The Flower That Grew from Ashes novel Chapter 35

Annelise turned around slowly and, with deliberate ease, pulled down the scarf covering her face.

"Josie," she said, her voice entirely flat.

Josie's face drained of color the instant she recognized Annelise, turning a shade paler than her own scrubs.

Her lips trembled, and her eyes widened in sheer, unadulterated terror.

"Mrs... Mrs. Lehman?"

She knew exactly who this was.

This was Dr. Lehman's wife.

The woman who, four years ago, had lain on the operating table while her own husband performed a tubal ligation on her.

The woman who, not long ago, had lain on another operating table as her husband personally ended her pregnancy.

What was she doing here?

How did she find her?

Josie's first instinct was to run.

"I... I don't know what you're talking about. You have the wrong person. I have to get back to my shift."

Her voice pitched high with panic as she spun around, ready to bolt for the door.

"Josie Platt!"

Annelise's voice was like an icy nail, pinning her firmly to the floor.

Josie's back went completely rigid. She didn't dare turn around.

Annelise stepped toward her, slow and measured.

The clicking of her heels against the concrete floor echoed through the room, each strike sounding like it was trampling directly on Josie's heart.

"Four years ago, Cresthaven General. Laparoscopic appendectomy."

Annelise didn't raise her voice, but every syllable rang crystal clear in the small office.

"You were the circulating nurse for that surgery."

"I want to know exactly what happened in that room."

Josie's body began to shake uncontrollably, her complexion shifting from pale to a sickly gray.

"I don't know! I don't know anything!" she shrieked hysterically, clapping her hands over her ears like a terrified rabbit.

Annelise stopped in front of her, looking down at the trembling nurse.

There was no rage in her eyes, no aggression. Just a bone-deep, chilling calm.

"I've already had myself evaluated at a third-party hospital."

Annelise reached into her bag, pulled out a stack of documents, and gently placed them on the desk nearby.

She lifted her head. Her young face was streaked with tears and utter despair.

Looking at Annelise, her lips moved for a long time before she managed to push out a raspy, breathless sentence—one that hit Annelise like a lightning strike.

"That surgery... it wasn't just Dr. Lehman's idea."

Josie's eyes swam with boundless terror.

"There... there was another woman waiting outside in the monitoring room."

"She didn't come in at first, but she listened to every single thing happening in the OR through the internal comms."

"Once the procedure was over, Dr. Lehman let her in. She put on scrubs and a mask, walked right up to you, and personally inspected the three incisions on your abdomen. She only left with Dr. Lehman after confirming everything was perfectly done."

Annelise's heart felt as though an invisible hand was crushing it. The pain was so severe she could barely breathe.

She stared dead into Josie's eyes and, using every ounce of strength she had left, asked the question that already had an answer screaming in her mind.

"Who... was it?"

Josie squeezed her eyes shut, a fresh wave of tears spilling down her cheeks.

In a voice trembling with absolute despair, she uttered the name.

"It was your... your best friend."

"Clarissa."