Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 281: Problem Shared

After the phone call with Mari, Jamal leaned back, staring at Callan as he sipped from his mug of cocoa.

”What?” Callan asked warily.

Jamal’s eyes narrowed. ”Want to tell me what’s going on between you and Emily?”

Callan stiffened. ”What do you mean?”

”You know what I mean. Don’t even try to deny it. You know she has feelings for you, don’t you?”

Callan looked away, guilt flickering over his face. ”How do you know about that? And why are you bringing this up now?”

Jamal leaned forward, lowering his voice. ”Because it bothers me. You’ve known she likes you. Yet you’ve been acting so carelessly. When we both know you like her too.”

Callan swallowed hard. ”What makes you think I like Emily that way? I never told you I did.”

Jamal smirked. ”You didn’t have to. I suppose I should have known when you were always so quick to point out that you’re both not blood-related cousins. And now that I think about the way you both are always fighting. There’s more heat there than hate. It was silly of me not to have realized it sooner.”

Callan scrubbed a hand over his face. ”I don’t want to talk about it.”

”Well, I do,” Jamal said firmly. ”I’m tired of you telling me what you want to or don’t want to talk about. I want to talk about this since it’s about two of my best friends. What’s your problem, Callan? Why keep sleeping around if you want Emily?”

Callan’s sighed deeply. He wasn’t used to Jamal being so stubborn. Jamal was usually very agreeable and never pressed anyone to say anything they didn’t want to say.

”I’m waiting,” Jamal said impatiently.

Callan rubbed the back of his neck. ”What’s the point? I can’t have her. And other girls barely hold my interest. I just do what I do to get her out of my mind and for the company.”

”Why can’t you have her?” Jamal pressed.

Callan let out a shaky laugh. ”Are you asking like you don’t know about our complicated relationship? We may not be blood related, but our moms are sisters. Did I tell you my mom told me she’s Ryan’s cousin?”

Jamal frowned. ”What? What are you talking about?”

Callan sighed, ”My mom’s mother was the estranged younger sister of Ryan’s dad. Her name was Elena Harris. She refused to be with the rich guy they wanted for her, and chose a poor orphan instead. Her family cut her off when she eloped with my mom’s dad.”

”So somehow you ended up being raised by your Dad’s cousin,” Jamal said thoughtfully and Callan nodded.

”My Mom said they tried to reach out to him years ago. You know, establish a relationship with him, but he sent an email saying he didn’t want any relationship with them,” Callan explained.

”He’s going to regret that very much now,” Jamal said, and Callan nodded in agreement.

”So, back to the subject. Your complicated relationship with Emily doesn’t sound any more complicated than me and Abigail. And we are not letting that stop us...”

”I’m not like you, Jamal. I was adopted. I don’t want them to be disappointed,” Callan cut in.

”I think you’re the only one who keeps going on and on about being adopted. Your parents treat you like every normal parents treat their son, maybe it’s time you learn to do the same. If you really were their son and you thought you had feelings for Emily, what would you have done?” Jamal asked, and Callan shook his head.

”If I were their son I would most likely not have feelings for her, would I?”

Jamal sighed wearily. ”Listen, Cal, if you want Emily, decide if it’s worth fighting for whether or not you were adopted. If it is, go for it. If it’s not, talk things through with her and let her know exactly where she stands. But stop hurting her with your behavior. I won’t let your carelessness slide anymore regardless of our friendship.”

Callan studied him carefully. ”Do you really think it’s okay? For me to want her that way? Isn’t it weird?”

Jamal shrugged. ”I don’t see anything wrong. It’s not like it’s incest. And if you ask me, I think the fact that you were adopted should make it even easier. Maybe you should talk to your parents about it. That’s what I would do in your shoes.”

Callan was silent for a while, then a small smile broke across his face, easing some of the tension in his shoulders. ”Maybe you’re right. I talked to them about some stuff that always bothered me and I realized I was wrong. Maybe talking to them might actually be better. I will go with whatever they advise. If they ask me not to get involved with Emily, I won’t....”

Jamal raised a brow. ”You won’t?”

