Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 489: Wedding Gift

The reception began less than an hour later inside the house.

Round tables of two filled the garden beneath another canopy. White flowers decorated the centrepieces, while soft lights hung above them.

The children remained in their own little party in another part of the property, where they were being watched by the adults assigned to keep an eye on them.

For the first time in a long while, the adults had the entire evening to themselves, and it felt more like a private date for all the couples present than a wedding reception.

Music played softly as everyone settled into their seats with their partners.

Stefan sat with Genevieve at the centre table, her head rested against his shoulder as they looked around at their family and friends who were eating and chatting with their partners.

“I’m glad we chose to do it this way. We are surrounded by so much love. Look at them all engrossed in each other,” Genevieve said softly.

“I’m too busy engrossed in you to look at them, Mrs Kirk,” Stefan said, making her laugh.

They looked up when Jamal and Dawn approached their table.

“Congratulations to you both,” Dawn said, smiling happily.

“Thank you. We are here thanks to you both. It’s safe to say our love is an offshoot of yours,” Stefan said, grinning.

“An offshoot indeed, yet you had the guts to get married before us,” Jamal muttered grudgingly.

All four of them laughed.

“We have a gift for you,” Jamal said, then looked at Dawn.

Stefan noticed that everyone was staring at them now.

Dawn grinned as she opened her purse, and took out a brown envelope, then she handed it to Genevieve.

“What’s that?” Genevieve asked as she opened the envelope.

She took out a bunch of keys, then looked at Stefan before looking at Dawn again.

“This isn’t what I think it is, right?” Stefan asked, looking from Jamal to Dawn.

Everyone laughed.

“Sorry, I cancelled your agreement with the realtor,” Harry called out.

Stefan turned towards him.

“The family was already working on getting you a place in my estate. So, we figured it’d be a waste if you got somewhere else,” Jamal explained.

“Your estate?” Stefan asked, in disbelief since he knew how expensive the houses there were.

Dawn smiled. “Yes. Genevieve casually mentioned getting a place there so we wouldn’t have to live so far away from each other. I told Jamal about it, and we decided to get it. I should have my sister close by. Especially now that she’s pregnant.”

“Oh, Dawn,” Genevieve cried as she rose and threw her arms around Dawn. “I don’t know what to say.”

Stefan looked at Jamal.

“It’s fully furnished. Everyone seemed at a loss and didn’t know what to get you. So when I told them about the house, they each decided to work on it. The appliances, furniture, everything has been put in place. All you need is to move in with your clothes.”

“I don’t know what to say. Thank you,” Stefan said, his eyes filling with tears as he rose and looked at every one of them.

“I think the groom is about to cry,” Harry said, making everyone laugh.

“Thank you is good enough, son,” Aaron said softly.

Stefan nodded, unable to speak past the lump in his throat.

“Before you both get too emotional, I think it is time for a toast,” Jamal announced.

Everyone lifted their glasses.

Jamal looked at Stefan and Genevieve.

“To Stefan and Genevieve. May your marriage be filled with peace, patience, friendship, laughter, and a love that grows stronger with every year.”

He lifted his glass.

“To the beginning of a beautiful life together.”

“To Stefan and Genevieve!” everyone called.

Glasses touched, and the evening continued with food, music, dancing, and laughter.

Everyone cheered as Genevieve and Stefan took to the dance floor.

At some point, Mari dragged Jax onto the dance floor to join them. Emily and Callan soon followed. Dawn and Jamal joined them after Jamal insisted he could dance better than everyone else.

The older couples watched them all with amusement.

“This is perfect,” Stefan said as he looked down at Genevieve.

She smiled. “It is.”

“Are you tired?” Stefan asked, watching her closely.

“A little.”

He reached for her hand. “Then we should go.”

Her eyes widened. “Already?”

Stefan smiled. “Yes. I want my wife to myself.”

Genevieve grinned as Stefan led her back to their table.

Stefan tapped his spoon gently against his wineglass to get everyone’s attention.

“Thank you all so much for making today memorable for us. Thank you for the love and especially for the gift. My wife is tired…”

Stefan broke off with a chuckle when Callan whistled at his use of wife.

“We need to leave now,” he finished.

“Must feel good to be going on a honeymoon,” Mari called.

Everyone laughed.

Dawn hugged Genevieve tightly. “Enjoy yourself.”

One by one, Stefan and Genevieve hugged everyone.

When they reached Aaron, he pulled Genevieve into a warm embrace.

“Take care of her,” he told Stefan.

“I will.”

Together, the couple walked over to the black car waiting for them.

Stefan opened the door for Genevieve.

She paused before getting in and looked back at the house. At the people who had become family. At the place where she had married the man she loved.

Then she turned to Stefan. “This place is going to always hold a special place in my heart.”

Stefan smiled. “Mine too.”

She slipped into the car.

Stefan closed the door, walked around to the other side, and got in.

As the car pulled away from Tom’s mansion, Genevieve reached for his hand.

Their fingers intertwined.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

Then Genevieve rested her head against his shoulder.

“You know, somehow I feel grateful to my father for this,” she said softly.

Stefan’s brows pulled together. “Why?”

“If he hadn’t suggested I reach out to Jamal and try to seduce or get him to marry him, you wouldn’t have shown up with Jamal when you did. And I wouldn’t have made such a fool of myself trying to seduce you,” she said, laughing.

Stefan chuckled at the memory.

After a moment, he said, “I don’t feel grateful to him in any way. Not after all he did to you and Dawn. And I’m sure we would have met one way or the other.”

“How are you so sure?” Genevieve asked, looking up at him.

“Because we belong together,” he said confidently.

She smiled and squeezed his hand as the car continued down the quiet road, carrying them away from the house, away from the wedding, and into the first night of the rest of their lives.