Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 464: Crazy family

The doorbell rang just as Mari joined her parents in the living room.

Her face lit up instantly. “He’s here!”

She jumped up from the couch before either of her parents could say anything.

“Mari, walk like a lady!” Alex called after her.

She ignored him completely.

Alex shook his head. “We failed in raising her up to be a proper lady.”

Andy laughed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. She’s perfect to me.”

“Of course,” Alex muttered.

Mari hurried to the front door. A smile was already spreading across her face as she opened it.

The smile widened immediately.

Jax stood there holding a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other.

For a moment neither of them spoke.

Mari had changed three times before dinner.

Now she wore a red strapless dress that hugged her waist before flowing loosely to just above her knees. Her dark hair fell over her shoulders in loose waves, and her gold earrings caught the light whenever she moved.

Jax’s gaze moved over her very slowly from her hair to her face to the dress. And back to her face again.

Mari giggled. “Hello to you too,” she teased.

Jax blinked once as if remembering he was supposed to speak.

“Wow. You look beautiful.”

The words came out quietly like he was seeing her for the first time and couldn’t believe it.

Mari’s heart immediately fluttered. “Only beautiful?” she asked, pretending to be offended. “You can do better.”

Jax’s eyes warmed. “Bewitchingly beautiful.”

Mari laughed softly. “That’s better.”

Her smile widened as her eyes travelled over him. “YOU wore a suit.”

Jax looked down at himself. “I did.”

But it wasn’t just the perfectly tailored dark suit that caught her attention.

His hair did too.

God.

She loved his white hair. And she loved the man even more.

Then suddenly grabbed the front of his jacket and pulled him down.

Before he could react, she kissed him.

Jax barely had time to register what was happening before her lips were on his.

The kiss was brief and sweet. But full of excitement.

When she finally pulled away, amusement flashed across his face. “What was that for?”

Mari grinned shamelessly. “I missed you. And I knew you wouldn’t let me kiss you in front of my parents.”

His smile widened slightly. “You saw me two days ago.”

“So?”

Jax chuckled. “Who’s the clingy and obsessed one now?”

Mari giggled as she finally let him inside. “We both are.”

She looked very proud of that fact.

Jax laughed as he stepped inside. After Mari shut the door, her eyes travelled over him again.

Very slowly and thoroughly.

Jax immediately recognised that look. “What now?”

She sighed dramatically. “I could never get used to the sight of you in a suit.”

Jax’s brow lifted. “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

Mari looked him up and down again. Then shook her head. “Definitely a good thing.”

“Oh?”

“Every time I see you in one, I immediately want to get you out of it.”

Jax burst out laughing. “Mari!”

“What?” she asked innocently and continued into the living room.

Still laughing, Jax followed her in, but his laughter faded the moment they entered the living room, and he saw her parents seated together on the couch.

Both of them were looking directly at him. Or more accurately at both of them.

Mari smiled sweetly.

“You realise we heard everything you said, right?” Alex asked Mari.

Mari nodded. “Yeah. That’s possible.”

Alex raised a brow. “That’s possible?”

“Yes.” She shrugged. “I wasn’t whispering. So it’s okay for you to hear it. It wasn’t like you were eavesdropping.”

Andy burst out laughing.

Alex rubbed his forehead. “Why do I bother?”

“I have no idea,” Andy responded, still laughing.

Jax groaned. If he had known her parents were in the living room, he never would have allowed her to kiss him out there or say all of that, knowing they could easily hear her.

He immediately looked at Alex. “I’m sorry.”

Mari frowned. “What are you apologising for?”

Jax looked at her and shook his head.

Mari looked mildly offended. “Why are you apologising? I’m an adult and I can express myself to my boyfriend however I want to.”

“Exactly,” Andy agreed immediately. Then she looked at Alex. “She is an adult. You should start getting used to that.”

Alex looked tired already. “You’re the reason she acts this way.”

“You mean the reason she is bold and can confidently express herself?” Andy asked. “If that’s it, you’re welcome. I’m proud of her, too.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

Alex groaned. “Sweet Lord!”

Mari giggled while Jax tried not to laugh.

Then Andy stood. The flowing gown she wore moved gracefully around her.

She opened her arms and embraced Jax warmly. “It’s good to see you, Jax.”

