Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 359: No One

Mari turned when she heard the engine roar. The sound was sudden, loud and too close.

She froze when she came face-to-face with the blinding headlights of Diva’s car as it came straight at her.

For a second, her body refused to move. Her feet felt glued to the ground, and her mind went blank, like the world had paused just for her.

Mari couldn’t scream or run. She just stood there, frozen, eyes wide, heart slamming hard against her chest.

Then, just before the car could get to her, there was a violent crash.

Another car burst into the road from the side and slammed into Diva’s vehicle with force. Metal screeched. Glass shattered. The impact pushed Diva’s car off its path, away from Mari.

The car spun wildly, tyres screaming as it lost control.

Mari watched in shock as it veered off the road and crashed into a tree with a loud, sickening bang.

Mari’s knees buckled in the silence that followed.

The strength left her body all at once, and she sank to the ground. Her breath came out in short, broken gasps. Her whole body shook as the reality hit her.

Headlights flooded the area again as Jax’s car screeched to a stop.

He jumped out before the engine fully died and ran to her. His heart was in his throat when he saw her on the ground.

"Mari!" he shouted.

She looked up at him, her eyes huge, unfocused, full of fear. "She... she wanted to kill me," she whispered, her voice barely there as she pointed at Diva’s car. "Diva wanted to kill me."

Jax dropped to his knees in front of her and pulled her into his arms, holding her tight. He shut his eyes hard, his jaw clenched as relief and anger crashed through him at once.

"You’re safe," he said hoarsely. "You’re safe. Thank God."

Mari clutched his shirt, her fingers shaking.

Alex’s men rushed past them toward the crashed car.

"Sir," one of Alex’s men said, breathing hard, "please take her inside. We’ll handle this."

Jax nodded once. He lifted Mari gently into his arms and carried her to his car like she was fragile. She didn’t resist. She didn’t speak. Her head rested against his chest as if that was the only solid thing left in the world.

He placed her in the front seat and shut the door quickly before getting in.

He turned to her at once. "Are you hurt anywhere? Should I take you to the hospital?"

She shook her head slowly. "No. I’m not hurt. I’m just... shocked."

He exhaled deeply and rested his forehead on the steering wheel for a second before looking at her again.

"Do you want me to drive you back home?" he asked quietly.

She frowned. "No. I came to see you. I don’t want to go home."

"But Venita said you were leaving earlier. Because of what Diva told you."

Mari let out a sigh. "Not exactly. I didn’t know how to handle it. I needed space to think before coming inside. But then it occurred to me that you were struggling emotionally and pushing me away because of what they did. And I didn’t want you to sit alone with that, so I was coming to meet you when she attempted to hit me." She shuddered at the memory.

Jax’s shoulders sagged. "I’m sorry, Mari. I’m so sorry that because of me, you’re experiencing things like these."

"You don’t owe me an apology, baby. It’s not your fault that your siblings did that. And it’s not your fault that Diva decided to move mad either," she said softly. "Let’s go inside."

"No. I’ll take you somewhere else. I don’t want you anywhere near them," he said firmly. "Once Chad recovers, they’re gone. Both of them. Out of my life."

Mari shook her head at once. "No way that is happening."

He looked at her in surprise. "What?"

"They’re your siblings," she said softly. "I admit that what they did was wrong. And I feel really hurt knowing they did something like that. Chad especially. But I can’t let you lose your family. Not Venita and definitely not Chad. He’s like the other half of you."

Jax shook his head. "I don’t think I have it in me to forgive them," he said, pain flashing in his eyes.

"You will," she replied gently. "Forgiveness is for mistakes. Where there is no offence, there is no forgiveness. And our family deserves our forgiveness the most, especially when they’re sorry. I believe that Venita and Chad are sorry."

He shut his eyes. "It could have been worse. You could have gotten hurt. Whenever I think about leaving you alone that way, my chest hurts."

She reached for his face, cupping it with both hands, and kissed him softly. "I’m fine. Nothing happened to me. It could have been worse, but it wasn’t. You look tired," she whispered. "Let’s go in. You need to rest. Let me handle this."

He looked at her. "How?"

"Leave them to me," she said. "I don’t like you looking so stressed."

Jax sighed, then started the car. They drove off, leaving Alex’s men to handle Diva’s wreck.

When they got inside the house, Chad was sitting on the couch, pale and weak, Venita beside him. They both rose when Jax and Mari walked in.

"Why are you out here?" Jax asked with a frown. "You should be in bed."

"Venita told me what happened," Chad said. "I was worried." He looked at Mari. "I’m sorry for doing that to you. You didn’t deserve it. I was scared and made a bad choice. I regret it."

Venita looked down. "I’m sorry too. It’s my fault."

Although Mari couldn’t look them in the face, especially Chad, whose action hurt her the most because of how much she liked him, she knew that Jax was watching her, and if she wanted Jax to forgive them, she had to show him she could forgive them.

Mari nodded slowly. "I won’t pretend I’m not hurt. You hurt me deeply, Chad. Venita has never hidden the fact that she didn’t care about me. But you... I thought you liked me and we were friends."

"I do like you," Chad whispered apologetically.

"Your actions said otherwise. But I won’t hold it against you. I blame myself for giving you my trust too easily. It is because I trusted you that I feel hurt. I’m also upset because of what this did to Jax. I can only imagine how upset and emotionally stressed he must have been."

Chad and Venita looked down shamefaced as Mari turned to Jax. "I didn’t come into your life to break your family apart. I love a united family. I want you three to hug and make up."

Venita burst into tears. "I’m sorry," she cried.

Mari nudged Jax forward. He reluctantly opened his arms, and Venita ran into them.

Chad looked at Mari. "I’m sorry I hurt you, little mermaid."

Mari walked to him and hugged him, "It’s okay," she said, then pressed lightly on his wound.

"Ow!" Chad yelped.

"That’s for stabbing me in the back," she said calmly as she stepped back. "Try it again, and I’ll stab you right on that spot till you bleed."

"I’ll keep that in mind," Chad said, wincing.

"You better not even think about it," Jax growled at Chad.

Chad nodded quickly. "I won’t. I promise."

"Group hug, you three," Mari urged them, and watched from the side as they hugged.

As they broke the hug, Venita turned to Mari. "Thank you, Mari."

Ignoring her gratitude, Mari rubbed her stomach. "I’m hungry. Venita, go cook," she said, pointing to the kitchen.

"What do you want to eat? Anything," Venita said obediently.

Jax narrowed his eyes. "I’ll cook for you myself," he told Mari.

Venita raised a brow. "You think I’ll poison her?"

He shrugged. "I won’t put it past you."

Mari slapped his arm. "Have some trust. In me. She’ll eat it from the same plate as me."

They all laughed as Venita headed for the kitchen and Chad followed her.

"Are you going to tell her about Diva’s accident?" Mari whispered as they watched Venita go.

"Who is Diva?" Jax asked with a blank expression, and Mari giggled and shook her head.

"No one."

"Good." Jax looked down at Mari. "Thank you," he murmured as she embraced him.

"Anything for you," she said, kissing him.