Getting inside, she shut the door, then walked toward the mirror.
Ahh—
A scream tore from her mouth the moment she came face to face with the image reflected back at her.
A beautiful lady stood there, staring at her.
She had reddish-blonde hair and brown eyes. Her skin was pale, so pale that it gave her a fragile look, but instead of ruining her beauty, it only made her look even more delicate.
But this face… this face was not hers.
Her hair was supposed to be black and cut short. Her eyes were black too, always dark from staying up late, never this clear. She had needed glasses since she was a child, and she was barely beautiful at all.
So who was this?
"My dear, what is it?" Mrs. Robert asked from outside, banging on the door, her voice filled with worry.
"N-Nothing, nothing," Julia answered quickly, her heart pounding as she turned to be sure the door was locked. "It's just… um… a rat. I'm fine. Very fine."
She closed her eyes.
Maybe her mind was playing tricks on her.
Slowly, she opened them again.
The same face was still there, quietly staring back at her.
Her breathing became shallow as she lifted her hand. The fingers were slender, manicured neatly, painted red. She touched her face, then stared at her hand again, as if hoping it would suddenly change back.
"I have to be dreaming," she muttered. "This is fake. An illusion."
Just a few hours ago, she had been dying.
Now she was standing here, in another body.
"Jesus…" she breathed, her chest rising and falling unevenly. "Is this transmigration? I'm not even a Buddhist."
Her thoughts spiraled. There had to be a way out of this. This hospital… she was sure of it. It was the one closest to her school. The ambulance would have brought her here.
Her body should still be here.
Probably in a coma.
"Sweetie, are you okay?" Mrs. Robert called again. The silence behind the door was clearly making her anxious.
"I'm fine," she answered, forcing her voice steady. "I'm coming out now."
She unlocked the door and stepped out, giving the worried woman a small smile.
At least for now, she had no choice but to pretend. To be her daughter.
"Mum, can I go out for a bit?" she asked. "It's a little stuffy in here."
Megan smiled and nodded. "Of course. But the nurse must follow you. Remember, you're still a patient. Don't walk too fast, and tell her if you feel any pain."
Julia nodded immediately.
"Don't worry. I'll be fine."
Megan watched her go, a gentle smile on her face. She was glad her daughter seemed more agreeable today. Usually, Julia cared too much about her appearance to go out looking so plain.
After they had walked a short distance, Julia spoke again.
"Has any patient named Tina Wang been brought here?" she asked.
The nurse paused. "I'm not sure, but I'll ask around. If there is, I'll let you know."
As the nurse left, Tina looked around quietly. She could feel people's gazes on her, lingering a little too long. Was Julia someone important? A celebrity maybe?
She hoped not.
As an introvert, socializing was one of her greatest weaknesses.
While waiting, she suddenly saw someone she least expected to see.
Alice.
June's mother. Also a professor at their school.
Instinctively, Tina lowered her head, then stopped herself. It wasn't like she could be recognized in this body. Realizing that, she followed her without thinking too much.
She stopped in front of a luxurious ward with glass walls, that Alice had entered.
Her blood slowly boiled.
Inside, June lay on the bed, sipping her drink through a straw, smiling as she talked to her mother.
"Aww, my patient has the sweetest boyfriend ever," a nurse said excitedly as she stepped out of the ward. "He's been running up and down since her surgery. It's rare to see a man so dedicated."
"She's really lucky," another nurse added. "People wait years for a kidney, but she got one immediately. Her boyfriend must be wealthy—you should see the car he drives."
Tina felt her heart sink.
Some part of her had refused to believe it,
But now, the truth was right in front of her.
Her eyes burned, but she forced the tears back, staring at the girl who laughed so easily on the bed.
She remembered the voice she had heard before she passed out.
So it was true.
Her kidney had been given to June.
Her fingers curled slowly into fists as anger rose within her.
They didn't just steal her project.
They stole her kidney too.
Her heart began to pound rapidly, her vision blurring at the edges.
Just as her legs weakened, an arm caught her.
"Are you okay, miss?"
That voice.
Even if she died again, she would recognize it.
Alexander.
Her ex-boyfriend.
The man who murdered her in cold blood.
How dare he touch her.
That was the last thought in her mind before she completely lost consciousness.