Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 322: Dawn, Abigail, and Nobody

Jamal’s eyes widened when he heard what Abigail had said.

Nobody? She was Nobody? No. There was no way that was true. It didn’t make sense.

As if to confirm that she wasn’t fooling around, his phone on the dresser vibrated with a notification letting him know his favorite podcast was live.

He stared at her in shock, his heart racing with disbelief.

How? How could she be Nobody? How come she had been right there talking to him weekly for the past five years yet he hadn’t even known about it?

Tears gathered in Abigail’s eyes as she watched different emotions flicker across his face. But she continued with the message she had in mind.

"What does love mean to you? How do you know you’re meant to be with someone? Is it just about butterflies you feel when you see them? Is it just electric chemistry when you’re close to them? Or is it deeper than those? I don’t know about you, but I found a love that defied time and could not be broken by distance," she said softly into the mic. "A love that waited. A love that held on even when it seemed hopeless. A love that is home."

Her voice shook a little. She blinked fast, trying to stop the tears forming in her eyes.

Jamal sat very still on the bed, staring at her like he had forgotten how to breathe. His eyes were wide and full of shock, wonder, confusion, joy, everything was sitting there at the same time.

Abigail pressed a hand to her chest and took a little breath before she went on.

"Someday, I will share my love story with you all, but today I want to tell you all something I never thought I’d have the privilege of saying," she said gently. "I found my person. A man whose love makes me feel whole. I want to say thank you to this special man, who listens to me more than anyone else. The person who hears every word I say, even when I’m quiet. The one who learned to sign just for my sake. The one who keeps finding me even when I didn’t know I needed to be found."

Abigail’s voice broke and her tears finally slipped down her cheeks. "He was my first friend. My first love. And the father of my child. And he’s been my number one fan here even when we were worlds apart, without realising I’m the one."

She whispered into the mic as she wiped her cheek, smiling through tears, "I love you, Jamal Jonas. I love you more with each passing day. Thanks for being my number one fan and for loving me the way you do."

Jamal’s lips parted slightly. His warm eyes softened even more as he whispered her name.

Done recording now, Abigail took off the earpiece and set it beside her. She looked up at Jamal with a wide smile. Her heart thumped so loudly she could hear it in her ears.

"So, that’s it," she whispered.

He didn’t answer. He stood up from the bed very slowly and walked up to her, not caring that he was naked. His eyes stayed locked on her. They were a little wet.

Abigail met him halfway, and when they stood face-to-face, he embraced her. "I can’t believe that was you," he whispered, voice low and rough. "Why didn’t you say anything when I told you I was a fan?" he asked, pulling back to look at her face.

"I wanted the moment to be perfect," she said with a small smile. "And it took me a while to process it. I had to read through all the sweet and kind comments you left me without realising it was me."

He let out a shaky breath, almost like a cry he didn’t let out. His hands came up slowly and he cupped her cheeks, wiping her tears with his thumbs.

"Dawn..." he whispered.

She held his wrists gently, her voice tiny. "I love you, Jamal."

Jamal closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, they were full of emotion, deep, warm, and overflowing.

He brushed his thumb over her lip, his touch gentle as a feather. "I don’t know if I want to cry... or hold you... or thank God," he breathed.

A soft, shaky laugh escaped her as she leaned into his touch. "We can do all."

Jamal leaned in a little closer. "You have no idea how profound it is that you are the voice that calmed me on my bad days. And you are the woman I love with my whole heart." His voice softened. "Now those two people are the same."

Jamal rested his forehead against hers, letting out a slow breath. "I love you, Dawn. Whether you are Dawn, Abigail, or Nobody, I will always love you. I love you yesterday, today, and tomorrow," he whispered.

She hugged him tightly, her tears wet his chest. His arms wrapped around her, warm and possessive.

They stayed like that for a long moment, their hearts beating in one soft rhythm.

Finally, he pulled back just enough to see her face again.

"Thankfully I’ve known and loved every side of you, my Nobody," he whispered, kissing her forehead.

She smiled through tears. "Yeah. Now it’s my turn to love you."

When they got back to bed, they both clung to each other, holding on to each other tightly like they didn’t want to ever let go.

"How did you feel when you first found out I was J.J?" Jamal asked after a long moment.

"I was overwhelmed. I thought my heart would burst," she confessed, smiling softly.

"I do feel like my heart would burst. Stefan and the others are not going to believe it when I tell them," he said, and she giggled.

"When I found out, I wished I had someone to tell," Abigail said, and it occurred to Jamal that she didn’t have any friends apart from him.

"So, no one else knows about your podcast?" He asked, and she paused.

"Dr Diana does. Now that you mention it, I should give her a call tomorrow. I have to tell her all that has happened. I’m sure she must have tried to reach me after seeing the news," Abigail said thoughtfully.

"I’ll like to talk to her and thank her, too. Thanks to her I can look at your real face and hear your voice. And now we have Josh’s real birth certificate. I’ll talk to Tom and Lucy about her so they reach out to her on behalf of the Hank family and thank her," Jamal said, and Abigail smiled.

"That would be nice."

"Is there something you think we can do for her?" He asked, and she giggled.

"No. Her husband is very wealthy and powerful. I’m sure Tom and Harry would know him. Shawn Rosewood," she said, and Jamal nodded.

"I’ve read about him. That’s more reason Tom should reach out then," Jamal said, kissing her forehead.

"I can’t wait to marry you, Jamal," Abigail said with a yawn.

Jamal grinned. "Really?"

"Yeah. I’d like to sleep next to you like this every day. When I’m with you, I don’t think about anything else," she said, sounding sleepy.

Jamal smiled. "Soon. Let’s work on getting you settled. Now that Ryan is out of the picture, you can begin therapy and work..." he trailed off when he heard her soft snore, and he chuckled.

"Sweet dreams, Dawn, Abigail, and Nobody."