Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 481: For Real

By the time the last guest left, the house had finally become quiet.

The laughter that had filled every corner of the house only a short while ago had faded, leaving behind the distant sounds of the staff clearing away decorations.

Emily, Mari, Delilah, and Jessica sat in the living room while Jessica’s employees and Delilah’s domestic staff cleaned the drawing room.

Emily sank onto one of the sofas with a dramatic sigh. “I think I’m officially drained to the last drop.”

She let her head fall against the backrest before yawning so widely that tears gathered in her eyes.

Mari laughed. “You’ve been saying that since you landed yet you were more active than the bride during the shower.”

“That’s even more reason why I’m completely drained now.”

Jessica smiled as she gathered two empty glasses from the coffee table and handed them to one of the housekeepers walking past.

“I must admit,” she said as she sat beside Delilah, “today went beautifully.”

Delilah smiled with satisfaction as she looked towards the drawing room. “It really did. I’m glad I hosted it.”

She leaned back comfortably. “I was worried something would go wrong.”

Mari shook her head proudly. “Not with me as the emcee.”

Everyone laughed.

Delilah looked at her. “You did a wonderful job.”

Mari grinned. “I always do.”

Emily groaned dramatically. “You shouldn’t have told her that aunt Delilah. You’re fueling her already bloated ego.”

Mari laughed. “I thought you were drained to the last drop? How are you still talking?”

The ladies laughed again.

Emily yawned once more. “I seriously need to sleep now.”

Jessica looked at her. “So, you’re coming home with me?”

Emily nodded. “Yeah.” She stretched both arms above her head before looking at Mari. “What about you? Are you sleeping over?”

Mari immediately shook her head. “No, thank you.”

Emily frowned. “Why?”

Mari pointed at herself accusingly. “Because if I come with you, I’ll talk your ears off and you wouldn’t get the sleep that you so desperately need.”

Emily laughed. “You’re right. Not that I mind though.”

Mari giggled. “I do. Go home and get enough sleep. Tomorrow we still have Genevieve’s bachelorette party.”

Emily dropped her head against the sofa again. “Why do we have to do all this?”

Mari laughed. “Because today’s party was for everyone.” She spread her hands. “The oldies were invited to the bridal shower and so we had to be polite and decent.”

Delilah raised an eyebrow. “I hope I’m not one of the oldies.”

Mari quickly covered her mouth. “No! I didn’t mean it like disrespectfully. I meant the married women.”

The room burst into laughter.

Delilah pretended to think about it. “Hmm, I’ll forgive you.”

Mari sighed dramatically. “Thank goodness.”

Emily smiled. “I’ll drive over to your office tomorrow during my lunch break.”

Mari looked at her. “Really?”

Emily nodded. “Yeah. That way we can have a little time to chat before we meet Dawn and Genevieve in the evening.”

Mari smiled. “Aww. Don’t stress yourself. I’ll come over to see you instead. Your house will be more conducive for gossip than my office cafeteria.”

They all laughed at that.

“I hope you have plans on sleeping over at least once before you return to Husla. I’d like to catch up with my future daughter-in-law,” Delilah said with a wink, making Emily giggle.

“Definitely.”

Jessica stood and picked up her handbag. “Well, shall we?”

Emily rose too. “Give me one minute. I want to check on Callan and let him know I’m leaving.”

Jessica smiled. “Of course.”

Delilah nodded knowingly. “Go ahead.”

Mari rolled her eyes, “You people in love can be so tiring.”

Emily giggled, “You’re a silly idiot.”

They all laughed as Emily headed for the stairs.

She knocked softly on Callan’s bedroom door.

When there was no answer, she carefully pushed the door open.

The curtains had already been drawn halfway. The room was dim and peaceful.

Callan lay stretched across the bed shirtless, with one arm beneath his head.

His eyes were closed.

Emily couldn’t help smiling as she walked quietly to the bedside.

For a moment she simply stood there looking at him. Then she leaned down and brushed a gentle kiss across his lips.

Callan’s eyes opened almost immediately.

The sleepy look disappeared the moment he saw her.

A slow smile spread across his face. “Well…”

Emily laughed. “For a second I was afraid you’d wake up scrambling to the other side of the bed and yelling at me like you did twelve years ago.”

Callan groaned. “You never forget anything.”

“Nope.” She smiled innocently. “That’s why you should think twice before making me angry.”

