Chapter 1

Tags: Male Best Friend Framed Him, Forced to Take the Blame, Reborn for Revenge, Clearing His Name

I poisoned myself and landed right in the hospital bed.

When my wife stormed into the room, she looked completely hysterical.

"Why the hell would you eat it if you knew the food was poisoned?!"

I shrugged and looked her dead in the eye.

"Because I was the one who poisoned it."

In my past life, her male best friend had intentionally prescribed the wrong medication to a patient, stole a corpse from the morgue, and eventually poisoned my patient's food, causing him to die on the spot.

While all of that was happening, I was busy saving another life in the OR.

The moment I stepped out of surgery, drenched in sweat, the police slapped handcuffs on my wrists.

Before I could even defend myself, they shoved security footage in my face.

The screen clearly showed that I was the mastermind behind every single crime.

I couldn't defend myself. I had no alibi.

In the end, the victim's furious family stabbed me to death right in the hospital hallway.

Even as I took my last breath, I couldn't understand why the footage showed my face.

When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the exact day her best friend poisoned the food.

"Evan, are you out of your mind?!"

"Why would you eat that meal knowing it was poisoned?!"

Chloe stormed in, pointing her finger right at my nose.

I looked up at her, feigning total innocence.

"How did you know the food was poisoned?"

Realizing she had slipped up, Chloe scrambled to cover her tracks.

"I... I heard the nurses talking! They said you were hospitalized for food poisoning!"

"Besides, why are you eating a patient's food in the first place?!"

An officer slowly walked into the room.

"Because he was the one who spiked it."

"Then his conscience kicked in, and he ate it himself."

"Luckily, we pumped his stomach in time. He's out of danger now."

"However, Mr. Hayes, you'll need to come down to the station to give a statement. Since a crime was committed, you'll be held in custody for five days."

Chloe instantly panicked.

"No!"

"Evan, I know you would never do something like this! Explain it to the officer! Tell him the truth!"

I waved my hand dismissively.

"If I did wrong, I did wrong. I'm going willingly."

"Don't worry about me, Chloe. I'll be out in a few days."

The officer patted my shoulder, visibly relieved.

"Good man. Owning up to your mistakes."

"Let's go."

Chloe was beside herself. She grabbed my arm tightly.

"Evan, have you lost your damn mind?!"

"Weren't you performing surgery all day?!"

"When did you even have time to do this?! Are you stupid?!"

Watching her desperate attempt to clear my name made me feel entirely numb.

Seeing my silence, Chloe pressed on.

"Don't forget, I went against my family just to marry you!"

"If my dad finds out you went to jail, he'll force me to divorce you on the spot!"

I gave her a cold look.

"If your father has never respected me, then so be it."

"I don't want you living a hard life with me anyway."

"Everyone has to pay for their actions. No matter what you say, I'm taking the blame."

Completely enraged, Chloe slapped me across the face and stormed out.

Watching her figure disappear down the hall, I let out a long breath of relief.

I remembered my past life all too well.

Her long-lost childhood best friend, Mason Vance, had suddenly reappeared.

Chloe was so thrilled she spent every waking hour glued to his side.

Everyone in our circle knew they grew up together and had unresolved feelings.

When I found out, I didn't cause a scene. I just wanted to let her go and move on.

Yet on the very day I planned to ask for a divorce, Mason deliberately prescribed the wrong pills, making a patient cough up blood.

Then he snuck into the morgue and stole a body. Finally, he poisoned the lunch of my favorite patient, killing the young man instantly.

I was in emergency surgery the entire time. When I came out, I wanted to tell Chloe immediately and urge Mason to turn himself in.

Instead, a line of officers charged forward and handcuffed me.

Chloe stood right behind them, watching silently.

The second I opened my mouth to defend myself, she snapped at me.

"Stop dragging Mason down with you! Own up to your own sick crimes!"

"I know his character better than anyone!"