Moments after welcoming my newborn into the world, my 8-year-old daughter arrived at my bedside. With a swift motion, she pulled the curtain shut and murmured…

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.

However, I never thought she was this deranged. I can’t believe it, Deborah’s voice was cold. Your reckless behavior put our lives in danger.

I know. I don’t expect to be forgiven, Michael bowed his head. But for Lily and Thomas’s sake, please let me try again.

Deborah gazed out the window. Her heart was filled with the pain of betrayal, but at the same time, she felt deep gratitude that their lives had been saved by Lily’s courage and quick thinking. I need time to think, she finally said.

Right now, I just want to focus on the children. Michael nodded silently and left the room. Three months later, Deborah sat on the small porch of her new home, watching Lily play in the garden.

Baby Thomas slept peacefully in her arms. The new house was smaller than their previous one, but the warm sunshine and quiet environment surrounded by greenery were ideal for healing their wounded hearts. Rachel Collins had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and delusional disorder following a psychiatric evaluation and was confined to a state facility.

Police investigations revealed that she had greatly exaggerated her brief relationship with Michael, even fantasizing about marriage and family planning. More surprisingly, she had caused similar problems at hospitals where she had previously worked but had concealed her record through credential falsification. Mom! Look, a butterfly! Lily called from the garden, stretching her small arms toward the sky…