The Billionaire's True Heiress From Fake Jewel to Real Crown novel Chapter 962

"Dr. Vance is right," Yates added kindly. "You still have years of rigorous study ahead of you. By the way, whose protégé are you? I don't believe we've crossed paths in the department."

Who on earth was hiding such a brilliant student? Yates wondered.

"I'm a freshman this year," Claire replied smoothly. "Majoring in clinical medicine."

Her simple statement made everyone in the corridor stare in absolute disbelief.

They had assumed she was at least a junior or senior. A freshman?

And studying clinical medicine?

"Wait, aren't you a Traditional Medicine student? Did you get placed in the wrong major?" Yates asked, completely stunned.

The other surgeons exchanged baffled looks.

"I'm in the right major. I grew up learning Traditional Medicine from my mentor, but I studied Western medicine under my grandmother," Claire explained.

"Your grandmother? Western medicine?" Yates echoed, thoroughly confused.

Dr. Vance scoffed, finding the claim absurd. "I've never met anyone who cross-trained in both from childhood. Who exactly is your grandmother?"

"My grandmother is Mary."

The moment the name left her lips, half the doctors in the hallway froze.

Dr. Vance, the same man who had relentlessly criticized Traditional Medicine's viability in emergencies, paled. "Who did you say?"

"Mary," Claire repeated steadily.

"Are you talking about Mary Hastings? The First Scalpel of Apex?" Yates asked, his voice thick with awe.

Though Mary had retired, her legendary reputation still commanded absolute respect.

She had mentees and fervent admirers scattered across the country.

Dr. Vance happened to be one of them.

In fact, he was Mary's direct junior from their university days.

"You're Mary's granddaughter? But your last name is James... Wait, I do recall her husband was a James," Professor Walton Wade murmured, stepping forward.

Walton had harbored a massive crush on Mary back in the day.

Claire easily picked up on his shift in attitude.

"I started learning when I was a child," she said, completely unfazed by the stigma.

"Well, thank god you chose clinical medicine for your degree."

Walton clearly viewed it as her returning to the 'right' path.

Claire didn't see it that way. "I chose clinical medicine to gain broader practical experience. The applications are different."

The older doctors nodded in understanding. Hospitals were geared toward clinical rotations, making it easier to log surgical hours. Traditional Medicine didn't require navigating the same bureaucratic ladders.

Though Walton wanted to argue the superiority of Western medicine, he held his tongue.

At the very least, he now had a perfect excuse to call Mary.

Claire didn't pay much attention to Walton's internal monologue. The rest of the staff, all familiar with Mary's legacy, were simply marveling at the revelation.

They realized The First Scalpel hadn't just dominated surgery—she had raised an absolute prodigy.