He reached for her hand. “I’d rather not think at all before making you happy. So you’ll remember that forever.”

Emily giggled. “That was smooth.”

He grinned, “I’m smooth.”

She smiled as she patted his hair gently. “I came to say goodbye.”

His smile faded slightly. “I thought you were sleeping over.”

She shook her head. “No. I haven’t seen my family in weeks. I’m going home.”

Callan sighed. “I’m going to miss you.”

Emily rolled her eyes dramatically. “It’s not like you were going to let me sleep on the same bed with you.”

Callan raised an eyebrow. “So basically you’re saying you’re only interested in using me. I’m not important to you if we are not sleeping together?”

Emily laughed loudly. “That is not what I said.”

“It sounded very close.”

“I was just saying there’s no reason for me to stay here with you and tempt myself when I can just spend time with my family.”

“I’m your family too,” he retorted.

“Yeah. My step cousin,” she said, and when Callan scowled, she laughed.

At exactly the same moment, both their phones began ringing.

“Group call,” they said simultaneously as they glanced at their phones.

Emily accepted the call on hers.

The screen instantly filled with familiar faces: Mari, Stefan, Genevieve, Dawn, Jamal and Josh.

Stefan’s smile was so wide it looked almost painful.

Before anyone could even greet him—

He screamed. “I’M GOING TO BE A FATHER!”

Mari and Emily squealed so loudly everyone winced.

Callan sat up, looking at the screen in disbelief. “For real?”

Stefan laughed so hard he could barely breathe. “For real!”

Mari burst into delighted laughter. “I’m a bucks dollars richer!”

Beside him, Genevieve was laughing through her tears.

Emily’s smile softened immediately. “Oh, Genny, congratulations!”

“Congratulations, Genny and Stefan,” Delilah’s voice rang from behind Mari.

“Thank you,” Genevieve responded happily.

“Congratulations,” Jessica called out to. “To think half the ladies at the bridal shower knew before you both did.”

Everyone burst into laughter.

Callan smiled warmly. “Congratulations, Stef.”

Stefan rubbed a hand over his face. “I still can’t believe it. I’M GOING TO BE A DAD!”

Josh cheered loudly. “I’m going to have a baby cousin! I won’t be the baby of the house anymore.”

More laughter followed.

After several more congratulations, the call finally ended.

Silence settled inside the bedroom again.

Callan smiled to himself. “Stefan really is happy.”

Emily smiled softly. “Of course he is.”

Callan looked at her. Then the smile slowly disappeared from his face.

Emily recognised that expression immediately.

She shook her head before he could even speak. “Don’t.”

He looked away.

She gently cupped his face. “Let’s not do that to ourselves.”

He nodded quietly. “Okay.”

She kissed him lightly on the cheeks. “I should go now. Don’t want to keep my mom waiting.”

Callan nodded then watched her head for the door. Just as her hand touched the knob, he stopped her.

“Em?”

She turned, “Yeah?”

“Will you ever forgive me for that?”

She smiled. “There is nothing to forgive.” She spoke gently. “We both had consensual unprotected sex. I got pregnant. And I decided not to keep the baby. Whether or not you had been with me then, I still wouldn’t have kept it. I wasn’t ready.”

Callan swallowed hard.

She held his gaze. “Would I have appreciated you being there? Yes. I would. But you weren’t. And that’s water under the bridge now.”

Callan nodded.

Her smile softened. “Remember what the therapist said? We shouldn’t spend our lives thinking about what could have been. We should focus on what is. And what could still be.”

Callan stared at her quietly. “You sound different.”

Emily laughed. “I know. I’ve been reading and watching self-help videos.” She grinned mischievously. “I’m trying to heal quickly.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“The sooner we heal…” A naughty smile appeared on her face. “…the sooner you’ll finally have sex with me.”

Callan burst into laughter. “Emily Williams.”

“Add the princess to my name,” Emily laughed.

“Goodnight!”

She blew him a playful kiss, then hurried out of the door before he could answer.

Silence returned to the room after the door closed behind her.

Callan continued looking at the closed door for a long moment with a smile spread across his face.

Then he leaned back against the headboard.

Maybe it was time he started getting Emily’s engagement ring made.

That way, the moment they returned to Ludus finally, he wouldn’t waste another day before asking Emily to become his wife.