Chapter 1

My eyes fluttered open when I felt an excruciating pain in the stomach. It was raining outside.

I checked the time and realized I must have been reborn and transported back to the day when I developed acute pancreatitis after heavy drinking.

Acute pancreatitis, when triggered, was extremely painful and potentially fatal. Recognizing the early symptoms, I drove myself to St. George Hospital nearby. Only the emergency department was open late at night.

The doctor looked up when he read my name. With a frown, he asked, "Harper Gregson?"

The doctor who saw me was none other than Lucas Hall, a college friend and a colleague of my husband Joshua Kane.

I had no time for pleasantries. Pressing a hand on my stomach, I rasped, "Lucas, I had a lot to drink tonight. I probably have pancreatitis. Please get me warded."

In my second time having pancreatitis, the most important thing was to get hospitalized and get an IV infusion. To my surprise, Lucas cast away my ID and said in a hostile manner, "I can't do that."

Baffled, I confronted him, "What does that mean?"

"Stop acting. Joshua told me all about it. You are fine." He didn't even conceal his contempt toward me. "Since you're married to Joshua, you should trust him. It's pointless to play tricks."

He must have misunderstood, so I explained myself, "Lucas, I'm not faking it. I have pancreatitis for real. Just run a check and you'll see."

His frown deepened. "What do you take our hospital as? Our resources are not for you to waste. Please leave right now. Don't hog the line."

While we were speaking, five to six patients had shown up behind me. After hearing Lucas' remark, the patients accused me of wasting their time.

"If you're faking it, don't queue up."

"What's wrong with young people nowadays? Do they have too much money to spend?"

I realized that Lucas did not plan to see me. So, I left his office amid the gossip.

When I reached the door, I heard Lucas addressing me again. "Harper, you were aware that Joshua got into a fight with a patient two days ago, weren't you? The head of our department will be transferred away soon. The open position belongs to Joshua." Lucas warned me with a cold look, "If you want the best for him, don't embarrass him at the hospital."

I didn't get to retort because I was drenched in a cold sweat from the pain. For a pancreatitis patient, any delay in treatment meant increased risk.

I said nothing and left Lucas' office. Lucas, mild in temperament, always became sarcastic and difficult around me, as he still held onto the notion that I broke up the perfect pair—Joshua and Jackie Morse. He mistakenly thought I unscrupulously took Joshua from Jackie.