Brief Was the Love

Lilian froze in shock after being slapped by the old woman.

The woman—Martha Rose—didn't give her a chance to speak. She slapped her again.

Lilian lost her footing and fell to the floor. A sudden pain in her stomach instantly jolted her to full awareness.

She felt a hint of doubt creep into her heart as she looked at Martha, who was an unfamiliar face to her.

Still, she crawled to her feet to deny the accusation a second later. "I've never seen you before, ma'am, much less your grandson. I—"

"Stop trying to weasel your way out of this!" Martha shouted. "You're Lilian Sherwood, aren't you? Someone at the nursing station reported you for deliberately adding an unknown medication into my grandson's IV drip, causing him to experience symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting.

Her voice grew sharper. "If you don't give me an explanation today, I'm taking this to Chief Merrick!"

Someone reported her?

Lilian held a hand over her stomach and glanced toward Aurelie's hospital room.

In her past life, Aurelie had been playing petty tricks ever since joining their department. Back then, she had assumed that it was just because Aurelie was still young. She had thus chosen to overlook her actions on account of the fact that Aurelie was Eugene's cousin.

It was only after dying once that Lilian realized Aurelie wasn't Eugene's cousin at all. On the contrary, she was his childhood sweetheart, someone he had almost gotten married to.

This time, Aurelie was actually using such an incident to frame her.

Lilian clenched her fists tightly and forced herself to calm down.

"We have records for every medication administered in this hospital, ma'am," she said steadily. "Since you're so sure that I caused your grandson to experience symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting, I'll gladly see Chief Merrick with you to prove my innocence."

As soon as those words left her mouth, Martha's expression paled in an instant. She looked pleadingly toward Aurelie's hospital room.

Immediately afterward, Aurelie walked out, looking frail and weak.

She wore a grimace as she turned cautiously to Lilian. "Didn't you ask me to alter those records, Lilian? If this incident reaches Chief Merrick's ears, we'll both be fired. Why don't you just confess your guilt instead? It was supposed to be your job anyway."

Lilian stared mockingly at Aurelie. She was just about to speak when Martha lunged at her and started hitting her like a madwoman.

Lilian reacted fast. She grabbed hold of Aurelie and used her as a shield against Martha's blows.

Aurelie screamed at the beating she received, and a trace of annoyance bled into Eugene's indifferent expression.

"Enough!" he roared.

He shielded Aurelie behind his back, distressed, before shouting, "Come to my office, Lilian!"

Once inside, he slammed his hand angrily on the desk, though he softened his tone when he said, "Giving a patient the wrong medication constitutes medical malpractice, Lilian. Even if we're married, I can't cover for you."

Cover for her?

Lilian smiled self-deprecatingly. "What mistake have I made that I need you to cover for me? Can't you tell that Aurelie and that old woman were working together?

"Aurelie is trying to frame me so shamelessly because she wants to take my place. Even if Chief Merrick gets involved in this, I'm not afraid. I—"

Eugene frowned and sighed in exasperation, cutting her off. "You did this, Lilian. Go write a reflection report immediately. I also want you to prepare a formal apology and submit your resignation letter."

Lilian stared at Eugene's cold, indifferent face, her hands clenching into tight fists at her side.

What an utter fool she had been.

Administering the wrong medication was a sensitive and serious issue. If not for Eugene supporting Aurelie from behind, how would she have had the guts to frame Lilian?

He had already dared to let Aurelie take Lilian's place in college. Framing her and forcing her to resign from the hospital was nothing in comparison.

She should have already seen Eugene's true colors back when he chose to let her and her baby die to save Aurelie in her past life. Yet, she was actually trying to explain herself to him.

She should have come to her senses sooner.

She should have left Eugene earlier.

"Let's get a divorce, Eugene," she said at last, her nails digging into her palms.