Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 391: Ice Queen/Fire King

When Callan came downstairs after freshening up, he found Emily in the kitchen trying to make breakfast.

She looked calm and composed now, as though she had not spent the morning tormenting him.

Her hair was tied neatly now, and she wore a simple blouse and fitted trousers with low, flat shoes. Her handbag sat on the island.

Callan narrowed his eyes slightly. "You look very innocent for someone who committed several crimes this morning."

Emily raised her head and grinned when their eyes met. "Crimes?" She asked with mock innocence.

"Yes."

She tilted her head. "What kind?"

"Psychological torture."

She laughed softly. "You were a big boy. You survived."

"Barely."

"Let’s make sure you don’t next time," she said as she poured some into a bowl.

"You’re toying with fire, Em," he warned lightly.

She grinned. "I’ve been told I’m ice. Didn’t tell you I got the nickname Ice Queen, did I? I think we make a good pair. Ice and fire," she said as she pushed one bowl to him. "Care for cereals?"

"Asking like I have a choice when you poured it already," he murmured as he sat to eat.

Emily grinned. "You’re welcome. We have to hurry. I don’t want to be late."

"Yes, boss."

They ate without conversation after they were done. Callan rose, "Time to go, Ice Queen."

"Yes, Fire King," she shot back.

They both laughed as they walked out together.

They got into the car and drove out of the driveway. For a few minutes, the drive was quiet.

Emily looked out the window while Callan kept his eyes on the road.

After a while, he glanced at her. "So what exactly do you plan to do when you get to the hospital? I mean, how do you intend to handle things going forward?"

She shrugged lightly. "I’ll figure it out when I get there."

He frowned. "That’s not a plan."

"It’s a flexible plan."

He sighed. "Do you want me to drop you at the same spot I did the last time?"

She looked at him, then shook her head. "No. Just drop me at the hospital."

He glanced at her again. "Are you sure you’ll be alright if anyone sees us together?"

She smiled faintly. "If we’re in a relationship, it means we’ll be seen together a lot. Someone might see us eventually. Unless we plan to keep our relationship strictly behind closed doors. And I don’t think that’s something either of us wants."

He thought about that, then nodded slowly. "True."

They pulled into the hospital parking lot a while later, and Callan parked the car and went around to get her door.

Emily did not move. She just looked up at him.

He raised a brow. "Aren’t you getting out? Did you change your mind about going to work?"

"Aren’t you forgetting something?" she asked.

He frowned slightly. "What?"

She leaned back in her seat. "Aren’t you supposed to give your girlfriend a goodbye kiss? I know if I get down, you won’t do it."

His heart skipped. "Is that required?"

"Very."

Without another word, he leaned down, and their lips met lightly for a soft kiss.

But the moment their lips touched, Emily deepened it.

Her hand slid behind his neck, and the innocent kiss Callan had prepared for became warm and hungry.

Callan groaned quietly and pulled back quickly. "Emily."

She smiled at him. "Hmm?"

He took some steps back and stared at her. "Are you trying to frustrate me?"

"Maybe."

She opened the car door and got out. "Have a lovely day, fire king."

Then she stepped out of the car and walked towards the hospital entrance without turning back.

Knowing that Callan was watching, she didn’t just walk; she cat-walked.

Callan watched her go. Not missing the way her hips swayed slightly with each step.

He leaned back against the car and shook his head slowly.

"When did she become the experienced one?" he muttered.

Inside the hospital, Emily walked through the entrance and headed towards the changing rooms.

A few residents and nurses passed her in the corridor.

"Welcome back, Emily!"

"Good to see you back!"

"Glad you’re okay!"

She smiled and waved. "Thank you!"

When she entered the changing room, she spotted Dr. Loma standing near the lockers.

The moment Loma saw her, her eyes widened and she rushed over.

"Oh my God! Emily! Are you okay? I heard about everything! The crisis on the plane and how Ryan Harris threatened to hold everyone hostage! I can’t believe he’s such a person. Well, I should have known considering that his aide had a gun. I’m so glad you went in my place. The news said he committed suicide!" Dr. Loma said breathlessly.

Emily raised both hands. "Slow down and breathe."

Dr. Loma took a deep breath. "Done! So how are you?"

Emily smiled gently. "I’m fine."

"Are you sure? Anyone would be traumatised after such an experience. I mean..."

"Yes. I’m sure," Emily cut in.

Dr. Loma studied her face carefully then sighed in relief. "Good. Because all of that sounded terrifying."

Emily began changing into her scrubs. "So how have things been here?" she asked.

Dr. Loma shrugged. "Same as always." Then she rolled her eyes dramatically. "And I’m still pretending to be you."

Emily laughed. "You don’t have to anymore."

Dr. Loma let out a deep breath. "Thank God." She leaned against the locker.

"Thank God? Won’t you be embarrassed when I announce the truth?"

