Wilfred snapped, his voice devoid of any warmth.

Hearing Wilfred's response, Susan broke down.

Clutching the phone, she cried out, "Wilfred, Bernice isn't lying! Sarah's life is at risk! Even if you don't trust Ariana or Bernice, can't you trust me? Please come back!"

I let out a quiet sigh. To me, Susan was nothing more than a traitor. Despite knowing about Wilfred's affair, she still helped him cover it up. But to Sarah, she was the perfect mother.

"Wilfred, did you hear what your mom just said? Do you really think she'd lie to you? Hurry up and come back!" Bernice shouted, panic evident in her voice.

"Mom, you—" Wilfred's voice faltered.

"Ah! Wilfred, my eyes... They hurt so much!"

A woman's anguished cries erupted from the other end of the line.

In the next moment, the stern voice of an adult scolding a child cut through the noise. "How could you shoot marbles at Kelly's face?"

Wilfred's voice softened with concern. "Kelly, does it hurt? Stay still. I'm a doctor, so let me take a look."

But in the blink of an eye, his tone hardened as he said into the phone, "Mom, stop with the excuses. Even if what you're saying is true, it doesn't matter. I've had too much to drink, so I won't be able to make the drive back."

With that, he mercilessly hung up.

The phone slipped from Susan's hand, hitting the floor with a sharp crack. She collapsed in a heap, her head slamming against the ground.

She remained still, trapped in a moment that seemed to stretch on forever.

Bernice dropped to her knees beside her, tears silently falling down her cheeks.

"How did Wilfred become like this?" she murmured. "How could he abandon his family for another woman? What kind of monster is he?"

As I helped Susan to her feet, my eyes landed on the bruise forming on her forehead. She didn't deserve a son like Wilfred.

Still, I felt no pity for her. After all, she was partly responsible for my death in my past life.

After what felt like an eternity, the door to the operating room swung open again.

"I'm sorry. We did everything we could."

Sarah and her unborn child were gone. At that moment, Susan seemed to lose all semblance of life.

She couldn't bring herself to eat or drink. Holding onto Sarah's clothes, she broke down, sobbing without restraint.

Furious, Bernice recounted everything that had happened at the hospital to each relative. She didn't hold back, calling Wilfred a good-for-nothing.

Henry and Edna broke into even greater sorrow upon discovering that the baby she carried was a boy.

Matthew Pruett, Sarah's husband, returned from out of town as quickly as he could. Seeing Sarah and their unborn baby lifeless before him, his face contorted with agony, and his eyes turned red with grief.

Matthew couldn't wrap his mind around the fact that Sarah was suddenly gone.

He had only been away on a three-day business trip.

Before he left, they had spent hours talking about their dreams, picturing a future together as a happy family of three.

After learning the truth from Henry and Edna, Matthew wiped away his tears and silently assisted me with the funeral arrangements.

No one thought to inform Wilfred, especially after discovering he was dining with Kelly Shapiro's family at a hotel across from the hospital. He couldn't even be bothered to come over and confront the truth firsthand.

Susan had completely given up on him.

But for such an important event, there was no way I would let Wilfred stay away.

The day Sarah was to be buried in her hometown, I made sure to have someone notify him a day ahead.

On the morning of the burial, rain drizzled from the sky. I stood by the car, sheltered beneath the canopy of my umbrella. I watched as the crowd solemnly carried Sarah's coffin out the chapel.

In my past life, it had been on this very day that Matthew had stabbed me to death. My blood had soaked into the rain, creating a red carpet for Sarah's passing.

Before the coffin had even reached the chapel doors, Wilfred's car screeched to a halt. Fuming with rage, he stormed toward me.

I stared at him blankly, unable to say a word.

Seeing the photo in my hands, he slapped me across the face. "You bitch! How dare you curse Sarah just to lure me back!"

I collapsed to the ground, the photo frame slipping from my grasp and sinking halfway into the mud. Only Sarah's cold, unblinking eyes were left visible, locked on Wilfred in silent judgment.

His eyes were bloodshot. Whether driven by fear or rage, the kind, composed doctor I once knew had vanished. His face twisted into a snarl as he lunged at me.

"You bitch! How dare you curse my sister? I'll make you pay with your life!"

I took his punches and kicks, my eyes fixed on Sarah's photo. "Sarah, make sure you know who your true enemy is. When you face the grim reaper, don't accuse the wrong person," I repeated silently.

"Hey! Stop! What's going on?"

Hearing the chaos, the people inside the chapel hurried out.

Bernice shoved Wilfred away, her voice breaking as she cried out, "You heartless beast! Your sister could have been saved! We called you countless times. Your mother was even begging on her knees!

"I can't believe you let her die because of that little slut! You're the one who killed Sarah, and now you have the nerve to show up at her funeral just to wreak havoc! What do you want? Tell me—what exactly do you want?"

Wilfred staggered back, trying to mask the fear in his eyes.

"Aunt Bernice, what are you saying? How could Sarah have been in danger? Ariana lied to me! How could you all just go along with her? Was it because she was pregnant? Did you all protect her for the child's sake?"

I curled up on the ground, letting the rain wash away my endless tears.

As it turned out, Wilfred had known I was pregnant all along.

"You're all lying to me! I need to see her! Where is she? Where's Sarah?" Wilfred shouted.

As soon as he rushed toward the chapel, he was immediately shoved back.

Eight strong men carried the black coffin, slowly making their way out of the doorway.