My husband hated me for a lifetime because I couldn’t save Ava Moore, the woman on the operating table. He forced me to terminate my pregnancy, his eyes filled with rage. “You did it on purpose, didn’t you? Because she was my first love, you let her die!” But later, when a patient’s enraged family came to attack me, he shielded me from the fatal blow. I tried everything to save him, but he gave up his will to live. “I can finally… see Ava again…” At the morgue, my father-in-law blocked me from entering. “You cursed us! One wasn’t enough—you had to take my son, too!” His eyes were bloodshot, his voice hoarse with grief and fury. No one stood up for me. To everyone, it seemed like I was the source of all their misfortune. When I woke up in the past, I put down the scalpel and said calmly, “Give my heart to Ava Moore.” This time, I would step aside and give them their happiness. When I announced my decision, the entire operating room fell silent. The head nurse stared at me in disbelief. “Are you out of your mind? If you give her your heart, what happens to you?” I answered calmly, “Ava will get my heart, and I’ll take an artificial one.” He tried to reason with me. “Artificial hearts are still experimental. They come with serious risks and side effects. We don’t even recommend them for our patients unless it’s a last resort.” I shook my head, cutting him off. “There’s no need to say more. I’ve made my decision. Schedule the surgery right now.” This time, I would make sure Ava survived. In my previous life, I spent 32 hours in the operating room trying to save her. When I finally walked out, exhausted, I was met with a stinging slap from Mason . His bloodshot eyes burned into mine as he demanded, “Why? Why couldn’t you save Ava? Aren’t you supposed to be the best surgeon in the city?” I couldn’t answer. His disappointment crushed me, and I fainted from sheer exhaustion. When I woke up, I was met with devastating news: Mason had made me terminate our baby. When I confronted him, his voice was full of hatred. “She was my first love, and you let her die on purpose, didn’t you?” “Someone as vile as you doesn’t deserve to have a child!” The thought of our unborn baby twisted my heart with pain. My uterine wall had been too thin, and during the procedure, I’d hemorrhaged badly. The damage was irreversible—I’d never be able to have children again. Mason used to love kids. Losing the chance to be a father would become one of his deepest regrets. This time, I would make sure he had no regrets. Ava. The baby. And… The marriage he had always wanted to leave behind. The surgery was a success. When the operating room doors opened, both Ava and I were wheeled out on stretchers. Mason rushed in immediately, his focus entirely on Ava. Tears streamed down his face as he grabbed her hand. “Ava, are you okay? Please don’t leave me. Don’t leave me alone in this world.” He began to cry harder, his voice breaking. “Where’s Rachel? She’s the best doctor in the city—why couldn’t she save you?” The head nurse interrupted him coldly, barely able to contain her anger. “The patient didn’t die. She’s still unconscious because of the anesthesia.” She pointed at the other stretcher. “And Rachel? She’s right here. Do you even know what she did for Ava?” The nurse caught my pleading glance and bit her tongue. She didn’t reveal the truth about how I’d given Ava my heart. Instead, she said, “Rachel collapsed from exhaustion in the operating room, all for Ava’s sake. You’re her husband—don’t you feel even a little guilty?” Mason finally noticed me—my pale face, my barely breathing body. His anger faded, replaced by a flicker of guilt. He bit his lip, hesitating for a long moment before whispering, “Rachel… thank you for saving Ava.” I forced a weak smile and gestured for him to step closer. He looked confused but still obeyed, moving toward my bedside. My voice was barely audible as I pleaded, “Mason… promise me. No matter what happens, don’t take this baby away from me.” This was the second thing I needed to do for him: give him the chance to be a father. Mason froze, his expression conflicted. For a brief moment, something soft flashed in his eyes. “Ava and I… it’s not what you think,” he said quietly. “I’m not going to leave you for her. And I won’t make you terminate the pregnancy. Stop overthinking things.” I didn’t respond. In my previous life, he didn’t leave me either. But in the end, we became nothing more than bitter strangers. He resented me until his dying breath. This time, I wouldn’t let that happen. I opened my mouth to tell him I wanted a divorce, but before I could speak, a sound came from the bed next to mine. Ava’s fingers twitched. She was waking up. Mason immediately straightened, his focus shifting entirely to her. Without hesitation, he rushed to her bedside, leaving me behind. Watching his retreating back, a bitter smile tugged at my lips. No matter how many times I was reborn, Ava would always be the one who mattered most to him. 2 After lying in bed for several days, Mason finally found time to visit me a few times. With a tone of irritation, he said, “Why