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

Alina ran into the operating room, pushing the stretcher where Lana lay, blood streaming from gunshot wounds to her head and leg. Alina's breath was ragged, her heart pounding like a war drum. This wasn't just any patient. This was Lana. Her friend. Someone who felt like a sister.

Moments later, Leo appeared at the door, his face pale as he took in the scene before him.

"What happened?" His voice was heavy with worry. "I heard reports about an injured nurse... don't tell me—"

Alina couldn't answer. She only gave a small shake of her head, her eyes full of despair.

Leo stepped closer, quickly assessing Lana's condition. "I'll take over. You wait outside."

"No!" Alina immediately grabbed Leo's arm. "I have to stay. I can help."

But the moment Alina touched Leo, an unwanted feeling surfaced in her mind.

'Ugh, even now my heart races just seeing him... stupid body!' she thought.

"Aileen," Leo looked at her sharply. "You nearly fainted just now. You're not stable, your hands are shaking. This is a high-risk surgery. If you slip even once, Lana could die."

"Please…" Alina's voice trembled. "I can't just sit and do nothing. Let me stay."

Leo shook his head firmly. "Trust me! I'm going to save her. But you have to leave. Now."

Biting her lip, tears welled up in Alina's eyes. She knew Leo was right. If she forced herself in like this, she'd only be a burden.

With heavy steps, she left the operating room. The door shut behind her with a soft thud, but it was loud enough to leave her chest feeling empty.

Outside, Alina leaned against the wall, clenching her fists tightly. Dark thoughts haunted her. 'What if Lana doesn't make it? What if this is all my fault for being careless?'

"Please… hang on, Lana," she whispered.

Inside the OR, Leo moved quickly. His hands were steady, his face focused and confident. He carefully opened the wound on Lana's leg, searching for the bullet lodged deep in the flesh. Soon enough, he found it and slowly extracted it with tweezers.

Clink!

The bullet dropped into the stainless steel tray prepared by the nurse.

"Leg wound's clear. Bullet's out," he muttered.

But when he turned to the head wound, the atmosphere changed. The bullet was dangerously close to vital tissue. Just as he attempted to remove it, the monitor beside him blared loudly.

"Blood vessel rupture… intracranial bleeding," he hissed. "Damn."

Outside, Alina paced anxiously. Her heart raced faster when the emergency alarm sounded from inside.

"An alarm? What's happening with Lana?" she whispered, trying to peek through the small window in the door, but she couldn't see anything.

Inside, Leo hit the assistance alarm. His hands moved swiftly to control the bleeding in Lana's brain. The situation was critical, time slipping away fast.

"I promise, Lana... you're not dying on my table," Leo whispered before returning his focus to saving the life in front of him.

More medical staff rushed in with additional equipment, making the room even more tense. All Alina could do was clasp her hands together tightly, praying for good news.

Over an hour passed since Leo began the operation, but there was still no update. Alina sat on a waiting bench, her hands cold, fingers pale from gripping too hard. Her gaze was fixed on the floor, but her mind was filled with the worst scenarios.

"Why did it have to be Lana...?" she murmured. Guilt crashed over her like relentless waves. "If only I'd been more alert… if only I could've stopped it…"

The tears came freely, beyond her control.

When the operating room door finally opened, Alina jumped to her feet. But it was only a medical assistant exiting with used equipment. Not Leo. Not the good news she craved.

She slumped back down, wiping her tears with the back of her hand, but her heart only felt more chaotic. Every second felt like punishment.

Silently, over and over, she prayed. 'Please save her… please… whoever's listening… don't take Lana from us.'

Memories of Lana flashed in her mind. Her goofy smile. Her cheerful voice every morning. The way Lana always knew when Alina needed someone, even without words.

"I'm not ready to lose her…" Alina whispered, barely audible to herself.

Then another thought surfaced—Leo. 'What if he fails? What if even Leo's skills aren't enough?'

The thought made Alina's knees weak. She moved toward the OR door, nearly pushing it open. But she stopped just short, resting her forehead against the cold surface.

"Leo... please... save her."

Inside, Leo was still racing against the clock. Lana's brain bleeding refused to stop. His hands moved fast, precise, calculated.

"Stabilize her blood pressure! Increase the transfusion volume!" he ordered the team.

After several critical minutes, the bleeding finally slowed. Leo let out a brief sigh, but he knew it wasn't over.

"One more step… hang in there, Lana."

Outside, Alina was still waiting. Still praying. Still clinging to her last hope in Leo and a small miracle that night.

Time felt frozen. The surgery dragged on for hours, and before Alina knew it, night had turned into early morning. The sky outside the window showed hints of dark purple, signaling dawn was near.

The lights in the military base were still on, but the atmosphere was quieter than usual.

Alina was still faithfully waiting outside the OR. Her body ached, her eyes heavy from fighting sleep. Her mind refused to rest.

Finally, around three in the morning, Leo came out to meet Alina. His scrubs were stained with blood, his face exhausted but showing a hint of relief.

Alina quickly stood up. "How is she? Lana…?"

Leo nodded slightly. "The surgery's over. We got the bullet out, and the bleeding has stopped. She's under intensive care now."

Alina looked at Leo hopefully, though she knew things might not go smoothly from here.

Leo continued, his voice serious, "But she's still critical. There's damage from the brain bleed. We won't know the full impact until she wakes up. It might affect her memory, or her motor functions."

The words sent Alina's heart sinking again. Relief that Lana was alive, but fear of what might come next.

"So… all we can do now is wait?" she asked quietly.

"Yes." Leo looked at her deeply. "But you also need to take care of yourself. Rest a bit. When Lana wakes up, she'll need you."

Alina gave a faint smile despite her teary eyes. "I'm staying here. Lana won't be alone."

Leo nodded in understanding and left her. Soon after, Lana was moved to the ICU. Alina followed anxiously. Once there, all she could do was watch through the glass. Watch Lana lying weak with a breathing machine. The early morning air felt colder than usual, but she didn't care.

"Stay with us, Lana. I'm not going anywhere. I'll be right here until you wake up."

Night turned to morning without Alina realizing it. But her hope for Lana never wavered. Days passed, and Lana still showed no sign of waking up. Alina remained by her side.

In the ICU, Alina sat quietly next to Lana's motionless body. Her friend's pale face barely moved. The injuries were severe. Too severe. The only reason Lana was still alive was either a miracle… or her stubbornness.

Leo stood nearby. Since the surgery, he had barely spoken. Just his sharp gaze remained fixed, as if daring anyone to come too close.

But as Alina held Lana's cold hand, her breath trembling, Leo finally spoke.

His low voice was almost a whisper, but it weighed heavy in the air. "This isn't your fault."

Alina didn't look at him. Her eyes stayed locked on Lana.

"Still… she got hurt because of me," she whispered, full of regret.

"If you keep blaming yourself, Lana's gonna yell at you when she wakes up," Leo replied casually, though his tone stayed serious.

Alina shot him an irritated glance. Part of her wanted to throw a chair at his face. He just didn't get it. She had never really gotten along with Leo. Cold, blunt, always annoying.

And yet, inside Aileen's body, her feelings were the complete opposite. Her heart raced whenever she saw Leo. Even after all the hurt, she couldn't quit him.

'Aileen… please get a grip. He's not worth it! Don't fall for him again, please,' Alina groaned internally, letting out a quiet sigh.