Exposed in Broad Daylight

"Besides, Elliot really does see me as his mom!"

The nerve she had to say something like that when the hickeys on her neck hadn't even faded yet.

However, I soon noticed that Diana's eyes were starting to look more and more like Elliot's. Even the lines on her face had deepened. Yet, she seemed oddly proud of it. I even caught her going around telling people that she was probably blessed into becoming more like Elliot by the day.

I let out a short, mocking laugh. "Why didn't you explain it like that to the director last night then?"

Elliot's expression soured further, his face stiffening.

"I see? So, you did explain, but the director didn't buy it." I pressed on, my voice laced with sarcasm.

Diana opened her mouth to speak, but I cut her off coldly. "If you're so desperate to be his mom, don't end up regretting it the day you actually become her."

The show was yet to begin.

Diana had originally been Elliot's trainee. She only had a vocational school background and didn't even possess a proper certification. Yet, she was drawing a salary at the hospital. Frankly, the other doctors had long been fed up with her presence.

The two had only quieted down ever since Elliot had been harshly reprimanded—or so everyone thought.

…

The very next day, Elliot showed up with her at a public medical seminar again.

I was three minutes late because of a surgery. The moment I walked in, Diana covered her mouth, barely hiding her glee. "Aren't we demonstrating CPR? Since Amber's late, why don't we have her do it?"

She hooked her arm around mine with fake familiarity and pushed me toward the old security guard.

Then, she said, "The instructor was just worrying about finding a volunteer. You can demonstrate with him! The director's here too. Surely, you wouldn't refuse something as simple as basic first aid, right?"

The moment she got close, I noticed that her skin looked far more aged than before. She was only in her 30s, but her hands already resembled those of someone in their 60s.

It wasn't that I refused to do it. There were plenty of male doctors around my age who could have volunteered. Yet, she had deliberately pushed forward a half-disabled, unkempt old guard. Anyone could see she was doing it on purpose.

I turned to Elliot. "Are you sure?"

Elliot looked away, completely detached. "Just get on with it. Stop dragging your feet. You're being ridiculous. You're a doctor. Gender and age mean nothing in the face of an emergency."

I didn't argue further.

Instead, I bent down and performed the CPR procedure professionally. When I finished, the room broke into applause.

As I returned to my seat, Elliot shot me a strange look. His face twisted in scorn. "He reeked of old people. I can't believe you managed to kiss him. Doesn't that disgust you?"

Diana burst into laughter. "Oh, please, Amber's used to taking care of those elderly patients who can't even look after themselves. This is nothing for her."

I remained impassive to their barbs. Then, I promptly raised my hand and addressed the instructor.

"Aside from first aid, I think it's also important to educate people about mental health—for example, adult attachment disorder.

"My husband happens to suffer from it, and it's always my sister-in-law, Diana, who treats him. Why not have them demonstrate it for us?"

I deliberately stressed the words "husband" and "sister-in-law." The doctors who were close to me immediately caught on.

"I've never seen a case like that before. You're right. We should broaden our horizons."

"I'll record it for science!"

Elliot and Diana's expressions shifted between grim and angry.

Diana bit her lip. "Amber! That's a specialized treatment method between Elliot and me. It might not work for others. And besides… There are so many people watching!"

I smiled innocently. "It's just treatment, is it not? Why are you worried people are watching? Diana, I know you're shy, but it's fine. I've recorded your treatment process."

The on-call room was a shared space.

Thus, every room had surveillance cameras to prevent instances of theft. Whatever Elliot and Diana had done the night before had been captured on 4K.

I wasted no time playing the footage on the big screen.

Diana's breathy moans echoed through the conference room. Her clothes were barely hanging on her frame.

She was clinging to Elliot with flushed cheeks, while Elliot panted, "Diana… you're the only one who's willing to play along. You're nothing like Amber. She's so stiff and boring, fucking her is like fucking a block of wood."

From Lover to Mother

The colleagues who had indeed turned on their cameras to record were left completely aghast. "They call this treatment? This is clearly an affair!"

Elliot snatched my phone and smashed it hard against the ground. "That's enough! You might not care about humility, but I do! Amber Loft, you're seriously shameless. How dare you play something like that in public!"

His face was flushed red with anger as he shielded Diana behind him, his chest heaving in seemingly indignant fury. The way he looked at me practically spelled out that I was a villainess who'd put him on the spot.

I nearly burst out laughing. I wasn't the one having an affair, so why would I be embarrassed?

"Honey, what are you talking about? Didn't you say this was treatment?" I blinked innocently.

The other doctors couldn't stand it anymore.

"How is this treatment? Dr. Loft, you've been completely fooled by these two!"

"Diana always prides Amber on being her sister-in-law, but she's hooking up with Elliot behind her back. Ugh, how disgusting."

Diana's face turned crimson in the face of their harsh accusations. She started sobbing. "Amber, I've always treated you well. Why are you humiliating me like this? Elliot really just sees me as his mother!"

I curled my lips into a mocking smile. However, Elliot suddenly roared at me before I could speak, "I want a divorce! I can't spend another day with a jealous woman like you. A filthy woman like you disgusts me!"

"Fine. Let's get divorced."

Elliot quickly drafted the divorce agreement and brought it to me, clearly afraid I might cling to him. He handed over all the property without hesitation. I didn't say anything. Instead, I just signed it.

At that moment, the system's voice sounded again. "Amber, the wish-granting function will take effect tonight."

"Alright."

This night, Diana would completely become Elliot's mother.

…

I stepped out and saw several patients thanking Elliot and Diana after I ended my session with my patients. They were even presenting them with commendation banners.

I frowned, wondering when those two had treated any patients.

Diana walked over arm-in-arm with Elliot, her expression smug. "Amber, I'm so sorry. Those patients you admitted on New Year's night mistook us for you. They all came to thank us and even said they'd write commendation letters for us."

I replied flatly, "You stole my credit and still have the nerve to show off in front of me?"

Elliot frowned. "We all work at the same hospital. Why make such a big deal out of it? They're just commendation letters. Whose name is on them doesn't matter."

The year-end evaluation was coming up.

The number of commendation letters directly affected promotions. Of course, they wouldn't think it mattered. Why would they, when they were the ones benefiting from it?

Diana leaned closer and whispered, "Just wait for tonight's year-end summary meeting and see who comes out on top. Elliot already promised me that he'll propose once I become a teaching assistant. We'll be sharing the same bed tonight."

Tonight.

All I could think about was the system's wish activating this night.

Just as expected, Elliot and Diana ranked first thanks to the credit they had stolen from me at the annual summary. Diana successfully became a teaching assistant, and Elliot even pulled out a ring, making a grand public proposal in front of the entire hospital.

Everyone cheered and egged them on, but the colleague beside me suddenly asked, "Dr. Loft, do you smell something strange on Diana? It's like… an old person's smell."

Elliot's mother had been quite old before she died.

If Diana were turning into her… I suppose it only made sense if she'd start showing those traits, wouldn't she?

"Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask," I replied evenly.

…

That night, Elliot and Diana consummated their wedding in the on-call room.

The moment Diana took off her coat, Elliot caught a strange smell that made him frown. "What's going on with you lately? You always smell weird."

Diana lowered her head and sniffed herself. "No, I don't…"

When she lifted her head again and met his eyes, he let out a piercing scream. How could he not, when what he saw was the face of his mother? The same mother who'd been dead for over a decade.