Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 148: The Past

Diva’s brows furrowed deeply as she watched Mari skip off. The silence that hung between her and Jax was tense, the kind that crackled even in the absence of words.

Jax exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck, then looked at Diva.

”She’s just messing with you,” he said in a low voice. ”Don’t let it get to you.”

Diva gave him a look, one he knew too well — the ”I’m not stupid” look.

”You’re telling me she slipped her underwear under your pillow, you let her sleep on your bed and you touched her because you thought she was me while dreaming of her. You let her call you her baby and hang on your arm like a koala... and I’m just supposed to believe it’s all her and you have no role in it? You’re just letting it all happen for what? I’d feel less stupid if you were being straight with me.”

Jax sighed. ”Diva—”

”You went to her bedroom...”

”To return her underwear.”

”Yeah, right. You don’t even let me hold you that way,” She folded her arms. ”Be straight with me, Jax, do you want her?” she asked in a shaky voice.

Jax rubbed his forehead, muttering a soft curse under his breath. ”Not again, Diva. We’ve been over this already.”

”Are you doing this now because of the past?” Diva asked, and Jax sighed.

”I didn’t want to bring that up, but since you have brought it up now, let’s talk about it. Tell me honestly, what right do you have to feel bad about this situation with Mari? Why do you suddenly feel threatened now that she is in the picture?” He asked, and Diva blinked in surprise.

”I love you, Jax. I’m in love with you.”

Jax scoffed. ”Indeed. I’m a little confused because you keep acting like you’re the victim and I’m some heartless jerk, yet you are the one that asked for our relationship to be this way. Or have you forgotten? When I first asked you to be my girlfriend in college, you didn’t want to. You were busy dating all the popular guys in school. And then you eventually decided that we should be friends with benefits when I started making a name for myself through my painting. Do you really think simply because you ran out of other guys to be with, or because you now consider me fit enough to be your man, I’d now accept you as my girlfriend? Even if I decide to have sex with anyone else, I do not owe you an apology or an explanation. I watched you do that all these years and I never complained, so you shouldn’t either. Let’s not have this conversation again,” Jax said, and without waiting for a response, he walked away.

Diva followed him.

Inside the kitchen, Mari was already seated at the island, legs swinging as she hummed and chewed an apple like she had no care in the world.

”Trouble in paradise?” she asked sweetly without looking up.

”I see you’re enjoying this,” Jax said flatly, walking to the instant coffee machine.

”I’m having the time of my life,” Mari replied with a giggle. ”You look like you are going to cry. Poor Diva,” Mari said with a tsk, and Diva glared at her.

”Take my advice, darling. You shouldn’t be with a man that makes you question your self-worth,” she advised, and Jax raised a brow at that but said nothing.

”Shut up, you evil witch,” Diva hissed.

Before Mari could respond, Jax turned slowly. ”Can you please stop?”

Mari grinned. ”Yes, baby. But only because you asked nicely.”

Jax brought two cups of coffee to the island and placed one in front of her. ”Stop calling me that.”

”Okay, daddy.”

He gave her a long, tired look as he sat down across from her, while Diva watched them from the doorway.

Mari took a sip and smiled. ”This tastes nice,” she said as she watched him.

”No coffee for me?” Diva asked, seeing that they both were ignoring her like she wasn’t there.

Mari shook her head. ”Tsk tsk.”

”You can have mine if you want,” Jax offered.

”I want it,” Diva said as she joined them and took Jax’s cup.

As Jax rose to pour himself another cup, she sat on his seat.

Mari leaned forward in her seat, ”If you want him to like you, don’t be too obvious. No sulking and no nagging,” Mari whispered with a wink.

Hearing the sound of whispering, Jax turned around and sighed inwardly when he saw Mari talking to Diva.

Mari looked up, and when she saw him staring at her, she grinned and blew him a kiss.

Diva followed Mari’s gaze, and saw Jax watching them, and then she returned her attention to her coffee.

”Good. You did good just now. Act unaffected,” Mari whispered, giving her a thumbs up.

”What do you want to eat, Jax?” Diva asked Jax, ignoring Mari.

