Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 311: It’s Not A Secret

Long after Jamal left, Callan remained in his position on the bed still staring at the white cowling that had started to look like a blank canvas.

The clock on the wall ticked softly but time didn’t seem to move. The room was dim, washed in the gray light of dawn creeping through the curtains.

He hadn’t slept. Not even for a second.

Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Ryan’s wide lifeless eyes and the sound came back, that deafening bang that felt like it ripped through his skull and not just Ryan’s.

He let out a shaky sigh and rubbed his face with both hands when his mind drifted to Emily.

A faint smile tugged at his lips before he could stop it. He thought of her messy bun, the way she smiled when she didn’t want to, and how she’d looked at him at the hospital, worried, quiet, holding back tears.

She’d hugged him like she was trying to put him back together.

The smile faded into a sigh when he remembered how he’d almost been tempted to kiss her in the car earlier.

What was he doing? Who was he fooling thinking he could control his feelings for the next couple of months?

There was absolutely no way he could go back to Husla with her, live under the same roof again for months and act indifferent.

Every time she smiled or looked his way, something inside him shifted. He couldn’t keep pretending to her that he didn’t care about her as a woman or want her.

Not anymore. He feared that if he delayed any more than he’d done already she might not give him a chance later.

He ran a hand through his hair and exhaled. Maybe it was best he talked to his parents before leaving for Husla than wait until the six months was over.

It didn’t make sense to keep hiding it. If his parents said no, then fine, at least he’d know where they stood. And maybe if they disapproved they wouldn’t let him go back with Emily, and it would save them both the torture of living together for another six months.

He turned onto his back again and stared up, lost in thought. The ceiling blurred a little. He didn’t even realize when his mother opened the door.

The door creaked open, and her gentle voice followed. "Callan?" She called when she saw he seemed to be awake.

He turned his head. "Hey, Mom."

Delilah stepped inside, her robe tied neatly around her waist. She looked at him with concern.

"You’re awake already?"

"I didn’t exactly sleep," he said quietly, his voice rough.

Her brows furrowed. "You mean you didn’t close your eyes all night?"

He shook his head. "Didn’t feel like it."

She sighed softly and came closer, sitting at the edge of his bed. "How do you feel?"

He gave a small nod, eyes distant. "I’m fine. Just thinking."

"About what happened at the hospital?" she asked gently.

He hesitated, then shook his head. "No. Not really. I’m over that already."

She watched him for a while, then nodded slowly. "Jessica and I decided we’ll handle the funeral arrangements. We don’t expect any of you to want to take up that responsibility. He was our family, whether or not he wanted the relationship."

Callan sat up. "I’m not going to attend the funeral. I have no business with him, alive or dead."

"I thought you’d say that," she said softly. "That’s okay. You don’t owe him anything. Especially not after what he did."

He nodded, grateful she didn’t push it.

For a while, neither of them spoke, then Callan rubbed the back of his neck. "Mom, can I tell you something? Like... confide in you?"

She tilted her head. "Of course. What’s wrong?"

He hesitated. "You can’t tell Dad or anyone else. It has to stay between us. I mean it."

Her eyes softened. "Alright."

He held her gaze. "Promise?"

"I promise. You have my word."

He swallowed hard. "And you have to be honest with me, okay? No dodging. No judging."

She smiled faintly, guessing where the conversation was going. "I’ll try my best. Go on."

Callan drew in a slow breath, his heart thudding a little faster. "I like Emily."

She didn’t even blink. Her eyes didn’t even widen the way he expected.

"I mean—" he went on quickly, "—not like family. Not as my cousin. I’m... interested in her. Like, as a woman. I have feelings for her."

He waited, bracing himself.

But instead of shock or disapproval, his mother just smiled. A small, knowing smile that made his chest tighten.

"That’s all?" she asked calmly.

He blinked. "That’s how you’re going to react? You’re not shocked?"