“You too, Andy,” he said, kissing her cheek.

She stepped back, then suddenly she turned around once. The gown swirled softly around her.

“How do I look?” she asked dramatically.

Jax blinked, wondering why she was asking him that.

Andy gestured toward herself. “I decided to cover up.”

Mari immediately started laughing.

Andy nodded seriously. “The last time you were here, you looked uncomfortable.”

Jax immediately knew where this was going.

“Andy—”

She pointed at herself. “I’m your girlfriend’s mother now. So I decided to dress appropriately for my new role.”

Mari laughed harder. “You are so considerate, Mom.”

Andy beamed proudly. “I know, doll.”

Alex looked at Jax. “I wish I could feel sorry for you or say I was sorry.”

Jax already knew this wasn’t going anywhere good.

Alex pointed toward her. “But you chose to get involved with Mari. So now you have to face the consequences.”

Mari gasped. “What consequence, Dad?”

Jax chuckled.

Before Alex could answer, Andy spoke.

“Jax hasn’t answered my question.”

Everyone looked at her.

Andy pointed at herself. “How do I look? Does this make you comfortable? Or should I go upstairs and change into something that makes me comfortable?”

Jax immediately smiled. “You look beautiful. And although this makes me comfortable, your comfort is also of utmost importance to me.”

Andy looked pleased. “Thank you. Your comfort is important to me too, so I’ll keep this on.”

Then Jax realised he was still holding the flowers, and handed them to her. “These are for you.”

Mari narrowed her eyes. “I thought the flowers were for me.”

“No. They’re for your mum,” Jax said with a soft smile.

Mari scowled at him.

Andy laughed and immediately held the bouquet out to Mari. “Do you want them?”

Mari smiled warmly at her mother and shook her head. “No. You deserve your flowers for raising such a beautiful daughter.”

Andy burst out laughing. “You’re right.” She nodded seriously. “I do deserve them.”

Mari grinned. “Yes, you do. You’re the absolute best.”

Alex and Jax watched them with amusement as they continued to praise each other.

Neither woman looked remotely serious anymore.

A few moments later, Andy suddenly looked at Alex and then back at Mari.

“Your father didn’t explain what he meant earlier about the consequence of Jax being with you, did he?”

“No, he didn’t,” Mari said, looking at her father. “What did you mean, Dad?”

Jax chuckled. This had to be the craziest family he’d ever encountered.

Alex stood immediately. “Jax, we have important business to discuss before dinner, don’t we?”

Andy gasped. “You’re running away!”

“Yes, I am. I don’t have the energy for you both right now.”

They all laughed.

Andy waved her hand dramatically. “Fine. Go. But I won’t heat up dinner twice.”

“We will be back soon,” Alex promised, kissing her lip before turning to leave.

“Come with me, Jax,” Alex motioned towards the hallway.

Jax followed him.

As soon as they entered the study, he handed Alex the bottle of wine. “I remembered you enjoyed it the last time at the lounge.”

Alex accepted it. “Ah! Yes, I did. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Alex took it to the bar in his study and set it down carefully. Then he picked up two glasses and a bottle of wine.

Alex immediately took them from him and placed them on the desk.

Alex sat down while Jax poured the wine into both glasses.

When he was done, Alex picked up his glass, then gestured towards a chair. “Sit.”

Jax sat.

Then Alex leaned back. “It’s been a while since we both spent some time together. How are you doing?”

“I’m fine.”

“How are things going with your siblings?”

“We are fine now.”

Alex nodded. “Good.”

Silence followed briefly.

Then Alex asked, “How is the plan for the exhibition coming?”

A smile touched Jax’s face. “Smoothly.”

“That’s good.”

Jax nodded.

Alex studied him quietly for a moment, then his brows lifted slightly. “Why do you seem nervous?”

Jax blinked. “I’m not nervous.”

“You are.” Alex smiled knowingly. “You’ve barely looked me in the eye since you arrived. That’s the reason I brought you in here. What’s the problem?”

Jax laughed quietly. He should have known Alex would notice. “Okay.”

“There it is.”

Jax rubbed the back of his neck, then finally spoke. “I actually wanted your permission.”

Alex’s expression became curious. “For what?”

Jax took a breath, then met his eyes directly.

“I want to marry Mari.”