At the hospital, chaos reigned.

Parents flooded the emergency waiting room—faces twisted with fear, with rage.

After I briefed them on the situation—poisonous mushrooms in the school lunch—the atmosphere shifted. Worry curdled into something violent.

One father, a burly man with tattoos crawling up both arms, spotted Caroline arriving with Dominic.

He roared and lunged.

"You! You're the kitchen assistant!"

Caroline shrieked and darted behind Dominic. Her trembling finger shot toward me.

"It was her! Dr. Fox made me do it! She said she wanted to demonstrate her medical skills to the board, so she forced me to poison the soup so she could save them!"

The parents turned on me. Murder in their eyes.

Dominic stepped in front of Caroline, adjusting his torn suit, his expression shifting into righteous indignation.

"That's correct," he lied smoothly. "My sister doesn't know the difference between salt and sugar; she's never stepped foot in a kitchen. How would she know which mushrooms are poisonous?"

He fixed me with a look of mock disappointment. "Katherine, I know the school is looking to replace staff. But poisoning children to secure your job? That is a new low, even for you."

Mob mentality took hold. The parents advanced on me.

"Is this true?"

"You monster!"

I stood my ground.

The urge to laugh nearly overwhelmed me.

"That's a fascinating story," I said, my voice cutting through the noise. "But let's look at the facts. I was hired by the principal personally because of my qualifications. I don't need to stage 'rescues' to keep my job. I could walk into any hospital in this city and be hired tomorrow."

My gaze locked onto Dominic's.

"I'm the head of the Christmas committee. I organized the event. If something goes wrong, I'm the first person investigated. Why would I sabotage my own event?"

I turned to Caroline, who was peeking out from behind Dominic's arm.

"And you. If you wanted to frame me, you should have covered your tracks better."

"What do you mean?" Caroline snapped.

But her eyes darted nervously.

I pulled out my phone, connected it to the waiting room TV via Bluetooth, and hit play.

"I have the surveillance footage."

The screen flickered to life.

The room went silent.

Everyone watched as Caroline Henson—clear as day—checked to make sure the coast was clear. Pulled the box of mushrooms from her coat. Dumped them into the pot.

She even stirred it.

Undeniable.

The silence shattered.

"You lying little witch!"

The tattooed father didn't hesitate. He bypassed me and launched himself at Caroline. Other parents joined the frenzy—slapping, pulling hair, screaming.

"Dominic! Help me!" Caroline screeched.

Dominic threw himself into the chaos, shielding her with his own body.

"Stop! Get back!" he shouted.

A punch meant for Caroline caught him square on the jaw.

I watched him defend her with such desperation.

Nothing stirred inside me but cold revulsion.

"Police! Nobody move!"

Officers swarmed the room, pulling the enraged parents off the battered couple.

Caroline was a mess—hair a bird's nest, face swollen and streaked with mascara and tears.

Dominic looked worse. The dignified CEO of the Henson Group was in tatters. Bespoke suit ripped. Face bruised. Muddy footprints stamped across his white shirt.

The lead officer scowled. "Brawling in a hospital? All of you, down to the station. Now."

Dominic whispered something to Caroline, then grabbed my arm and dragged me into a quiet corner while his assistant brought them coats.

His eyes were dark. Dangerous pits.

"I'm going to settle with these parents financially," he hissed. "You will delete that video. It never sees the light of day again. Do you understand?"

I yanked my arm free.

"Are you delusional? They just watched it on a sixty-inch screen. The police have it. What exactly do you think deleting my copy will do?"

Dominic stepped closer. His voice dropped to a menacing growl.

"If you hadn't stood by and watched, none of this would have happened. You knew. You let her do it."

He jabbed a finger in my face.

"Katherine Fox, Caroline is humiliated, and the company's reputation is at risk. And it is entirely your fault."

The expression on his face was identical to the one from my past life—the look that told me I was nothing but a nuisance.

I thought my heart, already scarred and battered, had long since gone numb. Yet a fresh wave of rage surged through me, hot and visceral, making my entire body tremble.

My hand lashed out, connecting hard with his cheek.

*Smack.*

I rubbed my stinging palm and met Dominic Henson's incredulous stare.

"Weren't you the one who said the mushrooms were fine? You told me not to meddle." Ice dripped from every word. "So now that I've followed your instructions, you're unhappy? Dominic, you really are impossible to please."

"Y-you..." He stammered, eyes widening. "You came back, too."

His expression shifted through a kaleidoscope of emotions before settling into grim resolve.

A deep breath.

"I wanted to wait to tell you this, but since we're already here, I won't beat around the bush." He straightened his posture. "Katherine, let's get a divorce. I know you love me to death, that you think you can't survive without me, but in this life, I will not let Caroline down again. I intend to spend the rest of my life with her."

The man wore a look of such deep, self-righteous devotion that laughter bubbled out of me—pure, bitter absurdity. "You want to marry Caroline Henson? Do you truly not care how society will judge you?"

"It was because I cared too much about public opinion in my last life that Caroline had to bear the burden alone." His jaw set with conviction. "In this life, I will give her a title. I will give our child a legitimate status. I am willing to stand beside her against the world!"

What a touching confession. I almost wanted to applaud his delusion.

"Since you two are so deeply in love, I certainly wouldn't want to be the villain who separates a pair of soulmates." My tone stayed flat, bored. "If you want a divorce, fine. If you want me to bury that surveillance video, that's fine too."

