Tearing Them Apart

On the eve of a surgery, I voluntarily resign from my position as lead surgeon.

My colleagues sneer behind my back and mock me openly.

"And this guy's supposed to have a PhD from abroad? Looks more like he bought a degree from some no-name university."

"Can't even handle a challenge without running—what kind of doctor is that?"

In my last life, I gave up competing in a general practitioner skills competition to take on this very surgery.

But because the other lead surgeon violated protocol during the operation, it ended in a serious medical accident.

My sister, the head of the department, pinned all the blame on me. Even my girlfriend stood firmly on their side, accusing me of incompetence.

Overnight, I went from being a respected medical PhD to the disgrace of the hospital.

I couldn't prove the mistake wasn't mine. I was fired and faced criminal charges.

My parents, once so proud of me, pointed at me in rage. "We don't have a son who plays god with people's lives!"

Crushed by shame and despair, I spiraled into deep depression and jumped from the hospital roof.

But now, I open my eyes again. I'm back—back to the night before the surgery.

"This is a complicated operation, and the hospital has decided to let you lead it. Are you confident?" Back in the office, my older sister Elise Geller smiled as she placed a medical report in front of me.

I jolted when I saw it. After I recovered, I shook my head firmly.

"I just got back from abroad, and I'm still learning right now. I am not suitable for such big operations at the moment."

In my past life, that operation had plunged me into a deep abyss of despair. Elise, who was older than me and was very fond of me, had been the one who had set the whole thing into motion.

I had accepted the operation without hesitance at the time, and I had co-led it with another doctor named Jeffrey Watson. However, Jeffrey had not been in good condition, and he made several mistakes during the operation.

Although I reminded him continuously, it still ended up causing an irredeemable result. Even though the incident had nothing to do with me, an unimaginable disaster befell me as a result.

Elise, who was the head of the department, had pushed all the blame to me. I became public enemy number one overnight.

Not only did everyone hold me in contempt, but I also lost my job. I could not bear the blow, and I ended my own life in a deep funk.

Elise frowned as she looked at me, and there was a slightly disappointed look in her eyes.

"This is a good opportunity, and it was difficult for me to get you this chance. Why aren't you willing to take it?"

I pushed the medical report back to her and smiled as I said, "My skills are limited, and I cannot take on such a heavy responsibility."

My girlfriend, Callista Stevenson, was beside me. She immediately scolded me.

"Tristan, can't you be more manly and brave? Why are you so cautious in everything that you do? How are you going to progress in your career?"

When I saw how frustrated she looked, I just wanted to laugh. The two of them were acting as if they were very concerned about me. However, I would never surpass Jeffrey's position in their hearts.

I stood up and looked at Callista. "Jeffrey graduated from a famous university and is more accomplished than me in every aspect. He can lead this operation himself."

I could still vividly see the tragic events that had taken place in my previous life. Now that I had been reborn, I was not going to make the same mistake.

Elise and Callista were both startled by what I had said.

Callista took my hand and said encouragingly, "That's why you should strive even more to reach Jeff's level and quickly become a skilled doctor like him."

…

When she said Jeffrey's name, she seemed like an entirely different person. Even her voice was filled with excitement, although it was for no discernible reason.

I forced myself to suppress how upset I felt, and I declined once more.

"I need to prepare for a skills competition. I cannot participate in this operation."

The reason they were trying so hard to make me do the operation with Jeffrey was that they both knew very well that without me, someone with Jeffrey's level of skill would never be able to finish the operation successfully.

If the extremely complicated operation succeeded, it would be a huge boost for Jeffrey's career.

When I saw the doubtful look in their eyes, I took out a document from my folder and placed it in front of them. "What? Don't you believe what I say?"

When Callista saw the document I was holding, her face immediately became suffused with rage.

"Why didn't you tell Jeff about such an important competition? You weren't afraid that he would steal your thunder, were you?"

Elise also looked rather displeased. "We are all colleagues at the same hospital. Don't you know how to share? This is the first time I've met someone as selfish as you!"

I looked at them in disbelief. "Jeffrey and I aren't close. Why should I tell him?"

Although we were in the same department, Jeffrey was cold and aloof by nature. I was a newbie who had just joined the hospital, and he barely took any notice of me.