”I want toast and scrambled eggs,” Mari responded. .

”I didn’t ask you. If you’re hungry make your damned food yourself,” Diva said, before returning her attention to Jax.

”No, I won’t. Jax here kidnapped me and brought me here against my will. That means he has to take care of me. You can either make me breakfast, or he will,” Mari said, turning to bat her lashes at Jax who was staring at her while sipping in silence.

He raised a brow. ”Oh yeah?”

”Yeah,” Mari said, unfazed.

”And if I don’t?” Jax asked.

Mari shrugged. ”Then I’ll just starve to death. It’s not a big deal. I’ll starve to death and my ghost will haunt you for the rest of your life. You can be sure my ghost will sleep on your bed next to you forever.”

Jax held her gaze for a moment before he turned to Diva, who was closely watching the exchange between them. ”Don’t worry. I’ll make breakfast.”

Diva blinked, surprised by that. ”You will make breakfast for me, too?”

”Sure.”

Mari leaned forward, her eyes gleaming. ”You’ve never cooked for her, have you?” Mari asked as she looked from Diva to Jax, ”Now I’m curious, what do fuck buddies do aside from fucking like bunnies? Do you go out on dates?”

”It’s not your business,” Diva snapped.

Mari raised both hands, ”Chill, girl. I’m not your enemy. I have your best interest at heart. That handsome devil over there is the enemy here. How can you be with a man for three years and he’s never made you something as simple as breakfast?”

Jax put down his cup and scowled at Mari. ”Remind me again why I haven’t duct taped your mouth shut?”

”Because you like my mouth too much,” she said with a wink, ”and you should know I love yours too.” She blew him a kiss.

Jax ran a hand down his face. ”You need help.”

Mari gave him a bright smile. ”Yes, daddy. I need breakfast too. So, can you get on it, your baby is hungry,” she said with a teasing lilt.

Jax muttered something under his breath and turned toward the stove, while Diva scowled at Mari before looking at Jax. ”I’ll assist you,” Diva offered, rising from her seat.

”Thanks. I’ve got it. So you can chill,” Jax said without turning back.

Diva hesitated before she sat down.

Mari shook her head. ”You keep disappointing me,” she muttered, and then focused on Jax.

Mari rested her chin on her palm as she watched Jax with a wide grin. ”You have a well shaped ass, don’t you agree, Diva? Never mind. I’m sure you know from experience already.”

Jax paused mid-egg crack and looked back at her. ”Mari.”

”Yes, daddy?” She drawled.

”Shut up.”

She giggled.

To Jax’s relief, Mari listened to him and was silent for a while. He worked in silence while sipping from his coffee at intervals.

Soon, Diva went to join him, and even though he told her he could handle it alone, she insisted on helping.

Just when he was beginning to wonder what Mari was thinking and why she was quiet for so long, Diva cut into his thoughts.

”By the way, the curator said...”

”Not here,” he silenced her quickly. ”Later,” he said, and she smiled and nodded.

Jax picked up his coffee as he turned to look at Mari. He met her gaze over the rim of her cup. ”I need a journal and a pen,” she said with a sweet smile.

”What for?” Jax asked curiously as he sipped from his coffee.

Mari raised a brow. ”What are journals used for? I want to document my experience here. I’m going to call it: How I Seduced My Hot Kidnapper. Subtitle: A Beginner’s Guide to Snatching Fuck Buddies.”

Jax nearly choked on his coffee, coughing as he looked at her with disbelief.

”What exactly is your problem?” Diva asked, glaring at her.

”I don’t have a journal and pen yet. That’s my problem. Thanks for asking,” Mari said with sweet smile, and Diva glared at her, since that wasn’t what she was asking.

”You are out of your mind,” Jax said as he placed some of the toasts on a plate with scrambled eggs.

Mari laughed. ”True. Trust me, this will be a story worth telling. And my best friend would love it. Emily is going to freak out when she reads about what happened this morning,” she said with a wink at Jax.

Jax groaned inwardly. ”Shut up and eat,” Jax said as he placed the food front of her, not wanting her to say anything else.