THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS-Chapter 390: Only One Way To Prove Who My Real Girlfriend Is
"Oh, this is Dolly Thompson, a neurosurgeon at Medstar Hospital," Nathan said fluidly, completely oblivious, or rather choosing to ignore the tension between Dolly and George. "The perfect definition of beauty and brains, don’t you think?" he added, with a gentle squeeze to Dolly’s waist.
"And the icing on the cake is that she’s my date for tonight," he boasted.
George nodded in acknowledgment, his expression polite but detached.
"I seem to have run into Dr Thompson on a few occasions," George said casually, "and I must say she does take her work with such dogged dedication that left me awed."
"You can say that again. I was just telling Dolly how much I admire the work doctors do," Nathan said proudly.
At least this time he had landed someone worth flaunting around instead of those lazy leechers he’s been into.
"Yeah, especially those in high-pressure fields like Dr Thompson’s... they’d do anything within their powers to make their patients feel comfortable and cared for."
Dolly’s eyes sharpened slightly at the comment, but she kept her expression neutral. "It’s a demanding field, but it’s rewarding. We see a lot, and of course learn a lot too."
"I totally agree with you on that. It’s definitely useful when dealing with unexpected situations, I must say," George added, his tone casual, though he laced the words with a subtle undertone.
Nathan nodded along, seemingly oblivious to the undercurrent of the conversation. "You can say that again. Dolly’s work ethic is unmatched. I’ve seen her pull off miracles in the OR. She’s really something special."
He flashed a proud smile at Dolly, who returned it with a tight, polite nod, though George didn’t miss the way her fingers drummed rhythmically against her clutch, a small but telling sign of her unease.
"Unexpected situations do seem to be part of the job," Dolly replied, her voice cool and measured. "But that’s the nature of our field. You never know what’s coming next, so you have to be ready for anything."
George held her gaze, letting the moment stretch just long enough to make it clear he wasn’t speaking purely about medical emergencies.
"Readiness is everything. Especially when things don’t go as planned. It’s all about staying composed under pressure."
Dolly’s eyes narrowed slightly, her smile not quite reaching them. She seemed to sense that George was digging, trying to find something beneath the surface of their polite exchange. "True. But I guess that’s what separates those who thrive from those who don’t, isn’t it?" 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
She didn’t need to guess that it had something to do with her closeness to George.
Was he watching out for Lauren? Wasn’t he in love with Lauren and should be happy that someone was there to clear the way for him?
"Exactly," George agreed, keeping his tone light but his eyes sharp. "It’s all about how you handle the curveballs."
Nathan, still cheerfully oblivious, laughed and clapped George on the shoulder. "Well, sounds like you’ve got the mindset of a surgeon too! Maybe you missed your calling, huh?"
George chuckled softly, though his eyes remained fixed on Dolly. "Oh, I’m quite content where I am. But I have to admit, I do find it fascinating how some people navigate their crises... especially when things go off script."
Dolly’s smile stiffened ever so slightly. "It’s all about keeping your head," she said, her voice clipped. "No matter how unpredictable the situation."
George’s eyes flicked briefly to Isabella, who had been watching the exchange with growing discomfort.
It was clear she wanted to defuse the tension, but George wasn’t ready to back off just yet. Not when the cracks were beginning to show.
"Speaking of unpredictable," George continued, his gaze drifting back to Dolly, "I have a close friend who was a victim of a rather chaotic wedding not too long ago. It was quite the ordeal, things didn’t exactly go as planned."
Nathan, still unaware of the undercurrent, shrugged. "Weddings can be crazy like that. People get worked up over the smallest things."
’Not again!’ groaned Isabella. ’Why’s George so fixated on that damned wedding? What’s his point exactly?’
"Yes, but then again, sometimes it’s the unexpected guests that cause the most trouble." George’s smile was thin, almost predatory. "And sometimes it’s not about the guests, though, but the intentions they bring with them."
For a brief second, Dolly’s mask slipped as a flicker of something akin to fear flashed across her face before she quickly recovered, her expression smoothing back into nonchalance.
George made a mental note of the slip, knowing he was inching closer to what he sought.
Isabella, sensing the conversation was teetering on the edge of civility, finally stepped in. "Maybe we should grab a drink? I’m feeling a bit parched."
She didn’t know why, but she could bet with her life that George and Dolly seemed to have some unsettled business before now and the Cold War between them was getting suffocating.
"Great idea," George agreed, smoothly shifting back into his charming persona. "Let’s get something to toast to, shall we?"
As they moved away from Dolly and Nathan, George couldn’t help but feel the thrill of victory tightening in his chest. He’d found the crack in Dolly’s armor, and now it was only a matter of time before he widened it.
Meanwhile, across the room, Lauren nudged Steffan. "Did you invite your ’girlfriend’ to find you here?"
Steffan’s eyes darkened, though he had spotted Dolly the moment she arrived. "Are you ever going to give up on that?"
Lauren shrugged, feigning innocence. "Give up on what?"
Steffan sighed, his expression turning resigned. "There’s only one way to prove to you who my real girlfriend is." Before Lauren could retort, he leaned in and captured her lips in a fervent kiss, oblivious to the shocked gasps echoing around them.
Lauren’s eyes widened in surprise, her body stiffening at the unexpected intimacy. She barely managed to process the kiss, her mind reeling.
Across the room, Dolly glanced up just in time to catch the display. Her grip on her purse tightened, her knuckles turning white.
How could Steffan kiss Lauren so openly? Despite all her efforts to catch his attention, he remained steadfastly loyal to Lauren even without any memory of their shared past.
Dolly’s stomach churned with anger and frustration. She had done everything in her power to be close to Steffan, and yet, here he was, still entangled with Lauren.
The sight of them locked in a kiss, stung more than she cared to admit.
Nathan, still beside her, noticed the shift in Dolly’s demeanor and gave her a concerned look. "You okay?"
Dolly forced a smile, though her eyes remained fixed on Steffan and Lauren. "Yeah, just fine," she lied, but inside, she was seething with fury.
If Steffan was going to be so stubbornly devoted to Lauren, then she would have to rethink her approach, and she wouldn’t be making any mistakes this time around.
"Can you please excuse me, I need to make a call?" She turned to Nathan with one of her most endearing smiles that made it difficult for Nathan to say no.
"Of course, go ahead. I’ll be right here waiting here for you."
George saw Dolly hurrying out of the hall and followed suit after about five minutes.
