Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 343: A Special Story

Jamal’s kitchen smelled warm and sweet as Jamal and Callan moved around, preparing breakfast, while the girls giggled and gossiped.

Jamal stood at the stove flipping pancakes with one hand while Josh stood beside him, observing and cheering him on.

Callan, who was squeezing oranges at the counter, tried not to stare at Emily too much, but his eyes kept drifting to her anyway.

But Emily was oblivious to the attention she was receiving from Callan. She was too busy chatting with Mari and Dawn.

As the guys served breakfast on the table, Mari looked around the room with a soft smile. ”It’s so good to be with you all again this way,” she said, pressing her hand to her chest. ”It’s even better now that Dawn is here,” she said, winking at Dawn.

Dawn grinned at her, loving her sunny personality.

Emily nudged Mari’s shoulder. ”You won’t be disappearing again this way, right?”

Mari laughed. ”Oh, I won’t. I’m back for good.”

After eating for a while, Jamal looked at Mari. ”I guess everything is settled now, right?”

Emily looked from Jamal to Mari. ”What’s settled?”

Mari placed her cup down and took a small breath. ”Okay,” she said with a wide smile. ”I guess it’s story time.”

She kept her voice gentle and careful, because Josh was right beside her.

”So, Em, you remember what I told you and Jamal about my Dad? Five years ago?” Mari asked, and Emily raised a brow.

”The Cartel stuff?”

”Yeah,” Mari said, then smiled at Callan and Dawn as she gave them a quick backstory about her father’s background.

”So, they faked my kidnap since I wouldn’t go into hiding willingly,” she explained and gave them the whole story.

Emily’s eyes widened. ”You mean your life was in danger this whole time?”

Mari nodded. ”Yep. I guess I didn’t realise just how serious it was until yesterday,” she said, then explained the attack at the house and how Chad was in a bad state.

”You? Mari, you fainted?” Emily asked, giggling with disbelief.

”Don’t repeat that anywhere else. I’ll deny it,” Mari said with a laugh of her own.

Dawn rested her chin on her hand, listening like a child hearing a fairy tale. ”It sounds like something out of a movie or novel. Thank God you’re safe now. It could have been much worse.”

Emily’s throat tightened and she looked more serious now. ”Yeah. I can’t believe you experienced all of that. I’m glad you’re here and unhurt. I hope your twin brother-in-law feels better.”

Mari gave a half-smile. ”Me too,” then her eyes gleamed with mischief as she added. ”I was thinking about introducing you to Chad. I think you’ll make a good pair.”

Mari watched from the corner of her eyes as Callan’s brows pulled together.

Emily laughed. ”Why would you think we’d make a good pair?”

”Well, because he’s good-looking. Way more good-looking than any guy in this room...”

”No way! Speak for yourself, Mari. No guy could ever be more good-looking than Jamal or Josh to me. Beauty, they say, is in the eyes of the beholder. So, your boyfriend and his twin might look that way to you, but not to us,” Dawn said, and Jamal grinned.

”The same way you’ll always be the most beautiful girl in the world to me,” Jamal said, taking Dawn’s hand and raising it to his lips.

Mari playfully rolled her eyes, while Emily giggled.

Callan, who had been quiet the whole time, cleared his throat. ”I don’t think Emily needs you to hook her up with Charles or whatever his name is. I’m sure she doesn’t have the same taste as you do in guys.”

Emily smiled. ”Mari knows about my taste in guys, though.”

”Yeah, I do. And I know you’re going to love Chad. He’s so funny, witty, and sweet. He reminds me of that male character you were writing about last spring. Derek,” Mari said with a wink, and Emily giggled.

”Really?”

Before they could further, Jamal decided to cut in, seeing how they were deliberately getting on Callan’s nerves.

”By the way, you guys won’t believe what I found out,” Jamal said, grinning from ear to ear.

”What?” Mari and Emily asked in unison, while Callan looked at Jamal with interest, grateful that the subject had been changed.

Jamal looked at Dawn, and when she raised a brow, he nodded, letting her know it was what she was thinking, and she giggled.

