Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 462: Idiot

The automatic hospital doors slid open as Callan stepped inside.

Unlike the first few days after his grand declaration, nobody stopped what they were doing to stare anymore.

The novelty had worn off. Mostly. But that didn’t mean people ignored him. Far from it.

The moment one of the nurses spotted him, she grinned. “Mr Quinn!”

Callan lifted a hand in greeting. “Good evening.”

A doctor walking past laughed. “Are you here to pick up Doctor Emily or feed us again?”

Several people nearby chuckled.

Callan laughed too.

“We’re still waiting for round two!” someone called from the reception desk.

The lobby erupted in laughter.

Callan placed a hand over his chest dramatically. “Unbelievable. Is that all our relationship means to you?”

A doctor walking by pointed at him. “You spoiled us. You should take responsibility.”

Callan shook his head. “Noted.”

A few minutes later, Emily appeared from the hallway.

The moment Callan saw her, his smile faded slightly.

Something was wrong. She looked exhausted. Not physically exhausted. Emotionally exhausted.

Even from across the lobby, he could see it.

Emily forced a small smile when she reached him. “Ready?”

Callan studied her face. “Yeah.”

Without another word, he took her bag and slipped an arm around her shoulders.

Several staff members called out goodbye as they walked away.

“Bye, Doctor Callan!”

“Bye, Mr Emily!”

Callan chuckled at the name swap. Even Emily managed a small laugh.

“Don’t forget about the food vans!” Some called after them.

Emily giggled at that. “See what you’ve done?”

Callan looked pleased. “My legacy.”

Emily rolled her eyes. “Indeed.”

The cool evening air hit them when they stepped outside.

For several moments, neither spoke as they headed for the car. Then Callan glanced at her.

“How was your day?”

Emily was quiet for a moment. Then she sighed. “Terrible.”

Callan’s brows pulled together, and he immediately stopped walking.

“What happened?”

Emily looked away. For a moment, she seemed to struggle for words. Then she swallowed.

“We lost a patient during surgery.”

Immediately, Callan reached for her. Emily went willingly. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his chest.

She closed her eyes. The embrace lasted several seconds. Neither spoke. Callan simply held her.

Eventually, he kissed the top of her head. “I’m sorry.”

Emily nodded against his chest. “Yeah.”

A few moments later, they continued toward the car. They remained quiet until they settled inside.

Callan started the engine but didn’t pull out immediately.

Instead, he turned toward her. “Are you okay?”

Emily sighed softly. “I’m trying to be.”

Callan remained silent. Giving her room to speak.

Emily swallowed. “He’s only been married for a month. His wife was there.”

Callan’s chest tightened.

Emily shook her head slowly. “I think that’s the hardest part.” She looked out the window. “Something you learn in medicine after a while is how to manage the emotional impact.”

Her voice was soft. “Not because you don’t care. But because if every loss destroys you, you won’t be able to do your job. We all learn how to process it eventually.”

Callan listened quietly.

Emily swallowed before she continued. “But the loved ones don’t.” Her eyes became glassy. “The wife just kept crying and asking us to do something.”

Callan reached over and squeezed her hand.

Emily smiled sadly. “I think that’s what stayed with me.”

Silence settled inside the car.

After a while, Callan spoke. “We can skip therapy today. We don’t have to go.”

Emily immediately shook her head. “No.”

“Emily—”

“No.” She looked at him firmly. “We’ve cancelled several times because of me.”

Callan sighed. That was true.

Once, she had been too exhausted. Another time, she’d been delayed in surgery. Then there had been another emergency.

Emily squeezed his hand. “We can’t keep cancelling because of me.”

“Are you sure?”

This time, she smiled faintly. “Honestly? I probably need a therapist after today.”

Callan laughed softly. “Okay.”

He pulled out of the parking lot.

Several minutes passed as they drove through the city.

Then Emily suddenly remembered something. “By the way, I got permission.”

Callan’s brows rose as he glanced at her. “For what?”

Emily rolled her eyes. “To travel for the wedding. What else?”

Immediately, his face lit up. “Seriously?”

Emily nodded. “Yeah. I swapped shifts with a couple of colleagues.”

Callan grinned. “Was it difficult convincing them? Or did you promise them I’d bring them a food van?”

Emily laughed. The sound was much lighter than before.

“I didn’t promise them anything. You know as well as I do that being Doctor William’s daughter and Callan Quinn’s girlfriend made them very cooperative.”

Callan chuckled. “Fair.”

Emily shook her head with amusement. “You should have seen how eager they were.”

“I suppose I should reward them.”