are you weaker than Ava Moore? Anyone who didn’t know better would think you were the one who just had surgery.” After saying that, his expression shifted slightly, as if he regretted his words. He added with a touch of guilt, “Anyway, you’re only in this state because of Ava. She just told me earlier that once she’s feeling better, she wants to throw a big party to thank you properly.” “I know you’ve always held a grudge against her because of my past with her, but we’re married now.” At the mention of marriage, his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. He paused for a moment before continuing. “It’s over between Ava and me. Don’t overthink it. Let’s just focus on living our lives.” As he spoke, he reached out and gently took my hand. The warmth of his hand against mine made my chest tighten. If this had been my previous life, hearing these words would have made me so happy I’d forget everything else. But after everything I’ve been through, I knew better. Ava still held a place in his heart. His promises to me now were nothing more than an obligation to honor our marriage. I pulled my hand back, looked at him calmly, and said softly, “I know you still have feelings for Ava. I’m willing to let go and give you two my blessing. Don’t worry—I’ll explain everything to my parents.” I didn’t expect Mason’s expression to darken so quickly at my words. His eyes locked onto mine, his voice rising in frustration. “Rachel, what nonsense are you talking about now? I told you—it’s over between Ava and me!” “What do you mean by this? Are you accusing me of betraying you? Can you stop assuming the worst about everything?” I tried to get up, reaching for his sleeve to explain, but a sharp pain shot through my chest. I collapsed back onto the bed. Seeing my pale face, Mason’s expression turned cold. “What are you trying to pull this time? You’re not the one who had surgery, yet you’ve been lying in bed for days. Isn’t that enough?” “Ava was right—you’ve been faking this whole time, haven’t you? Trying to make us feel guilty for you?” “Rachel, you’re a doctor. Saving lives is your job. Don’t think you can use this as leverage against us!” Every “us” he uttered was a reminder that, to him, I was the villain who tore them apart. I tried to smile bitterly, but all I managed was a faint twitch of my lips. The pain in my chest was so overwhelming, it felt like I might pass out. When he noticed the cold sweat beading on my forehead, Mason’s tone wavered with unease. “Rachel, stop pretending. I’m not falling for it!” “What’s wrong with you? Someone get in here! Nurse! Is anyone there?” The head nurse rushed in with a team, quickly starting an examination. Mason was pushed out of the room, left to watch anxiously through the glass. For a moment, I caught a glimpse of the worry on his face. But it didn’t bring me any comfort. Maybe he was only worried because if something happened to me, Ava would owe me even more. Thanks to the medical team’s efforts, my condition eventually stabilized. The head nurse let out a long sigh and scolded me, “I warned you, didn’t I? Artificial hearts come with side effects, but you wouldn’t listen!” “Look at you now! If we hadn’t acted quickly, you wouldn’t have made it this time!” Mason happened to walk in just as she finished speaking. He couldn’t help but interject. “What do you mean, she wouldn’t have made it? She was just exhausted from too many surgeries, wasn’t she? She just needs more rest.” His eyes shifted between me and the nurse, suspicion creeping into his expression, as if he thought we were hiding something from him. The nurse, clearly annoyed, snapped, “Why don’t you ask her yourself?” I forced a weak smile and said lightly, “I’ve just been overworking myself recently. I need some time to recover, that’s all.” The nurse sighed but didn’t say anything more. Mason stood in silence for a while before walking over to change the water in the flower vase on my bedside table. When he placed a fresh bouquet of calla lilies into the vase, I couldn’t hide my surprise. “How did you know calla lilies are my favorite flower?” He pressed his lips together, avoiding my gaze. “You mentioned it before.” I suddenly remembered. When we first moved into our new home, his parents had suggested adding fresh flowers for a more lively atmosphere. I’d casually mentioned calla lilies at the time. I hadn’t thought he’d remember something so trivial. Staring at the pristine white flowers, a complicated mix of emotions welled up inside me. Finally, I asked the question that had been buried in my heart for two lifetimes. “If Ava had come back before we got married… would you still have married me?” Mason’s hand froze. He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he frowned in confusion. “Why are you asking something like that? We’re already married. What’s the point of bringing this up now?” But I refused to let it go. I locked eyes with him, determined. “I need an answer. Can you be honest with me?” A flicker of guilt crossed his face. He turned his head, avoiding my gaze. After a long pause, I finally heard him mutter