Jamal took out his phone, ”I want the guys to listen to the last episode of my favourite podcast,” Jamal said, and they all exchanged a look.

”Why?” Callan asked with a frown.

”Just listen,” Jamal said, his eyes gleaming as he played the episode.

”Why does her voice sound familiar?” Mari asked with a raised brow as they listened.

The more they listened, the more they began to understand what was going on, and three pairs of eyes moved from Jamal to Dawn and then back again, and while Mari’s jaw dropped, Emily’s eyes filled with tears. Callan looked at them in disbelief.

Jamal and Dawn kept grinning as they observed the emotion on their faces.

”Daddy, that is your name. Mummy called your name,” Josh said, unaware of the significance of what was going on.

”Yes, buddy,” Jamal said softly.

When the episode ended, Emily covered her mouth softly. ”Oh, Dawn, this is the most beautiful thing ever. I can’t...” Emotion rushed up her throat and choked the rest of the sentence.

”I can’t believe you two,” Mari said, standing from her seat to go embrace them. ”I love your love. If I didn’t believe in love already, your love story would have convinced me a thousand times over.”

Mari wrapped her arms around Dawn, ”Jamal was so obsessed with your podcast. Now I understand why. You just got yourself a new fan.”

Dawn giggled as she hugged her back.

Emily stood too, brushing her tears with her thumb. ”This is priceless. I’m so happy you both found each other,” she said, embracing Jamal.

Callan exhaled slowly as he watched the scene before him, running a hand through his hair as though he needed to physically steady himself.

”I don’t know what to say,” he breathed as he went to hug them. ”Congratulations, you two. You don’t need a wedding. You’re married already. This is all the sign you need to know your soul mates.”

Josh looked confused by all the hugging, so he climbed off his chair and toddled toward them. ”Mummy?” he said, tugging Dawn’s dress. ”Why did you talk on Daddy’s phone?”

Jamal crouched, pulling Josh gently into the circle. ”She wasn’t talking on my phone, champ. Mummy made a story... a special story for Daddy.”

Josh blinked, processing this. ”For love?” he asked in the earnest voice only a child could have.

Dawn’s eyes softened. ”Yes,” she whispered. ”For love.”

Jamal drew Dawn even closer, kissing her forehead with a tenderness that quieted the entire room. ”You know I love you, right?” he murmured to her.

Dawn’s lashes fluttered and she nodded. ”Without doubt. I love you, too.”

Everywhere, eyes softened. Even Mari, chaotic, brave Mari, looked like her heart was swelling to twice its size. They were witnessing love in its purest form.

”Okay, this is officially too emotional,” she said, though her voice wobbled with affection. ”But seriously... I’m so happy for you two. I love this happy ending for you.”

Callan shook his head, still stunned. ”We all do.”

Jamal kissed Dawn’s hand. ”Well, it’s not exactly an ending. More like a beginning.”

Dawn leaned into him with a wide smile. ”Exactly.”

Callan’s voice grew warm. ”Whether it’s a happy ending or a happy beginning, I’m genuinely happy for you two.”

Emily let out a dramatic sniff. ”Oh my God, I swear... I’m going to make this love story into a bestseller.”

”You sound like Aunt Sonia right now,” Mari said, and everyone burst into laughter.

”Don’t you need to get ready for work?” Dawn asked, and Jamal glanced at the wall clock.

”Shoot! I have a meeting. I need to get ready,” he said as he headed for the hallway. ”Guys, talk to you later.”

”Let’s clean up and then we can be on our way,” Mari said, and Emily and Dawn joined her in cleaning.

”I’ll drop both of you off at,” Callan said as the ladies headed for the kitchen while he picked up Josh and took him to the living room.

Jamal returned a short while later after he was ready for work and met them all in the living room since they were done cleaning.

He kissed Dawn’s forehead. ”I’m heading out now. Don’t miss me too much.”

Dawn rolled her eyes. ”I already miss you. I miss all of you,” she said, since Callan, Emily, and Mari were ready to leave as well.

Dawn and Josh saw them off outside and waved until the cars disappeared.