THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS-Chapter 261: Every Coin Has Two Sides

"Ok, Chief," Steffan said and couldn’t help but wonder about what the chief had wanted him to do but was going to hand over to doctor Martin.

But all the same, it was even better he didn’t get to hear what he wanted him to do especially if it was related to Shawn.

"Is there anything you wanted to see me about?" Dr Sullivan asked as an afterthought.

"No, Chief. I heard President Hudson was taken in here in a critical condition last night and I came to have a look."

"But I’m glad he will be fine from what I gathered from your conversation with Dr...."

"Of course. He’ll be fine," Dr Sullivan agreed too quickly, cutting him short, which doubtless earned him some curious glances from Steffan and the other doctors.

Steffan: "..."

It was obvious Dr Sullivan didn’t want him to mention Kathleen’s other name. ’Maybe it’s because of the other doctors that he didn’t want me to reveal her true identity.’ Steffan concluded within himself.

"If you’ll excuse me, I’ll be taking my leave," he said afterwards.

"Go ahead, Doc," Dr Sullivan responded as he gave him a "we need to talk later" look.

As Steffan headed towards the elevator, lost in thoughts, he forgot to return the lab coat and also failed to see the woman who was rushing out and bumped into her straight away.

"What the he..." the lady started but her voice got caught in her throat when she saw the face of the offender.

’I’ll be damned if this isn’t the most handsome doctor I’ve ever seen,’ she said to herself as her eyes did a quick scan over the length of Steffan’s body.

Steffan mumbled an absent minded "I’m sorry" and made to enter the elevator but was stopped by the lady.

"I can see you are a doctor here and you might actually be of help to me."

"What do you want?" Steffan asked impatiently. He was not ready for any form of distraction right now, least of all from a lady. All he wanted to do right now was go somewhere quiet and nurse his wounds that have been reopened by Shawn.

His anger made him completely forget that he had actually rushed to the emergency room out of sheer concern for his friend.

As it was, he wasn’t even sure if Shawn had actually considered him a friend by his actions.

His mind was yet to be reconciled to the fact that Shawn had probably been laughing behind his back all these while that he was waiting patiently to be introduced to Dr Janice.

"Hmmm. So spicy?" The lady said with a playful smirk, oblivious that the mind of the man standing before her was already miles away. ’But quite interesting though,’ she added to herself.

’Wait! What is going on with me? When did I start admiring any random man that comes my way?’

’Get a grip on yourself Lauren. This is a hospital and you came here to see your friend.’

She focused back and deliberately raised her voice a bit higher and said. "I’m actually looking for a friend whose husband is on admission here. As a doctor, I believe you could help me."

"Meet the nurse at the reception, she will attend to you. I’m busy and can’t help you at all. Or better still, call your friend to meet you at the reception," Steffan said and turned to enter the elevator but he was a bit late as the door had already closed before he could step in.

"Please...." Lauren begged. "My friend’s number isn’t connecting," Lauren said with a hopeless expression.

Steffan’s brows bumped together "Didn’t she give you the ward number?"

"She did, but I was told that the place is restricted from visitors," Lauren said the first thing that came to her mind, hoping that he would not suspect anything.

"Since you knew it was restricted from visitors, why did you come," Steffan snapped.

Lauren took a step back, visibly taken aback by the doctor’s outburst.

"I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to...," Lauren stammered.

Seeing the stunned look on the lady’s face, Steffan realized that his tone must have been unexpectedly too sharp.

As a doctor, he wasn’t meant to behave or speak that way to anyone. He should be able to control himself no matter what, so he quickly regained his composure, his features softening with remorse.

He took a deep breath, and said apologetically, "I’m sorry, that was uncalled for."

"It’s okay, we all have tough days," Lauren responded in a soft tone and offered a genuine smile while she was at it.

Steffan nodded. "True. My apologies again. I’ve just had... a lot on my mind."

"Whatever it is, there must be a bright side if you consider it critically. Remember every coin has two sides," Lauren added to her own surprise.

When had she suddenly turned into a counselor— to a doctor, for that matter. ’He might not even take me seriously. Well, everything seemed to be happening strangely today. Why not go with the flow?’ she said to herself.

But contrary to what she was thinking, Steffan was actually considering what she had flippantly uttered while he waited for the elevator.

"There is always a bright side and every coin has two sides."

But what was the bright side in his own situation?

He remembered Dr Sullivan’s attempt to prevent him from exposing Kathleen’s identity in the emergency room just now. He was the only one in that room apart from Dr Sullivan and of course the unconscious Shawn, who knew that Kathleen was the renowned Dr Janice.

This knowledge somehow soothed his hurt ego. At least he was still among the few doctors in the hospital that knew Dr Janice’s real identity.

He couldn’t help but reminisce on how he had felt in that ward when he had seen her addressing those doctors earlier on.

She was completely different from the lady that he could flirt with before. She spoke as one in her natural habitat and with authority.