I had only interacted three times with him in the past six months. Were they really going to blame this on me as well?

Callista became even angrier.

"Don't you know what Jeff's personality is like by now? As a colleague, why can't you be more proactive and get on well with him?"

Callista pulled out her phone immediately and called the competition organizer to sign up for Jeffrey. Elise walked out so that she could ask Jeffrey in person.

I felt a bitterness in my heart as I watched the scene unfold before my eyes. To them, I was like an inconsequential outsider who had nothing to do with them.

After a moment, Callista ended her call. As the competition slots were full, Jeffrey could no longer register.

Callista looked agitated, and she kept fussing. "If Jeff isn't able to join such an important competition, it is definitely going to affect his future! That won't do! I've got to find a solution for him."

Her eyes suddenly lit up as she looked at me. "You're taking up a slot, aren't you? If you let Jeff have your slot, he'll be able to join the competition."

I clenched my fists involuntarily when I heard what she had said, and it actually became hard to breathe.

"Jeffrey's future is important, but isn't my future important, too?"

In all our years of dating, I had always prioritized Callista over my own life. However, I would never be able to compare with Jeffrey, even though he had no relation to her at all.

Callista glanced at me and whined playfully, which was a rare occurrence. "Jeff is older than you are. Let him have your slot this time! You're still young; you'll have plenty of chances in the future."

…

When I saw how obsequious Callista was being, I sneered inwardly. People always thought of her as a strong, independent woman. However, she was willing to become gentle and submissive for Jeffrey's sake.

It was a pity that I wasn't as innocent as I had been in my previous life. I wasn't going to foolishly let them dictate my life the way they had in the past.

"Tristan, Callista is right. You're still young. Let Jeff have this chance!"

While I was pondering the matter, Elise led Jeffrey inside. I looked up at them, and my eyes met his. Jeffrey's eyes were filled with scorn, and he seemed to be laughing at my impotence.

I shook my head firmly. "You have no right to make choices for me about my life."

I walked out without looking back. Unexpectedly, they did not harass me at all during the two days of the competition.

When I picked up my phone and scrolled through my social media, I saw that Jeffrey had taken on the operation by himself. I had thought that there would be no further problems, but Elise and Callista came looking for me as soon as I had returned from the competition.

They looked panicked.

"Tristan, you have to save Jeff this time! If you don't, he's doomed."

I immediately guessed that there had been yet another problem with Jeffrey's operation. I looked coldly at them and asked, "How do you want me to save this kind of situation?"

I hadn't even been at the hospital this time. They couldn't possibly shift the blame onto me, could they?

However, what Elise said next made my jaw drop. "I'll take care of this. You'll take the blame instead of Jeff.

"You haven't been at the hospital for long. No one will blame you even if you make a couple of mistakes."

I felt as cold as ice. I was Elise's younger brother, but she wanted me to willingly become a scapegoat for Jeffrey.

Once I did so, it wouldn't just ruin my own career. I would even face prison. The experiences of my past life were still vivid in my mind.

I refused without thinking twice. "As a doctor, he should take responsibility for any problems that arise during an operation. Why should I take the blame for him?"

Callista became even more agitated. "Shouldn't colleagues help each other? If you help Jeff this time, we'll all be grateful to you."

When I heard how manipulative she sounded, I could no longer suppress my anger.

"You think about Jeffrey for everything, but have you ever considered my feelings? Don't forget that you're my sister. And Callista, you're my girlfriend!"

My voice became hoarse due to anger. In my past life, they had forced me into a corner for Jeffrey's sake, and I had not been able to even die in peace. Were they going to make me relive the tragedy of my past life?

However, Elise's tone brooked no argument. "Tristan, you don't get a say in this. I've already taken care of everything for Jeff. You must take the blame for it."

As she spoke, Elise tossed down a sheaf of papers in front of me. They had even forged the evidence of my being at the scene.

They had planned everything meticulously. No one would realize that there was anything wrong except me.

I couldn't help but be amazed at how far they were willing to go for Jeffrey. I had underestimated how determined they were to be on his side.

However, there was no trace of fear on my face. I smiled at them instead. "Aren't you afraid that I'll get you put in prison for doing this?"