Chapter 25

Amber’s POV

The reality of the situation seemed to come to Olivia rather slowly. Though she had to have heard what Noah said, she still looked at me like she was seeing through me, like she couldn’t comprehend it all. I was a puzzle and she was still missing vital pieces.

Frankly I didn’t care what she thought about me, or about any of this. Though I could admit that it was a bit gratifying as she the realization finally started to cross her face.

“You,” she said, frowning deeply. “A Healer?”

“Me,” I reply. “Yes, a Healer.”

“Not just any Healer,” Noah said.

“That’s enough, Noah,” I said gently. There was no need to give away all my details. After all, the less she really knew about me the better, and if she couldn’t make the connection on her own that I was Healer Amanda, then I didn’t really feel the need to clue her in.

Olivia’s shock wore off quickly, as she seemed to make her mind up about something. Placing one hand firmly on her hip, she leaned heavy on one side while she looked at me once more with obvious disdain.

“A second-rate Healer, I bet,” she said. “How did you even get hired here? They probably felt sorry for you. Did you give them some sob story about how you almost died?”

I did almost die, and it was extremely traumatic and not something anyone should make light of. She was around then. She knew how many people died, and how lucky I was to not be among them.

This utter indifference to the crash and her obvious disrespect of those who actual died rankled all of my nerves. Suddenly, I didn’t care so much if she knew exactly who I was.

Let her know.

Let her see how wrong she was about me. And let her eat her misconceptions.

“If you would please step aside,” I told her as calmly as I could manage. I’d dealt with people like her in the past. Working with all kinds of people, I sometimes had to handle types like these – bad apples who cared only about themselves.

It was much easier to deal with them professionally as Healer Amanda. No longer was I a meek homemaker who would have done anything to try to please my husband. Now I was an independent successful Healer who wouldn’t tolerate being pushed around.

Not by Julian. And certainly not by Olivia.

Not anymore.

“I need to get into my office,” I said.

The word stunned her more than anything that had been said before.

“Your office?” she scoffed, then laughed. “Please. This is Healer Amanda’s office.”

“Yes, I know,” I pressed. “Please step back.”

She choked on her laughter and coughed a few times. Then, while trying to recover herself, she took a step backwards. I used the new space to step forward and enter my office.

Noah stood just inside the door. “Healer,” he said as I passed.

Inside, I moved toward my desk.

Olivia waited a moment, and then followed me inside.

“This has to be some kind of joke,” she insisted, even while she nervously laughed. “You can get to the punchline now.” She turned on Noah. “Where is Healer Amanda? I assume she’s on her way? We have an appointment.”

I came around my desk and sat down behind it. Once I was seated, I met Noah’s gaze. He was looking at me with a question in his eyes, like he wanted to be the one to tell Olivia the truth. Gently, I shook my head, signaling for him not to tell.

I’d already given away more than I needed to for her to understand. She was being purposefully obtuse at this point. Her bad opinion of me kept her blind to the truth right in front of her. Even right now, I could see her eyes dancing around like she was trying to do mental aerobics to explain why I was sitting behind Healer Amanda’s chair.

“Tell me this is a joke,” she said, more desperation in her voice now.

Noah had already turned my computer on, so I logged on now and went to my calendar. My monitor was turned enough that Olivia could see it, so she saw me logging in, knowing the password to Healer Amanda’s desktop. And now, she could see me find the marker for her appointment on Healer Amanda’s calendar.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“I’m afraid I have to cancel your appointment for today,” I said. “Something very important has come up and I can’t see any patients today.”

“This is just too much,” she sputtered on her own outrage. “You can’t do that!”

“I assure that I can,” I said. “And I’m going to ask you to lower your voice.”

“B-but --!”

“This is your only warning, Olivia,” I said. “Leave this office and take your attitude with you. Then and only then, maybe, will I consider treating you again in the future.”

“You will…” As her voice drifts, her face goes very pale.

I give her the flattest look I’m capable of, the one I save for particularly troublesome patients.

Finally, I think the truth fully sinks in and she sees the position she’s now in. I wouldn’t put it past her to keep pushing me, but this time, she closes her mouth. She doesn’t say one more word as she backs out of the office.

Noah and I look at each other.

As much as I would like to gloat about what just happened, I do have more important things on my mind. Like the lives of all those sick people who are relying on the cure that is currently missing.

“Tell me what happened with the potion,” I say.

Julian’s POV

Even with the photographic evidence I have still in my possession, I find it difficult to connect Amber with Healer Amanda in my mind.

All this time, Amber had this ability, this talent, and I never noticed. Granted, I had what I then considered good reasons to keep my distance from Amber. For so long, I had thought she only wanted money from me. Even now, I was still unsure…

Yet, having her back from the dead, felt like a dream. I still wasn’t sure I was awake.

I looked at the picture again, thinking how beautiful Amber was. There could be no doubting it. No matter how many times I checked the photo, it remained Amber’s face.

She was Healer Amanda.

As I continued to stare, the phone rang. Without looking, I reached over and picked it up.

“Yes? This is Alpha Julian.”

“Alpha, this is Head Healer Eric from the hospital. I have some very exciting news for you, Sir. We are holding a press conference down here at the hospital, and I wanted to invite you personally to come and share in the success.”

“I’m happy to join you, Healer. I’m always happy to support any breakthrough made by the hospital,” I said. “What exactly are we celebrating this time?”

“That project you’ve been working on, Alpha. I have personally developed a cure.”

I paused. Slowly, I lowered the photo. “You did…?”

“Yes, Alpha. And I’d be thrilled if you could help celebrate my success.”

I was very confused. I had given that project to Healer Amanda… er, Amber. She had assured me that she was making progress on a potion.

How did Head Healer Eric suddenly finish the cure?