Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 345: Incredible!

Jamal walked into his office, humming under his breath, ready to start the day. But the moment he saw Stefan standing by his office door like he was waiting for him, his smile faded.

Stefan didn’t look happy. He looked like he had not slept. He looked worried.

As Jamal walked into his office, Stefan followed him in and shut the door slowly.

Before Stefan could say a word, Jamal turned to him. "Sit down and tell me what the problem is," Jamal said as he took his seat behind his desk.

Stefan looked at him for a moment before pulling out a chair to sit down across from him. His eyes were tired and red, like he had not slept at all. "Did Dawn tell you about Genevieve’s visit?" he asked, voice low.

Jamal nodded. "Yeah. She did."

"Did she also tell you Genevieve wants to travel?"

"Yes. Is that why you look like this?" Jamal asked with concern.

Stefan let out a breath. "Wouldn’t you be upset if the reverse was the case and Dawn decided to leave?"

Jamal nodded slowly. "Yeah. You’re right. I’d be upset. I’d lose my mind. I’d probably lock the doors and block all the windows." He shrugged. "But you’re not me. And Genny isn’t Dawn. If you don’t want her to leave, then convince her to stay. If anyone can do that, it’s you. You made her open up after all. And you’re the reason she’s here in Ludus."

Stefan shook his head. "I don’t think that is right. I think she needs to leave. I think she needs to find herself, breathe again, forgive herself. I agree with her that leaving might be good for her."

"Good. Then support her," Jamal said simply.

Stefan stared at him with a frown. "What kind of advice is that? First you say I hold her back and now you say I let her go. Which am I supposed to take?"

Jamal lifted his hands. "That’s not up to me. I’m just saying if you agree that her decision is right, then it’s only right that you support her and let her go. If you don’t agree, then find ways to keep her from leaving. At the end of the day it’s up to you to decide what you want."

Stefan shook his head and sighed deeply. "I’m trying not to think about what I want. I’m trying to think about what she needs."

"Then do that," Jamal said. "But don’t sit here looking like the world is ending. Make a choice that you can live with. One that won’t make you mad at yourself later."

Stefan rubbed his face with both hands, then sighed. "I told her she could go. As long as she keeps in touch and doesn’t ghost me."

Jamal smiled. "So, you’ve made a decision after all. You didn’t need my advice, so why make me waste my breath?"

"I didn’t ask. You gave it," Stefan said, and Jamal snorted.

"My bad. I take it all back," Jamal said, and Stefan chuckled this time to his relief.

"Well, listen. One thing I’ve learned is that no matter what you do, things work out the way they are meant to. So stay hopeful. No matter how long it takes, if you’re meant to be, it will be."

Stefan looked doubtful. "I don’t want it to take so long."

Jamal grinned. "Want me to tell you something to brighten your mood?"

Stefan scoffed. "I doubt anything can."

"Do you want to hear it or not?" Jamal asked with a mild scowl.

Stefan sighed. "Fine. Tell me. It’s not like I have anything to lose."

Jamal’s grin widened as he pulled out his phone and played the podcast as he had done for the others earlier that morning.

Stefan frowned. "Isn’t that Nobody? Don’t tell me you’re still obsessed with her even now that Dawn is in your life. I don’t think she’s going to like knowing you fancy a faceless woman. Besides, why are you playing her podcast right now? How is it meant to brighten my mood?"

"Just listen," Jamal said, leaning back with a grin.

Jamal watched as Stefan’s brows slowly pulled together as he listened. Jamal smiled when Stefan’s eyes widened and his lips parted as he met Jamal’s gaze.

"Wait—WAIT. NO WAY!" He pointed at the phone. "DAWN?! DAWN IS NOBODY?!"

Jamal burst into laughter, rubbing the corner of his eyes where tears formed. "Incredible, right?"

Stefan sat down again, stunned. "No way! That’s not possible. It doesn’t even make any sense."

Jamal smiled. "Yeah. It doesn’t make sense."

"I watched you pine for Dawn, and then I watched you try to find Abigail. I was here every time you blocked your ears listening to Nobody! How can she be all three people?" Stefan exclaimed, rubbing his arms. "Jamal... this has got to be the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen. I literally have goosebumps everywhere!"

Jamal nodded. "Same thing I felt when she told me. If I hadn’t watched her record the episode with my own eyes in my bedroom, I wouldn’t have believed it either. Just thinking about it I get all teary."

"This is incredible. Truly."

Jamal smiled. "Yeah. And that is why you should believe me when I ask you not to worry about anything. If Genevieve is meant for you, she’ll find her way back. Maybe right now just isn’t the time for your love story to start. Maybe it’s the right person at the wrong time scenario. Let her fly."

Stefan stared at him quietly. "You really think so?"

"I do." Jamal nodded. "So be hopeful. Let her go heal the best way she can. When she’s ready, if she’s the right one, she’ll come back."

"As long as it doesn’t take twenty damn years. I’m not you," he muttered, and Jamal chuckled.

"I guess she’s not worth waiting twenty years to have. Poor girl. I hope she meets the right guy for her," Jamal said dryly and chuckled when Stefan glared at him.

A slow breath left Stefan’s chest. "Thank you, Jamal."

Before Jamal could say anything else, his phone started ringing. He looked at the screen.

"Cal," he said with a smirk, suspecting that Callan wanted to update him on his conversation with Emily.

Stefan stood. "I’ll go see what’s going on at the project site," he said as he rose and headed for the door.

Jamal received the call. "Hey. I guess you’ve dropped off the girls."

"I wouldn’t be calling if I hadn’t."

"I guess. So, how did things go with Em? Did you both fix things up?"

Callan blew out a shaky breath. "Jamal... are you very busy? Can I come see you? I need to talk. I feel like my head will explode if I don’t. And I don’t want to talk over the phone."

Jamal smiled, pleased that Callan, who was fond of keeping things to himself, was eager to talk in person now. He glanced at the time. "If you can get here soon, we can talk before my first appointment walks in by eleven."

"Do you have something strong to drink?" Callan asked. "Or should I bring something?"

"I don’t drink during work hours, but I do have a couple of bottles here."

"I’m coming," Callan said and hung up.