She smiled. “You don’t have to. It’s not like I’m not going to do the extra shifts when I return.”

“More reason I should reward them. That way they wouldn’t want you to do it,” Callan said, and Emily giggled.

“That might not be a bad idea, you know?” She said, making him chuckle.

Callan glanced at her, “You no longer seem concerned about the privilege thing,” he observed.

Emily smiled. “Yeah. It doesn’t bother me as much as it used to anymore.” Emily looked out the window. “For years I didn’t want to be known as the daughter of someone wealthy. And when I was old enough to know how famous my dad was, I didn’t want to be known as Doctor William’s daughter.”

She paused.

“I always thought people would judge me for it.” She smiled slightly. “But I’ve realised that it’s all in my head. Most people envy me and wish they had what I have.”

Callan was quiet for a moment. Then he asked, “Why were you ashamed of it in the first place?”

Emily frowned thoughtfully. “I don’t know.”

She genuinely didn’t.

“I’ve felt that way for so long. Since I was a kid.”

Callan nodded. “Well.” He reached over and squeezed her hand. “I’m glad you don’t feel that way anymore.”

Emily smiled softly. “So am I.”

Several minutes passed. Then suddenly she spoke again. “Actually.”

Callan glanced at her. “Hm?”

“I think you’re the reason.”

He blinked. “The reason for what?”

Emily laughed. “The reason why I was ashamed of my background.”

He frowned. “Me? How? What did I do?”

She turned toward him. “Remember the first time we met at the orphanage? When I celebrated my birthday at the orphanage.”

Callan groaned immediately. “What about it?”

“You said I was only celebrating my birthday at the orphanage home because I wanted to show off. You said I wanted everyone to see what a spoiled kid I was.”

Callan looked horrified. “I said that to you?”

Emily nodded. “You did.”

Callan winced. “Jesus.”

Emily smiled.

“I was eleven, Princess. I was an idiot.”

“You were.”

Callan groaned louder. “You didn’t have to agree to that so quickly.”

Emily’s laughter filled the car.

Callan didn’t laugh. “I know I said a lot of nonsense back then and I don’t even remember what I said. But I didn’t mean any of it. I was hurting and I guess I wanted everyone else to hurt.”

“Yeah. I know that now. But I was eight, Callan. An impressionable eight-year-old. Your words stuck. I felt ashamed.”

Callan reached for her hand. His thumb brushed gently across her knuckles. “I’m sorry.”

The sincerity in his voice made her heart squeeze.

“I can’t believe I’ve been hurting you that long.”

Emily shook her head. “It’s okay. I didn’t even realise it was because of you until you asked the question.”

“And you figured it out pretty quickly. It was almost as though you were waiting to bring it up,” Callan said grudgingly.

Emily giggled. “Well, I’m not an idiot.”

Callan glared at her playfully. “I didn’t say I’m an idiot. I said I WAS an idiot.”

Emily giggled. “Wow. You even know your English. I’m impressed.”

Callan chuckled. “I give up.”

Callan smiled when Emily burst into peals of laughter. He was glad that she was laughing now.

When she finally stopped laughing, she grinned. “Do you know the funniest part in all of this? The fact that no one else I know shows off more than you do.”

Callan stared at her, then he laughed. “The irony.”

“The irony.”

They both laughed.

“I think this is how people develop unhealthy self-esteem. I can’t imagine the number of persons that must have let the words of their peers get to them when they were just saying trash about them from a place of hurt and insecurity,” Emily said thoughtfully.

Callan nodded. “You’re right.”

After a moment, he squeezed her hand again. “I’m still sorry.”

Emily smiled. “It’s okay. It’s my fault for letting the words of a former idiot get to me.”

Callan chuckled. “Thanks.”

Then she waved the topic away. “By the way, Stefan’s proposal was so sweet.”

Callan smiled. “It was. And I saw you crying during the video call.”

Emily giggled. “I was already crying before the call.”

Callan looked confused for a moment. “Because of the patient?”

“Yeah.”

Callan raised an eyebrow. “So you’re telling me Stefan’s proposal didn’t move you to tears?”

Emily giggled. “Of course it did.”

Callan laughed. “Then why blame the innocent patient?”

“Because I was already crying. And Stefan’s proposal added to my tears.”

Callan shook his head. “Sure.”

“I’m serious.”

“Yeah. Sure.”

Emily smacked his arm.

Callan laughed just as the car turned into the parking lot of the therapist’s office.

The building came into view. Emily looked at it. Then at him. Then she took a deep breath.

Callan smiled and reached for her hand. “Ready?”

“Yeah.”