Chapter 7
As I left the hospital, a twinge of unease crept in. Hannah could be telling the truth. She might just need a little help to get through this tough time while waiting for the right donor.
However, the betrayal and death in my previous life felt so vividly real.
Still torn and unsure what to believe, I finally decided to seek out that reporter, Jacob. He seemed genuinely interested in the case. Maybe he could help me uncover the truth.
“Mason and Hannah are cousins?” Jacob looked up in surprise after listening to my story. “That’s news to me.”
“Could you help me look into this?” I pleaded. “I need to know the truth.”
Jacob paused for a moment before responding, “I can give it a shot, but it might take some time.”
Two days later, my interview was published as scheduled and sparked quite a stir.
For the first time, people were hearing my side of the story and considering the other perspective–the rights and freedoms of bone marrow donors. Public opinion was beginning to shift, no longer unanimously condemning me.
Just then, Jacob texted. [Got some leads. Let’s meet up.]
At the café, Jacob handed me several photos with a grave expression. “These are from City Hall. Mason’s mother did remarry. She married Hannah’s father’s brother. Legally speaking, they are indeed cousins.
As I stared at the photos, a storm of emotions churned inside me. I could have really misunderstood them all along.
“But,” Jacob continued gravely, “I’ve also uncovered this.”
He handed me a medical report. “This is Mason’s medical report from six months ago. It shows he has mild thalassemia. In his condition, donating bone marrow indeed poses significant risks.”
The realization hit me. Mason wasn’t refusing to donate. He physically couldn’t.
“And here’s something else.” Jacob produced another document. “This is the match record from the international bone marrow registry. There is indeed a matching donor, but due to pandemic restrictions, they can’t enter the country right now.”
My head spun as I sat there. All of this could actually be true. I could have misunderstood them in my previous life.
“And one last thing,” Jacob said, his expression darkening. “I’ve uncovered some… concerning records about you.”
He handed me a set of psychiatric medical records. “Three years ago, you were treated for hallucinations and delusional disorder. The doctor noted you were showing early signs of schizophrenia.”
I shot to my feet. “This is fake! I’ve never even set foot in a psychiatric clinic.”
Jacob gently guided me back to my seat. “Calm down. Someone might be deliberately trying to frame you, to make everyone think you’re mentally unstable.”
My hands trembled as I clutched the fabricated medical record. I wondered who would go to such lengths to frame me.
“Quinn!” someone barked abruptly. It was the university advisor, his face like thunder. “Come with me right now!”
Before I knew what was happening, I was led into the Dean’s Office. The room was packed with school administrators and Hannah’s entire family. They were all staring at me.
Elliot jabbed a finger at me, his voice thunderous with rage. “This is the student who’s been spreading rumors. She slandered my daughter and even fabricated medical records to frame Mason!”
I was utterly confused. “What? When did I ever forge any medical records?”
The dean produced a document with a stern look. “You circulated this, didn’t you? Alleging that Mason has thalassemia and therefore can’t donate bone marrow?”
My eyes widened in shock as I turned to Jacob, but he averted his gaze. “I’m sorry, Ms. Browning, but that medical record you showed me was fabricated. I just verified it.”
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Chapter 7
It felt as if my whole world had collapsed. “No, I didn’t forge it. You showed it to me!”
“Outrageous!” Gianna snapped. “My daughter Hannah is fighting for her life, and you’re here spreading vile rumors.”
The truth suddenly hit me. This was all an elaborate setup, a meticulously crafted trap. Jacob was never a real reporter. They’d hired
him to frame me.
“I’m not spreading rumors!” I shouted in desperation. “It was Jacob who told me Mason has thalassemia!”
Jacob said impassively, “I merely reported what Ms. Browning said. She did claim that Mason has thalassemia and insisted that Hannah and Mason are cousins.”
“What?” Mason sprang to his feet, his face dark with rage. “Quinn, how could you spread such vicious rumors? That Hannah and I are cousins? Have you lost your damn mind?”
I was completely dumbfounded. “B–But you told me that yourself.”
“I never said anything like that. You’ve completely lost your mind!”
Everything changed so fast. I just couldn’t process it. Everyone was accusing me of spreading rumors, saying I was crazy. I didn’t know what was going on.
A horrifying thought suddenly struck me. This could all be a dream. Maybe I’d never traveled back in time, never faced betrayal, and never died before. Maybe it was all just my delusion.
However, my mind screamed that it was impossible. I remembered everything from my previous life with perfect clarity–the despair of being pushed down the stairs, and Mason and Hannah’s utter betrayal.
The dean sighed heavily. “Ms. Browning, given your current mental health condition, the university has decided to ask you to take a medical leave of absence for treatment. We hope you’ll make a full recovery.”
“I’m not crazy!” I shouted desperately. “This is all a setup. They’re forcing me to donate my bone marrow!”
As I spoke, dizziness hit me and I blacked out.
