Chapter 171
Seven years ago.
Emily slowly opened her eyes. A stark white ceiling came into view as the antiseptic smell invaded her nostrils.
Her body felt leaden, her face as pale as paper, devoid of any color.
"Miss, you're awake?"
Ernest noticed Emily opening her eyes and approached the bed with excitement.
Emily stared at the unfamiliar man, panic rising in her chest. With a weak voice, she said, "Mom... Dad."
As soon as she regained consciousness, Emily remembered the horrific scene of her parents' deaths. Her emotions instantly flared as she reached to pull out her IV line.
She needed to go back, to confirm if her parents were truly dead.
Ernest quickly restrained her, grasping her flailing hands. "Miss, you're severely injured, you can't move around! What's your name? Do you remember who your parents are?"
Emily, red-eyed, tried to explain the situation but could only produce a hoarse sound. "I..."
The door burst open and a middle-aged woman rushed in. "Catherine!"
Hazel ran to the bedside and embraced Emily tightly, tears streaming down her face. "My baby, my precious daughter, you're finally awake!"
Emily could barely breathe in Hazel's grip. Ernest pulled Hazel away, explaining painfully, "Darling, I've told you so many times, she's not Catherine. Catherine died in that tsunami. She didn't come back."
Mentioning his daughter's death, Ernest's voice trembled with grief. "Catherine, she... she didn't make it."
"No!" Hazel's voice tightened as she shook her head in a daze. "My daughter isn't dead! She survived! She's right here!"
With that, she embraced Emily again, as if Emily were her long-lost daughter.
Emily sat on the bed, watching Hazel, quickly concluding that the woman wasn't mentally stable.
For the next two weeks, Emily recuperated in Harborview City's hospital.
She had desperately swum to the surface, clinging to driftwood until she floated to Harborview, where Ernest, out fishing, rescued her.
When brought aboard, she wasn't breathing, with damage to her heart, lungs, and brain.
Ernest's daughter, Catherine, had perished in a tsunami, her body never recovered.
His wife, Hazel, couldn't accept this devastating news. She developed PTSD, constantly searching for her daughter in a confused state.
After rescuing Emily, Ernest couldn't locate her family and cared for her alongside Hazel during her coma.
When Hazel saw Emily, she stubbornly believed she was Catherine.
While caring for Emily, Hazel seemed normal, no longer delusional.
Ernest knew Hazel had found solace in Emily, but he also understood that Emily had her own family.
Emily saw the news confirming her parents' deaths.
Those who killed her parents had slandered her father, claiming he committed suicide by arson due to insurmountable debt, and that her mother had jumped into the sea with her to escape creditors.
Having lost both parents, Emily needed sanctuary and an identity for revenge.
So, she decided to become Catherine.
That day, Hazel was peeling an apple for Emily, her gaze tender and loving.
Emily knew Hazel deeply loved her daughter and couldn't accept her death.
If her presence could help Hazel recover, it would also repay the Levins for saving her life.
"Mom," Emily said softly. This was the first time she'd addressed Hazel since waking up.
Ernest was pouring soup nearby and looked at her in shock when he heard this. "You..."
"Dad," Emily then called to Ernest.
From that point on, she called Ernest "Dad" in front of Hazel, but "Mr. Levin" in private.
Two broken families, through fate, formed a warm home again.
From that day forward, she was both Emily and Catherine.
"Catherine, find time to visit Harborview. The seafood's particularly good lately. When you come back, I'll cook you a special meal," Ernest's voice on the phone was filled with longing.
Catherine realized it had been a long time since she'd returned to Harborview. She should find time to visit Ernest and Hazel.
"Of course. I'll come as soon as I get time off," she promised.
Hearing Catherine's agreement, Ernest smiled. "Alright, we'll be waiting for you at home."
After saying goodbye to Ernest, Catherine hung up.
Thinking about those events from years ago left her feeling melancholy. She stood lost in thought outside the hospital entrance.
After a while, she snapped back to reality and headed toward the subway station.
On the asphalt road, a black Maybach slowly followed Catherine as she walked along the sidewalk.
Philip drove while watching Catherine's silhouette and flashed a fond smile.
He took out his phone and called her.
Catherine felt her phone vibrate and answered, "Mr. Foster, finally have time for me?" Her voice sounded somewhat listless.
Philip said, "Turn around."
Catherine stopped walking and looked back, immediately spotting the understated yet luxurious black sedan.
