Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 480: To Scream

Genevieve hurried down the staircase, trying to keep herself from running.

Her heart pounded so loudly that she was certain everyone in the house would hear it.

“Genny,” Dawn called, stopping her.

“Yeah?”

“You should hide it unless you plan to announce it to the whole house,” Dawn said, pointing to the test in her hand.

Genevieve laughed then carefully tucked the test beneath her arm where no one could see it.

“Good?” She asked, and when Dawn nodded, she continued on her way happily.

Dawn followed a few steps behind, unable to stop smiling.

The closer Genevieve came to the drawing room, the harder her heart beat.

She was going to tell him.

She was actually going to tell Stefan he was going to be a father.

She could already imagine his face.

Would he laugh first? Or would he cry? Would he simply stare?

She honestly had no idea.

The voices coming from the den grew clearer.

Josh’s laughter. Tom saying something. Jamal chuckling.

Then Genevieve stepped into the room.

Stefan was the first to notice her. The moment their eyes met, his entire face lit up.

“Hey!” He stood immediately. “How’s my bride?”

Genevieve couldn’t stop smiling. “I’m good. How’s my groom?”

Behind them, Dawn quietly stepped into the room and went to join Jamal and Josh.

Lucy’s eyes immediately found Dawn’s as she sat down, and she gave Dawn a questioning look.

Well?

Dawn couldn’t stop the grin on her face as she gave Lucy a tiny nod.

Lucy’s eyes widened almost imperceptibly before a slow smile spread across her face.

She looked away before anyone else noticed, then rose.

“I need to freshen up.”

Tom looked at her. “Before dinner?”

Lucy smiled sweetly. “Yes.” Then she winked at him. “And I think you should come help me.”

Tom stood immediately, chuckling as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Your wish is my command.”

Lucy smiled at Jamal, “Excuse us.”

As they walked past Dawn, Lucy paused, “We left Genny’s gifts in the car.”

Lucy gave her the quickest little wink before handing her the car key.

Dawn immediately understood. She looked towards Jamal. “Jam?”

“Hmm?”

“Come assist me in carrying Genevieve’s bridal shower gifts from the car.”

Josh jumped up instantly. “I’ll help!”

Jamal looked from Dawn to Genevieve, then to Stefan.

A slow grin spread across his face as he figured that Lucy and Dawn wanted to give the couple privacy since this was most likely their last night together before their wedding.

“Sure.” He stood. “Come on, buddy.”

Josh grabbed Jamal’s hand enthusiastically, and within moments they had all disappeared outside.

Silence settled over the Den.

Stefan looked towards the doorway, then back at Genevieve.

A grin slowly spread across his face. “I think they’re giving us privacy.”

Genevieve giggled knowingly. “It certainly looks that way.”

Stefan pulled her down to sit on the couch with him.

“So, how was the bridal shower?”

She smiled. “It was fun.”

He nodded. “So how many of those questions did you get correctly?”

She giggled. “Most of them. Although some of your responses shocked me.”

He chuckled. “I figured. I wanted them to know how crazy I was about you. I’m glad you had fun.”

“Yeah. I did. At least until Sonia made one joke that completely changed my mood.”

Immediately Stefan frowned. “What joke?”

Genevieve shrugged. “She joked that maybe I’d been crying so much lately because I was pregnant.”

Stefan frowned harder. “That’s ridiculous. Why would she say that?”

Genevieve bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from smiling. “I have no idea.”

“What does crying have to do with pregnancy? Why would she even assume something like that?”

He shook his head.

Genevieve watched him with growing amusement. “I don’t know.”

Stefan folded his arms. “Don’t let it get to you. I’m sure she meant no harm. Everyone knows that she likes to joke that way. Besides, crying has nothing to do with pregnancy.”

Genevieve nodded thoughtfully. “Apparently, it does.”

Stefan blinked. “What?”

She smiled. “Apparently it does.”

He frowned thoughtfully. “What connection does crying have with pregnancy? I understand crying when it’s time to deliver the baby, but crying as a pregnancy symptom? That doesn’t make sense.”

Genevieve burst into laughter. “Oh, Stefan.”

He looked genuinely confused. “What?”

She shook her head. “Anyway, Sonia’s joke got me thinking. And it reminded me that I’d missed something.”

Stefan tilted his head. “What?”

Genevieve grinned. “My period.”

He frowned. “What period?”

Genevieve stared at him, then laughed. “Why are you asking silly questions?”

“I’m serious. I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

She laughed harder. “You no longer know what a period is?”

“I know what a period is.” He looked completely confused. “I just don’t get what you’re saying.”

