I had just given birth when my 8-year-old daughter came to visit me. She quietly closed the curtain and whispered, «Mom, get under the bed. Now.» We crawled under together, holding our breath. Then, footsteps approached, and she gently covered my mouth…

She slowly crawled out from under the bed. Holding Thomas in her arms and leading Lily by the hand, she stood up, met by the surprised expressions of everyone in the room. There were two nurses, two security staff, and Michael in the room.

Michael’s face had scratch marks, and his shirt was disheveled. Rachel was being restrained by security, struggling wildly. A syringe had fallen to the floor from her hand.

Deborah. Michael was stunned. Under the bed.

I hid with mom, Lily said in a small voice. I was scared of that woman. Seeing the two of them, Rachel began struggling more violently.

You ruined everything. We could have been happy. Security firmly restrained her and removed her from the room.

The hospital administrator was called, and the institution was in an uproar over the gravity of the situation. Deborah, Lily, and Thomas were moved to another room. The police were called, and the syringe Rachel had been carrying was collected as evidence.

Emergency tests show the contents of the syringe were a lethal dose of morphine, the hospital’s medical safety manager explained to Deborah. Rachel Collins was hired by our hospital two months ago, but we’ve discovered she falsified her credentials. She apparently has a history of psychiatric hospitalization and caused similar problems at another hospital.

Stroking Lily’s hair with trembling hands, Deborah asked, but why was I targeted? According to the police’s initial investigation, Collins had a brief relationship with your husband and gathered information about you and your family in the process, the manager explained apologetically. She arranged to be assigned to you and was targeting your delivery. Michael stood outside Deborah’s new hospital room door.

His face showed deep regret and shame. Deborah saw him but said nothing. Let me talk to you, Michael entered the room.

I’ll explain everything. Lily, could you wait outside for a bit? Deborah said gently to her daughter. Lily looked anxiously at her mother but nodded and left the room.

I met Rachel three months ago, Michael began in a heavy tone. It was just a temporary mistake. I tried to end it a month ago, but she wouldn’t accept it…