She hung up and strode to the Maybach. Philip opened the door, gesturing for her to hurry inside.
Catherine sat in the passenger seat, absentmindedly forgetting to fasten her seatbelt.
Noticing her distraction, Philip leaned over to secure it for her. "What are you thinking about?"
Catherine snapped back to reality, giving Philip a faint smile and shaking her head. "Nothing, just tired from work today."
Philip seemed skeptical but didn't press further, focusing on driving instead.
He sensed Catherine was unusually quiet tonight. What was wrong? Was it because of the department transfer?
Philip glanced at Catherine from the corner of his eye. "Unhappy about the transfer?"
Catherine raised an eyebrow, suddenly remembering Emma's situation. "The department transfer was your arrangement, wasn't it?"
Philip tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "Yes."
Since she had guessed it, there was no point denying it. Besides, this arrangement would benefit her career development; if she were smart, she'd accept it.
Catherine's expression cooled. "Thank you," she said flatly.
Philip hadn't expected her to accept so quickly. He'd thought he'd need to explain thoroughly. "You agree to the transfer?"
Catherine made an affirmative sound. "Working with Dr. Blackwood will give me more surgical experience. It's good for me, so of course I agree."
Philip smiled with satisfaction. His girl was indeed clever.
"However, I ran into Emma at the hospital today," Catherine added, not wanting to keep this from Philip. "Your help with my transfer has something to do with her, doesn't it?"
Philip frowned, not expecting them to cross paths so soon. He needed to think of an appropriate explanation. "It has nothing to do with Emma. I was already planning to help advance your career."
Philip said this with such a straight face and matter-of-fact tone that Catherine felt a little touched.
Catherine gave a light laugh, her mood improving. "Alright, I won't hold a grudge against Emma."
Leaving the west wing was probably for the best. Even though they were in different departments, with Emma becoming the psychiatry director, she might find opportunities to make things difficult. Catherine had no interest in fighting with Emma.
Philip guessed that Emma had bothered Catherine today.
He reached over to hold Catherine's small hand. "With me here, you'll surpass her quickly."
If she aspired to become a top doctor, he would mobilize all his resources to help her.
Catherine gently bit her pink lip, her eyes containing a hint of testing. "Philip, do you mean that? Do you really intend to help me surpass Emma?"
Philip nodded without hesitation, his voice low and resolute. "Of course. If that's what you want, I'll support you completely."
The front door had barely closed when Catherine approached Philip.
She stood on tiptoe, wrapping her arms around his neck, one hand slipping beneath his shirt while the other gently caressed his Adam's apple.
Philip firmly grabbed Catherine's wandering hand, pressing her against the door. His voice was slightly husky. "Teasing me the moment we get home?"
Catherine's delicate face was exquisite, her expression alluringly coquettish. "Philip, don't you want me?"
As she spoke, she deliberately raised her long leg.
Philip couldn't resist such provocation. He suddenly pulled her tightly into his arms.
His long fingers threaded through her hair as he lowered his head to urgently kiss her lips.
After a while, the master bedroom returned to calm.
Philip lay on his side, holding Catherine in his arms, contentedly kissing her brow.
Coming to his senses, Philip checked his phone – it was past ten. They had been entwined in bed for more than two hours, missing dinner entirely.
"Are you hungry?" he whispered close to her ear, considerately asking.
Catherine heard Philip's question and vaguely shook her head. "I'm thirsty."
Philip smiled, giving her a light peck on the lips before quickly throwing back the covers and getting up to fetch water.
Catherine lay in bed, staring at the crystal chandelier, gradually regaining clarity.
The phone on the nightstand rang. Catherine stretched her neck to see – it was Philip's phone, displaying an incoming call from Emma.
Emma was truly haunting her today. It was past ten at night; what did she want?
Philip returned to the bedroom with a glass of water, handing it to Catherine with a playful tone. "Still have energy? Want me to feed you?"
Catherine wasn't in the mood for banter. She took the glass and drank a few sips, helpfully informing him, "Emma called you."
Philip's brow furrowed slightly, his expression unreadable.
Catherine, seeing his displeased look, quickly explained, "I didn't answer it. I just saw the caller ID."
Philip responded coolly, picking up his phone to check. Emma had made two missed calls, confirming Catherine hadn't answered.
Philip looked at his phone, hesitating briefly before finally returning Emma's call.
Emma answered quickly, her voice panicked and distressed. "Philip, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you. I'm bleeding, there's so much blood."