under his breath, “No.” The sword that had been hanging over my head finally fell. Any lingering hope I had been clinging to shattered completely. Seeing the pain on my face, Mason’s tone softened, a rare hint of panic in his voice. “But that’s just a hypothetical. The reality is, we’re married now. Those ‘what ifs’ don’t matter. I’m not going to leave you or get back together with Ava.” He abruptly stood, pulling the blanket over me. “Focus on getting better. Once you’re well…” He hesitated, his expression hardening with resolve. “We’ll move to the next city over. I won’t have any more contact with Ava—ever again.” After saying that, he slumped slightly, as if the decision had drained him, then turned and left the room without looking back. I watched his retreating figure and pressed the call button by my bed. When the head nurse returned, she looked at me, confused. “Can you help me print a divorce agreement?” I asked softly. If there’s no love, then I’m willing to let go completely. This will be the last thing I ever do for Mason . 3 After a few days of recovery, I was finally able to get out of bed. The first thing I did was go find Mason . As expected, he was in Ava Moore’s hospital room. During this time, Mason had requested to stay by her side, taking care of her 24/7. Through the glass window, I could see Ava saying something that made him laugh. I stood there quietly, watching. Mason rarely smiled like that when he was with me. In our time together, it was either silence or arguments. Moments of joy like this were almost nonexistent. Maybe separating was the right choice after all. I knocked on the door, breaking the moment between them. Mason turned to see me, his expression instantly flustered. He stood up quickly, looking like he was about to explain something. But before he could speak, Ava started coughing violently, cutting him off. Mason immediately turned all his attention to her, rushing to pour a glass of warm water. He gently helped her drink it, his face full of concern. As Ava cast me a smug, triumphant glance, I stood there silently, my heart calm. When Mason had finished helping her, I stepped forward and handed him the paperwork I was holding. “This is Ava’s treatment plan. It requires your signature.” Ava had been born with a congenital heart condition. Her parents had abandoned her years ago, considering her a burden. Since then, Mason had been the one signing off on all her medical procedures. He took the documents from me, skimmed through a few pages, and quickly signed them without much thought. As I watched him sign the final page, the weight in my chest began to lift. “Mason,” I said softly, “could you leave us for a moment? I need to talk to Ava alone.” Mason hesitated for a moment, but eventually, he nodded and left, closing the door behind him. The moment the door clicked shut, the gentle expression on Ava’s face disappeared. She looked at me with disdain. “What is it? Did you come to beg me to leave Mason?” I shook my head, my tone calm. “No. I’m the one leaving. Mason and I are already divorced. I just hope you’ll take good care of him from now on.” Ava froze, staring at me in disbelief. “You actually divorced him? I thought you loved him so much you’d never let go.” Bitterness welled up inside me. What good is love when it’s one-sided? I had learned the hard way that forcing something will never lead to happiness. Remembering something important, I added, “I’m still carrying Mason’s child. The baby is innocent. After you two are together, I hope you’ll keep the child.” Ava blinked in surprise, then let out a derisive laugh. “Are you insane? You expect me to raise another woman’s child?” I frowned, trying to stay calm. “I’ll provide child support. If you don’t want to raise the baby, I can take care of them myself. You won’t have to pay a dime.” Ava’s face turned cold as she sneered, “What does his kid have to do with me? If you want to keep it, fine, but you’d better take it away and raise it yourself.” She paused, then added with a smirk, “But if you want me to deal with your mess, you’d better pay me. Call it… emotional damages. If I’m going to take over, you’d better come up with something worthwhile.” I stared at her, stunned. Ava had always acted so devoted and selfless in front of Mason. It was that image of her that had made me willing to step aside for them. But now, I realized what kind of person she truly was. “Are you with him just for the money?” I asked, my voice shaking with anger. Ava glanced at me, then let out a mocking laugh. “What else? Where else am I supposed to find someone stupid enough to pay for all my treatments?” The rage inside me boiled over. I grabbed her by the collar, my voice trembling as I prepared to speak. But before I could say a word, the sound of the door unlocking interrupted us. “Bang!” Ava twisted her body and deliberately threw herself off the bed, landing clumsily on the floor. She sat there in a heap, looking pathetic. “Mason burst into the room, his eyes wide with anger. “Rachel! What the hell are you doing?”
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