She chuckled softly. "Callan, sweetheart, it’s not a secret. I already knew."

He frowned. "What do you mean you knew?"

"I mean exactly what I said. We all knew," she said, laughing.

His frown deepened. "All who?"

She lifted a brow. "Who else do you think? The family, of course. Your Dad, Emily’s parents, your aunt Sabrina and her husband."

He stared at her, utterly confused. "Wait, if everyone knew, why did you still send Emily to stay with me in Husla? Why—why put us together?"

She sighed, shaking her head fondly. "Sometimes, I’m so proud of how smart you are, and other times, I wonder where all that intelligence disappears to."

He blinked, then frowned. "What?"

"You’ve been avoiding her for years," she said patiently. "Isn’t she the reason you wanted to be in Husla? We figured if you two lived together, maybe you’d finally talk it out, face whatever it was between you — and either decide to be together, or move on and stop running from each other. Either way, you’d get closure and come back home."

Callan stared at her like she’d just spoken another language. "So... wait. You’re saying it’s okay? Like, you’d actually approve if I dated Emily? Or even... married her?"

She let out a light laugh. "Oh, darling. We all know Emily’s had a crush on you since before you were even adopted. And we all saw the way you looked at her too. You two have been dancing around each other for years."

He blinked, still processing.

She continued, smiling softly. "You’re not blood-related. There’s no law or moral line you’d be crossing. It’s not wrong. And if you make each other happy, then who are we to stand in the way? It wouldn’t be fair to either of you for us to get in the way of feelings that had been there before you became a part of the family."

Callan’s breath caught. "So you mean... it’s really okay?"

"It’s more than okay," she said gently. "It’s been okay all along. Damon likes and approves of you even though he doesn’t like how you’ve been womanizing."

For a moment, he just sat there, stunned. Then, slowly, a smile broke across his face, the kind that reached his eyes and spread across his heart.

He leaned forward suddenly and hugged her tight.

She laughed softly, patting his back. "Goodness, you’re holding me like I just saved the world."

"You did," he murmured into her shoulder. "You really saved my world."

She pulled back enough to look at him. "So, all this time you were holding back because you thought we wouldn’t approve?"

He nodded sheepishly. "Yeah. I was scared. I thought you’d be disappointed and I never want to disappoint you."

She shook her head, amusement shining in her eyes. "You waste so much time worrying and overthinking, Callan. If you’d just asked, you’d have had your answer ages ago."

He smiled softly, his chest feeling lighter than it had in years. "I’m starting to realize that now. I’ll do better."

"You’d better," she teased. "Now that we are on the subject and we are being honest, can I ask you a question? I’ve been curious about it for a while."

Callan nodded. "Sure."

"What happened between Emily and you when she visited you in school to celebrate your birthday six years ago?" She asked, and his eyes widened.

"You knew she visited me?"

She smiled, "Everyone knows she visited you. Did you really think Emily could secretly leave the country without her father’s knowledge? And we told you we’ve had eyes on you for a long time."

Callan looked away guiltily and told her what happened.

She shook her head and sighed. "Poor Emily. She fell in love with an idiot."

"Mom," Callan protested.

"Don’t Mom me. Get your act together, Callan. That girl won’t always wait for you to come around. If you lose her, it’d be your loss," she said gently, standing from the bed. "Anyway, I’m glad you’re fine. I came to check on you, not end up having a counseling session."

He smiled faintly. "Thanks, Mom."

She nodded and approached the door. Just as she reached for the doorknob Callan stopped her.

"Mom?" he said quickly.

She turned back. "Yes?"

"Please don’t tell Dad or anyone else. I will tell them myself after I talk to Emily and sort things out."

She smiled. "My lips are sealed."

Then she walked out, leaving Callan alone again. This time, his didn’t feel so heavy anymore.

He smiled to himself as sunlight crept through the curtains, painting his wall gold. He couldn’t wait to hangout with Emily.