Reborn as a Surgeon: The Mafia Queen's Second Life

Marco didn't believe in ghosts. But tonight, the past had come back to haunt him.

His fists clenched. His jaw tightened as he read the report in his hands. His breath was long and deep, trying to extinguish the flames of anger burning inside his chest.

The door swung open. A burly man entered in hurried steps.

"Boss, our people have moved."

Marco gave a slow nod, then stood up. He grabbed his coat and put it on with firm, decisive movements.

"I'll handle this myself."

The man's eyes widened. "But, Boss—"

"Don't make me repeat myself."

His subordinate immediately bowed in respect and left. Marco picked up his phone, dialing a number. It only rang once before someone answered.

"I need information. Now."

Without waiting for a response, he hung up and walked out. The cold night air greeted him as he got into the car. Another subordinate rushed toward him.

"Boss, we got the intel. The culprit… is a woman."

Marco's eyes narrowed. "A woman?"

"Yes. She's fast, skilled. Vasko went down in seconds."

The man swallowed hard before continuing, his voice lowering. "From the way she fights… she resembles Alina."

Silence.

The air inside the car felt colder than the snow outside. Marco's fingers gripped the steering wheel, knuckles turning white.

"Alina?" His jaw tightened. "Impossible."

BANG!

His fist slammed against the dashboard. "I killed her myself."

His gaze shifted to another subordinate. "Spread out our men. I want to know who this woman is."

Without needing a second order, they immediately moved.

Marco leaned back in his seat, staring blankly at the windshield. In his heart, one thought repeated like a mantra.

You died by my hand. But if that's true… why do you still haunt me?

"Drive. I need to know the truth."

---

Elsewhere, under the same sky, Alina entered the camp in hurried steps. Her left hand carried a cooler box filled with blood bags and medicine.

Leo greeted her with a questioning look. "Where have you been? Why are you back so late?"

"Getting medicine for a patient." Alina lifted the box she carried.

Leo narrowed his eyes, suspicious. "Where did you get all this? Even the Commander doesn't have access to it."

Alina opened her mouth to answer, but a sudden scream shattered the night.

"Doctor! Help!"

A nurse ran in, breathless. "The patient is seizing! His fever is getting worse!"

Without hesitation, Alina and Leo rushed to the treatment room.

Inside, a man lay on the bed, his body convulsing violently. His breathing was ragged, his skin pale and drenched in sweat.

"High fever, Doctor," the nurse reported.

Leo pulled back the patient's bandages. The stab wound on his body was red and oozing pus.

"A severe infection," he muttered. "He has tetanus. We need to remove the damaged tissue immediately."

Alina nodded. "Take him to the operating room. Now!"

---

Alina stood under the harsh surgical lights. Her hands were clean, a scalpel at her fingertips. Her breath trembled.

Beside her, Leo watched closely. "You're leading this operation."

Alina's eyes widened. "Me?! I've never handled a case like this before!"

Leo held her gaze. "My hand is still injured. I can't do it alone."

"But, Doctor—"

"I'll guide you."

Alina swallowed hard. Her hands started sweating.

Me? Leading the surgery? I'm not ready!

Leo stepped closer, his voice low but firm. "The patient can't wait any longer. Focus, Aileen."

She bit her lip. There was no time for hesitation. She turned to the nurse beside her. "Scalpel."

Lana handed over the tool with a slight smirk. "Nervous?" she teased.

"I'm fine."

"Oh? Then why are you sweating? It's snowing outside."

Alina let out a small huff and ignored her.

Before her, the patient lay helpless. His heartbeat on the monitor was stable but weakening.

"Make the incision," Leo instructed.

Alina took a deep breath, steadying herself. This wasn't the first time she had seen blood. Not the first time her hands were stained. But it was the first time she was saving someone… in front of the man she admired.

With steadier hands, she made her first incision. Slowly, she pressed the scalpel against the patient's skin. The infected wound opened, releasing a sharp, putrid odor.

The nurse beside her shuddered. "The infection has spread deep, Doctor."

Alina bit her lip. It was worse than she had expected. If they were even slightly late, the patient could go into sepsis—an infection spreading through the entire body, leading to death.

"We need to remove the dead tissue," she said, her voice firmer.

Leo nodded. "You know what to do."

Alina's hands moved faster now. The surgical scissors worked swiftly, cutting away the infected areas. Fresh blood seeped from the wound.

Beep… beep… beep…

The heart monitor quickened.

"Apply pressure! He's losing too much blood!" Leo shouted.

A nurse immediately pressed a sterile gauze onto the wound.

"We need more blood," Alina murmured.

Leo turned to her. "That's what I wanted to ask. Where did you get these blood bags?"

Alina didn't answer. Her hands kept working, checking the remaining tissue.

"Aileen."

Leo's voice was deeper now. "Where?"

Alina exhaled slowly. "I have my ways."

"Don't tell me you stole it."

Alina smirked. "I didn't steal it. I only took what they should have given."

Leo let out a short, cynical laugh. "So you robbed them."

"I saved a life."

"With criminal methods."

Alina finally paused for a moment. She turned and looked directly at Leo. "Listen carefully, Leo. The law doesn't always side with the right. If I have to dirty my hands to save someone, I won't hesitate. You can judge me however you want, but I won't regret it."

Leo stared at her in silence. For the first time, he didn't know whether to argue or agree. One thing was clear—Aileen was no ordinary doctor.

Minutes passed like a lifetime, but finally, Alina completed the last stitch.

"Hook up an extra IV. Give him a high dose of antibiotics."

The nurse nodded and moved quickly. Alina removed her bloodied gloves, still catching her breath.

Leo leaned against the table, watching her with a knowing look. "I don't know how you got it, but without that blood, this patient would be dead."

Alina didn't respond. She only stared at him in silence. Deep down, she knew.

Sooner or later, Leo would realize who she really was.

And when that day came… would he see her as a savior or an enemy?

Alina let out a slow breath. She could only hope that when the truth was revealed, their relationship wouldn't shatter completely.

"Aileen!"

A voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Alina turned. Lana stood at the doorway, her face tense, hesitant to speak.

"There's news from the city," she said quietly. "The patient from the ER the other day… was found dead."

Alina's world seemed to freeze. The blood drained from her face. Her breath caught in her throat.

"Dead?" she whispered. Her throat felt dry. "That's impossible."

The patient's wounds weren't severe enough to be fatal. He should have survived. Unless…

Her heart pounded. Someone had killed him.

Last she heard, that patient had disappeared from the hospital. Now, he was dead.

A terrible feeling settled in her gut.

"They don't want me to know… who Aileen really is."