Callan nodded. ”Emily is a good girl and you know she’s big on pleasing everyone and getting their approval. She couldn’t even go against her Dad despite the fact that she didn’t want to stay with me. I don’t want to ever put her in a situation where she has to go against her parents or mine. So, I’ll talk with my Dad about it. Or my Mom...” he trailed off with a chuckle. ”I don’t even know which of them is better. I guess I’ll talk with them both.”

Jamal smiled as he ate his sandwich. ”That’s fine then. Do that.”

Callan smiled as he stared at Jamal. ”Two days ago I thought my life was going to end and I wanted to die. But today I feel much better than I’ve ever felt. I feel like a lot of weight has been lifted from my shoulders.”

”All thanks to me, right?” Jamal joked with a grin. ”That’s what happens when you share your problems. Some times sharing your problem helps you see it’s not as big as you think.”

Callan nodded. ”You’re right. By the way, I think I’m ready to see Abigail and your little boy. Let’s go see them.”

Jamal shook his head. ”Let’s eat first. You’ve barely touched your meat pie. We’ll go home after we are done eating. I know Dawn will be happy to meet you.”

”Dawn? Is she going by Dawn now?” Callan asked, and Jamal smiled.

”That’s her what everyone is calling her now since it’s her real name. So, let’s stick with Dawn,” Jamal said, and Callan nodded.

After eating, they stepped out of the bakery. But as they slid into the car, Jamal’s phone rang.

He frowned when he saw it was an unknown number. He received the call. ”Hello?”

”Hello baby,” the familiar voice made him jolt upright.

His heart kicked. ”Dawn?”

She giggled. ”This is my new line. Wanted you to have the number.”

Jamal chuckled. ”Great! Where are you?”

”I’m with Lucy and the girls. We’re out shopping,” she said excitedly.

Jamal grinned wide while Callan watched him with a small smile. ”What about Josh?”

”He’s right here with us.”

”Where exactly?” Jamal asked, and Abigail handed the phone to Brenda so she could tell him where they were.

”We are not far. I’ll come over with Callan to say hello,” Jamal said, and Abigail’s heart skipped a beat.

”Callan?” She asked, suddenly feeling anxious.

”Yeah. Nothing to worry about. Besides, he asked to see you and Josh,” Jamal said, and Callan raised a brow and held out his hand for the phone.

Jamal eyed him hesitantly but Callan plucked the phone from his hand. ”Hello, Dawn. This is Cal,” Callan said pleasantly.

”Oh! Uhm, hi!” She said, surprised that Jamal had handed the phone to him without warning her.

”I hope you don’t mind meeting me on such short notice. I’ve heard a lot about you and couldn’t wait to meet you. Plus, I want us to talk. From my calculation Ryan should be in Ludus on or before tomorrow morning. I want to make a decision before he gets here, and I need your help to do that,” Callan said, while Jamal watched him with a frown.

Abigail swallowed. ”I’ve heard a lot about you too, and would love to meet you. But we are busy shopping right now so I doubt we’d have the time to talk,” she explained.

”It doesn’t matter. I have the whole day. We can join you and keep you ladies company while you shop. Then we can talk afterward. How about that?” Callan suggested.

”Sounds like a good idea,” Abigail said, eager to spend time with Jamal, who she’d not seen all day.

”Alright. I’ll give the phone back to Jamal now,” Callan said as he returned the phone to him.

”So, you’ve spoken with Callan. Sorry, he snatched the phone from me,” Jamal said before Abigail could protest.

”It’s fine. Is he really cool though? I mean as cool as he just sounded? The phone is not on speaker, right?” Abigail asked, and Jamal smiled.

”No, it’s not. And yes, he is,” Jamal assured her.

”That’s a relief. So, have you heard from Stefan yet?” Abigail asked, still concerned about Genevieve.

”Not yet. I’ll try to reach him once again after I hang up,” he promised.

”Please do, and let me know. I have to go now. Love you,” she said and blew kisses into the phone.

Jamal smiled. ”Love you more,” Jamal said, blowing her a kiss before hanging up.

As Jamal dialed Stefan’s line, he turned to see Callan’s amused smile.

”Get your tux ready. I’m getting married soon,” Jamal said as he raised the phone to his ear.

Callan chuckled. ”I’m surprised you’re not married to her already.”

When the call didn’t connect, Jamal sighed as he set aside the phone and started the car.