Dr. Loma shrugged. "Why would I be? I might have been if I didn’t know you were the one, or if we weren’t having this conversation. Besides, I doubt they believed me, anyway."

Emily smiled. "I think they did. They stopped trying to find Callan’s mystery lady after you said you were the one."

"I don’t care. I just want to stop. Do you know how many people asked me to connect their friend or relative to Callan Quinn or his father?"

Emily raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yes! And guess what? I wasn’t even getting the special treatment I expected."

Emily laughed at the irony that she didn’t want any special treatments yet Dr. Loma wanted to be treated specially. "At least no one ever said you got into the programme simply because of your connection, right?"

Dr Loma snorted. "Please." She waved a hand dismissively. "No sane person here would say that."

Emily looked surprised. "Why not?"

"Because every single one of us tried to get someone to put in a good word for us," Dr Loma said bluntly. "To get in, you need hard-work and connections. That’s how competitive this residency program is. And there’s nothing to be ashamed of about it."

Emily nodded slowly.

Dr Loma glanced at the clock. "Oh shoot."

"What?"

"I have to go. Nail appointment."

Emily laughed. "You’re leaving work for nails?"

"I booked it two weeks ago." She grabbed her bag. "See you later!"

And she rushed out.

Emily finished changing and headed to her supervisor’s office to report back.

After rounds and paperwork, lunchtime finally arrived.

Emily sat down at a table with several of the other residents. As they opened their lunch trays and began eating, Emily cleared her throat.

"I have a confession to make."

Everyone looked up. "Oh?"

She took a deep breath. "I’m the one connected to Callan Quinn. You know, the one he talked about

They stared at her, then they burst out laughing.

Emily frowned. "I’m serious."

One of them wiped tears from her eyes. "You think we graduated medical school without brains?"

Emily frowned. "I’m not sure I understand."

"We’ve known it was you all along," another explained.

Emily blinked. "You... knew?"

"Of course we knew."

She looked confused. "How?" She ssked, wondering if the nurses in the plane with her and Ryan had spread the news.

One of the residents counted on his fingers. "Let’s see. First, your surname is Williams."

"Second, one of the main sponsors is Dr. Damon Williams. An alumni of the program," another male resident added. "And everyone knows Dr. Damon Williams and Hunter Quinn are best friends."

"Third, you and Callan kept staring at each other the entire dinner party. You were discreet in your head, though, but it was very noticeable," a female said, giggling.

Another added, "And you both disappeared right before his speech."

Emily blinked again. "But I thought everyone assumed it was Dr. Loma."

They laughed harder. "No way."

"Why?"

"Because Dr Loma isn’t simple or humble," one of them said bluntly. "And Callan described his dear someone as simple and humble."

Another nodded. "And while we were all trying to figure out who she was, you, on the other hand, acted like you didn’t even care about him or who he was talking about."

Emily laughed awkwardly. "Why didn’t you say anything if you knew?"

"Because we wanted to respect your decision to keep your identity a secret."

Emily looked down at her tray. "This whole thing feels silly now," she said, thinking about how she’d been worried the whole time for nothing.

One of them leaned forward. "So why did you choose to tell us today?"

She shrugged slightly. "At first I wanted to drop out of the program."

They stared at her. "Why?"

"Because I thought you’d think I didn’t deserve to be here. And that I only got in because I was privileged."

They all rolled their eyes. "Oh, please. I wish I had such a privilege."

"Privilege isn’t a bad thing as long as the person is competent. And you are definitely not incompetent."

Emily felt her eyes sting. "Thank you. That means so much to me."

Another resident smiled. "Nothing to thank us for. We are merely stating a fact. You always show up and you work just as hard as the rest of us. If I were in your shoes I’d probably not work as hard as you do."

Emily smiled slowly. "I guess I was overthinking."

"Yes. You certainly were. It’s not a big deal."

"Dr Loma is going to be so embarrassed now that you’ve come forward," one girl said, giggling. "You won’t believe she tried to make me handle her shift."

Emily giggled. "She knew I was the one, and we had an agreement. I also informed her today that I’d be coming clean."

"Ouch. That’s such a disappointment,"one said, and they all laughed.

One of the ladies leaned forward suddenly. "So, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way... can you connect me to Callan Quinn?"

Emily burst out laughing. "No way."

She pouted. "Why not?"

"Because Callan is taken."

Everyone gasped.

"Impossible."

"Everyone knows Callan Quinn is a playboy!"

Emily smiled. "Well, not anymore." She hoped so.

"Really?"

"What changed?"

"His heart was captured by someone special," she said, trying not to sound too smug about it lest they find out she was referring to herself.

"Who?"

"An Ice Queen. I can’t give you details just yet..."Then her pager beeped and she stood up quickly. "Sorry. Patient."

And she hurried out of the cafeteria toward the emergency department, relieved that now she no longer had to pretend to be anyone other than herself.