Genevieve rolled her eyes fondly. “You really are clueless sometimes.”

Stefan smiled. “That’s why I have you. I’m glad you’re so clueful.”

She giggled. “Seriously, Stefan, what happens when a lady says she misses her period?”

“That means she’s pregnant, isn’t…” he trailed off, then his eyes widened as he looked at her again. “You missed your period?”

Genevieve nodded very slowly, smiling.

Stefan’s lips parted. His breathing stopped. His voice came out as barely more than a whisper.

“You’re… pregnant?” He sounded as if he was afraid to ask it.

Instead of responding, she slowly pulled the pregnancy test from beneath her arm.

Stefan’s eyes immediately dropped to it.

He frowned. “What’s that?”

Genevieve’s eyes filled with tears as she looked into his eyes. “It’s a pregnancy test.”

Stefan’s eyes remained fixed on it.

She smiled through trembling lips. “I just had the test done before you called. It’s positive.”

He stared at her for one long heartbeat without a reaction. Although his mouth remained slightly open.

A tear escaped down her cheek. “We are going to be parents.” She smiled so widely it almost hurt. “You’re going to be a father.”

Stefan’s eyes became glassy.

It was as though his brain had completely stopped working while trying to catch up with what he’d just learned.

Then very slowly his eyes moved from her face to the pregnancy test kit she was holding, then at her stomach.

“There’s a baby in there?” He asked before looking back at her face.

Another tear slipped down Genevieve’s cheek as she laughed softly at his adorable question.

“Yes, Stefan. Our baby. Your baby.”

His hand slowly rose to cover his mouth.

“Oh…” The single word broke on a shaky breath.

His eyes filled instantly as he looked back at her as though he were seeing her for the very first time.

“We…” His voice cracked. “We’re having a baby?”

Genevieve nodded through happy tears. “We are.”

Stefan stood so suddenly that the coffee table rattled slightly beneath the movement.

Genevieve gasped softly in surprise as he dropped to his knees in front of her.

He rested both hands carefully on either side of her face.

“You’re really pregnant.”

It wasn’t a question anymore. It was pure wonder.

She smiled and nodded. “Yes.”

A tear rolled down his face as his forehead slowly came to rest against hers.

Stefan laughed through his own tears as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into a careful hug.

He held her as though she had suddenly become the most fragile person in the world.

“I’m going to be a dad,” he whispered.

He laughed again. “I’m actually going to be somebody’s dad.”

Genevieve nodded against his shoulder. “And I’m going to be a mum.”

They stayed that way for a long moment. Neither of them wanted to let go.

Finally, Stefan leaned back just enough to look at her.

“So, you decided to get the test done because of what Sonia said?” He asked, and Genevieve laughed as she told him how she’d taken a bathroom break, then how Dawn helped her get the kit, and what Lucy said.

“So, Dawn and Lucy know?”

“Were you listening at all? I said Lucy said there’s a bet going on about whether or not I’m pregnant.”

Stefan laughed in disbelief. “The members of this clan can be a lot sometimes.”

“I don’t mind,” Genevieve said with a giggle. “Since Lucy is aware, I suppose we will have to inform them.”

“I suppose so.”

Stefan’s gaze slowly drifted back to her stomach again.

Then he looked back at her. “Can I?”

Her heart melted.

She nodded. “You don’t have to ask.”

His hand moved to her stomach so slowly that it almost trembled.

When his palm finally rested against her stomach, his eyes filled all over again.

“We now have our own little family…”

He whispered the words with so much awe that Genevieve’s own tears returned.

She placed her hand over his. “Our family.”

Stefan looked up at her with the brightest smile she had ever seen.

“I think this is the happiest day of my life,” he said before kissing her forehead.

Genevieve raised a brow. “I thought that’s supposed to be the day I say ‘I do’ to you?”

He laughed softly. “That day has not come yet. When it comes, it’ll be the happiest day of my life, closely followed by today.”

Genevieve laughed.

“I feel like screaming,” Stefan confessed.

“Go ahead and scream,” Genevieve said, laughing.

“You’re sure?” He asked.

She nodded, grinning.

Stefan rose, then headed for the door.

“Where are you going?” Genevieve asked, rising.

“To scream,” Stefan said, and Genevieve laughed as she followed him.

Stefan walked to the middle of the living room, then screamed on top of his lungs, “I’M GOING TO BE A DAD!”

His voice echoed through the entire house.

Upstairs, Dawn giggled as she organized Genevieve’s gifts while waiting for Jamal and Josh to bring in the rest.

“Well,” she said with a smile. “I suppose everyone knows now.”