I stepped closer, gaze sharpening to a blade's edge. "Bring me ten percent of the company's shares and fifty million dollars in compensation. Do that, and I'll sign the papers. I'll even give you my blessing."

The corner of Dominic's mouth, which had just begun to lift in relief, flattened into a hard line.

He looked at me as if seeing a stranger, disappointment flooding his eyes.

"Katherine Fox, when did you become so mercenary? Is money the only thing that comes out of your mouth now? Can't we just separate peacefully?"

"Dominic, spare me the moral high ground." The words snapped out like a whip. "You cheated first. Furthermore, you are a murderer. What right do you have to negotiate terms with your victim?"

His face froze.

Cold indifference settled over me like armor. "If I calculate the timeline correctly, Caroline should already be pregnant, shouldn't she? Don't you want to stand proudly beside her? Or is the love Mr. Henson fought for across two lifetimes not even worth a little money?"

He gritted his teeth. "Let me think about it."

I watched his retreating figure, suppressing the cold laughter bubbling in my chest.

*Separate peacefully?*

*In your dreams.*

A notification chimed on my phone. I tapped it open immediately.

The private detective's report eased the tightness in my chest.

The group had been taken to the police station for questioning. After assessing the situation, the officers informed Caroline that her actions had endangered the students' safety. She would be detained.

The color drained from her face. She burrowed into Dominic's arms like a frightened doe, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Brother, I didn't do it on purpose! I'll never do it again. Save me—don't let me go to jail. I'm scared!"

Several parents, overhearing her plea, exploded.

"Now you know fear? What were you doing earlier? My child is still lying in the hospital, life and death uncertain! We are more scared than you!"

"Someone like you should rot in a cell!"

The parents grew more agitated by the second, the scene threatening to spiral out of control.

The company lawyer rushed forward to mediate.

"Parents, please, let's discuss this rationally. Getting angry won't help. We need to come to a decision that benefits the children." His voice dropped, turning conciliatory. "The damage is done, but the follow-up treatment and nutritional costs will be significant. That is not a small amount of money."

"Mr. Henson pledges that if you agree not to pursue criminal charges, he will cover all follow-up medical expenses. Furthermore, he is willing to compensate each student one million dollars."

The atmosphere shifted. The parents hesitated. Seeing his opening, the lawyer struck while the iron was hot, smoothing over their anger with silver-tongued promises.

A settlement agreement was signed right there in the station.

As they walked out of the precinct, the crisis resolved, Caroline's fear evaporated. Arrogance slid back into place like a second skin.

She shot me a provocative glare. "Katherine Fox, don't think Dominic loves you just because you married him. In this life, you will never compare to me!"

"He's all yours."

I didn't bother looking at her baffled expression. I simply turned and walked away.

Whatever Dominic told his parents, it worked. The very next day, a lawyer arrived bearing the divorce agreement and the share transfer contract.

After confirming the compensation figures were correct, I signed my name with a flourish.

A month later, Dominic and I went to the Civil Affairs Bureau to finalize the divorce.

Caroline came along, of course. She cradled her lower belly, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"Sister-in-law... oh, excuse me, *Miss* Fox." Mock sweetness dripped from her correction. "Dominic and I are getting married. You simply must come. He said it's going to be the most luxurious wedding of the decade, for me and the baby. He hopes you'll be there to witness it."

I took the invitation with a smile. "I wouldn't miss it for the world. I have a big gift to deliver, after all."

Three days later, I arrived at the wedding venue flanked by several burly bodyguards. As soon as we entered, I signaled them to disperse into the crowd.

Perhaps out of guilt, or perhaps because his obsession was finally being realized, Dominic had spared no expense. The wedding was extravagant.

The entire city was watching via livestream. Drones adorned with colorful ribbons circled overhead, capturing every angle of the spectacle.

They didn't know a few unauthorized drones had quietly joined the formation.

When Dominic's friends spotted me, they approached with ill-concealed smirks.

"Sister Katherine, what a rare guest. Are you here to bless the happy couple?"

"Honestly, you held Dominic hostage for years. We were all so worried for Caroline. Now that he's finally getting what he wants, it's truly a cause for celebration."

A faint, enigmatic smile curved my lips. "Is that so? It turns out I've been the villain all these years. Well then, today I must properly bless these star-crossed lovers."

They exchanged confused glances, uncertain how to interpret my tone.

Darkness swallowed the venue. A single beam of white light sliced through the gloom, illuminating Caroline. She stood in a pure white gown, feigning shyness and timidity as she walked down the aisle to swelling music.

Thunderous applause erupted as she reached Dominic. They embraced.

I watched his parents wiping tears of joy from their eyes. My thumb hovered over my phone screen.

*Enjoy this moment.* My fingers tightened. *Let's see how you handle what comes next.*

"Honored guests," the emcee's voice boomed. "Thank you for joining us to witness the union of Mr. Dominic Henson and Ms. Caroline Henson. They have weathered many storms to be here. Let us celebrate their journey—please, turn your attention to the big screen!"

The music reached a crescendo.

Like everyone else, I craned my neck in anticipation.

The massive screen flickered. A marriage certificate appeared.

When the photo came into focus, the blood drained from Dominic and Caroline's faces. His parents clutched their chests, swaying as if struck by a physical blow.

"Quick! Turn it off!" Dominic screamed.