CHAPTER 227: IMPOSTER

Emily sat in the passenger seat of the car as Callan’s driver drove her to work.

All she could think about was what Jamal had said about Ryan Harris being Callan’s biological father. How was Callan going to take that news? She wondered.

More than ever before she was in Ludus and not Husla, but then again, if she were in Ludus, would she have been as affected by any of this? She doubted that she’d have been as interested.

Her annoyance towards Callan had lessened considerably since she got to Husla, and she knew it was partly because she had just realized for the first time that Callan had struggles he had always hidden from her.

Seeing this vulnerable part of him had softened her heart towards him again, and now she couldn’t stop worrying about him.

When she arrived at the hospital, Emily stepped out of the car and waved politely at the driver.

Her mind was still foggy with worry about Callan but she didn’t want to think too much. Not now. She had patients to see, charts to review, attendings to shadow.

She would get through the day the same way she had gotten through yesterday — by keeping her head down and doing what she came here to do.

She made her way into the lobby, her steps quick, and then she saw Dan.

He was by the elevator, speaking to a nurse with a small smile. The moment their eyes met, Emily turned quickly and walked in the opposite direction, pretending to check something on her phone.

Although she didn’t have anything against him, but after the multiple warning from Callan and Mari’s advice to proceed with caution, she felt inclined to listen to them and stay away Dan.

’Please don’t follow me. Please don’t follow me...’

"Dr. Emily!" His voice came behind her.

She closed her eyes for a second, then turned around slowly with a neutral smile. "Dr. Dan."

"You’re avoiding me, aren’t you?" he said, striding over to her.

’If you know that why are you following me?’ She wondered, but still smiled at him.

"I’m not," Emily replied, trying to sound casual.

Dan raised a brow. "Really? Because you’ve been doing it since yesterday. I counted. Five times you changed direction when you saw me coming. Twice, you ducked into a room."

Emily folded her arms, trying not to look flustered. "I wasn’t. It was our first day here. It’s possible those times you saw me changing direction was because I realized I missed my way. Besides, yesterday was a busy day."

Dan gave a short laugh. "Yeah. But you were busy talking to everyone but me?"

She sighed. "I wasn’t avoiding you."

"Did I do something wrong?" he asked, his voice dropping slightly, less playful and more serious. "Is this about something I said? Or maybe... something someone told you?"

Emily frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"

"I don’t know," Dan said, shrugging. "Maybe your wealthy guardian asked you to stay away from me."

She blinked. "What? No. This has nothing to do with him," she denied quickly.

"Then what does it have to do with?" Dan asked, watching her closely. "We attended the welcome dinner together. And now you can’t look at me?"

Emily shifted on her feet. "I don’t really get why we are having this conversation. It’s becoming weird.. I mean, we attended the welcome dinner as old acquaintances. We weren’t exactly friends before now. I don’t think I owe you anything."

Dan’s lips parted slightly in surprise. "I didn’t say you did. But I thought we were at least on friendly terms. Considering we’ve known each other before now... and I’m keeping your secret, right? Even if you don’t think we are friends, does that mean we are enemies and you can’t wave or say hello to me like you do to everyone else?"

Emily looked away, guilt washing over her. He had a point. Not being very close to him didn’t mean she couldn’t say hello like a normal person.

"You’re right. I’m sorry," she said quietly. "I wasn’t avoiding you exactly. I just... I didn’t want to string you along. I saw the effort you made with the car. It made me feel like you wanted something more. And I didn’t want to give the wrong impression that I wanted the same."

"Because you’re interested in someone else, aren’t you?" Dan asked, but Emily didn’t bother to respond.

Dan stared at her for a moment, then smiled faintly. "I understand."

Emily looked at him warily. "You do?"

"Yeah," he said, then added with a light grin, "But that doesn’t mean we can’t be on friendly terms. No pressure. Just small talk and gossip in the hallway when our paths cross."

Emily chuckled. "Alright. Friendly terms, then."

Dan’s grin widened. "Good. Because you won’t believe what I heard this morning."

Emily raised a brow. "What?"

"One of the female residents is pretending to be you. I mean she’s pretending to be the person Callan Quinn talked about," he said, his voice filled with amusement.

Emily blinked. "Wait. What?"

Dan laughed. "Exactly my reaction."

Emily stared at him. "Who would do something like that?"

Dan leaned closer and whispered, "Dr Loma."

Emily’s jaw dropped. "Her? You’re joking."

"I’m not," Dan said with a grin. "She’s been walking around acting like a hospital princess all morning."

Emily shook her head in disbelief. "That’s... ridiculous. Isn’t she scared? What if the real person shows up and exposes her? What if Callan himself hears about it?"

"Maybe she’s trying to force the real person to come out," Dan said. "Or maybe she’s hoping that’ll happen and she’d get his attention."

Emily rolled her eyes. "It’s so desperate."

Dan laughed softly. "Desperate times."

"Well," Emily said, adjusting her bag strap. "Thanks for letting me know. I should probably go get changed."

"Yeah, I should go too. Good luck today, Dr. Emily."

"You too, Dr. Dan."

Emily made her way down the hallway, heading for the changing room. She was still shaking her head as she entered and began removing her coat.

When she opened her locker, she heard someone behind her say, "Hey, Emily."

Emily turned and saw the female resident Dan had spoken about, standing a few feet away and smiling brightly.

"Hey! How’s it going today?" Emily asked, pulling out her scrubs.

"Not bad," the resident said, her voice friendly.

"I heard the news," Emily added casually, "About you and Mr Quinn. How are you both related?"

"Shhh." The resident raised a finger to her lips and whispered, "I can’t disclose that information. It just sort of slipped out while I was talking with the nurses. I can’t believe everyone knows about it now. I need to curb the spread of the news. I don’t want preferential treatment around here because of it," she said with distress.

Emily blinked slowly. Then forced a polite smile. "Of course." If she didn’t know better she’d believe her.

Just then, a nurse poked her head into the room. "Dr. Loma? Someone’s here to see you."

"Me?"

The nurse nodded. "Yeah."

"I’ll be right there." She turned back to Emily. "Nice chatting. Maybe we’ll scrub into a surgery together sometime."

"Sure," Emily replied, watching her go.

Out in the hallway, Dr Loma straightened her coat as the nurse led her to a tall man in black suit.

"Hi, I’m Dr. Loma," she said sweetly.

The man gave her a polite nod. "I see. I was told you’re close to Callan Quinn."

Her heart skipped a beat but she nodded. "Yes. That’s right."

"Well, if you’d come with me, my boss would like to see you."

Her eyes widened. "Your boss? Mr Quinn?" She asked, wondering if it was Callan.

"Come with me, please," he said without responding to her question.

Heart skipping in excitement, the resident followed the man down the hallway, already imagining how she’d tame Callan and win his heart.