Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 373: Imperfect People

Andy and Mari returned home later that evening, after spending most of the day at the spa. The smell of lavender still clung to Mari’s hair from the spa, and her pink nails shone faintly. Her body felt relaxed, loose in a way it hadn’t felt in days, but her heart was still tight.

She was yet to hear from Jax, and it annoyed her that after the way he left the previous day he didn’t care enough to reach out first.

Andy glanced up from her phone to look at her. "Why are you frowning, doll?" she asked softly.

Mari shrugged and looked out of the window. "Jax is yet to call."

"Why don’t you call him?" Andy replied.

"I want to. It’s not like I can’t. I’m just wondering if this is going to be the MO of our relationship. Am I going to always have to be the one to reach out? Last time I understand it was because he was feeling guilt over what his siblings did. So, what is his excuse this time?" Mari asked, not minding that the driver and the guard seated in front of the car could hear her.

Andy sighed softly. "Communication would resolve that not silence, don’t you think?"

When Mari said nothing, Andy continued. "Let me ask you a question. Do you believe Jax loves you or not?"

Mari shrugged. "I guess."

"No. Not guess. Do you trust his feelings for you?"

Mari considered it for a moment then nodded. "I do."

"No one is perfect, doll. If this is a flaw on his part, don’t you think it is something you should work with him to change? You are sure of his love for you, and you love him. Why waste time yearning when you can just call and resolve everything?"

When Mari said nothing, Andy shook her head. "Pride does more harm than good to a relationship. If you’re holding back because of pride, then maybe you don’t love him as much as you think you do."

Mari turned slowly to look at her mother. "That’s not fair, Mom," she said quietly. "This is not about pride."

Andy tilted her head. "What is it then?"

Mari let out a slow breath. "It’s dignity. I don’t want to feel like I’m begging someone to choose me. I don’t want to always be the one chasing. I want to feel wanted without having to reach out first every time. I didn’t stay single all these years only to do the chasing in my first relationship."

Andy nodded, listening. "That’s valid."

"Exactly," Mari said, relieved that her mother got her. "I just want him to reach out. Maybe say, ’Hey, are you okay? I know last night was tough but I’m thinking of you’ Is that too much to ask?"

Andy was quiet for a moment. Then she asked gently, "Do you think Jax knows you need that right now?"

Mari frowned. "Shouldn’t he?"

Andy smiled softly. "Doll, men are not mind readers. Even the good ones."

Mari scoffed. "That’s always the excuse."

"It’s not an excuse," Andy said calmly. "It’s reality. And you should also understand that when it comes to relationships it is about two imperfect people from different backgrounds coming together. You are very expressive with your emotions. Jax is not. You grew up in a home where feelings were talked about. He grew up carrying responsibility on his shoulders. He was raised to fix problems, not to talk about feelings."

Mari leaned back in her seat. "So I’m supposed to do what? Accept him the way he is and keep adjusting?"

"No," Andy said firmly. "You’re supposed to communicate. There’s a difference. And you seem to forget that this is the same guy that kept his feelings for you to himself for three years. Doesn’t that tell you about his nature?"

Mari looked away again. "I guess you have a point."

Andy reached out and placed her hand over Mari’s. "I know I do. Talk it out. If you don’t, he won’t understand."

"I guess I’ll try," Mari whispered. "But what if he doesn’t take my call? What if he insists on taking Dad’s side over mine?"

"You won’t know until you try," Andy said softly. "But you should also consider that it is possible he hasn’t reached out to you because he’s afraid he’ll make things worse between you and your father."

Mari’s brows pulled together. "You think that’s what he’s doing?"

"I think it’s possible," Andy replied. "And the only way to know is to ask."

Mari sighed. "I hate being the first to reach out."

Andy smiled sadly. "Love isn’t a competition, Mari. It’s not about who calls first or who apologizes first. As long as it’s not an abusive relationship of any kind, always choose peace over being right."

They drove the rest of the way in silence.

When they got home, Alex was in the living room, his jacket off, sleeves rolled up, a tablet forgotten on the table in front of him. He looked up the moment they walked in.

"How are my favorite girls doing?" Alex asked pleasantly as he rose.

Mari slowed her steps, and her lips pressed into a thin line.

"We are fine. I feel really relaxed now. And flexible," Andy added, flashing her husband a wink that made him smile before she kissed him.

Mari said nothing as she headed for the stairs, but before she could leave, Andy stopped her.

"Doll? Weren’t you just telling me about how you were sorry for being rude to your Dad last night? It’s your chance to apologize," Andy said sweetly, "I’ll leave you two to it while I go get out of these clothes."

As she walked past Mari, she tilted her head toward Alex, urging her to go make peace with her father before walking away, leaving father and daughter alone in the living room.

Alex said nothing as he watched Mari reluctantly approach him.

Mari sighed quietly. "Hi, Dad," she muttered.

Alex gestured toward the couch. "Sit."

Mari hesitated, then sat on the edge of the couch.

Alex didn’t sit immediately. He stood across from her, studying her face like he always did when she was younger, like he was checking to be sure whether he should talk to her or let her be.

"If you still think I was wrong and you don’t want to talk to me, you can go," he said finally. "I don’t want to talk to you if you won’t listen to a word I say."

Mari looked at him then, and she sighed. "As much as I appreciate you being worried about my safety, I believe you overreacted last night. I love Jax. I want to be with him. I don’t like the way you treated him last night or the way you talked to me in front of him."

There was a pause. Then Alex sighed and sat down opposite her. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, hands clasped.

"I was upset," he said quietly. "I was very angry."

Mari swallowed. "I know."

"But I wasn’t angry just because you went to see Jax," he continued. "I was angry because you didn’t think it wise to call me after something like that happened to you. If I didn’t ask him to bring you home, you’d have stayed there all night without bothering to tell me that I would have lost you, my only child, had my men not been there!"

She swallowed. "I didn’t want to bother you."

"Bother me?" He asked, then snorted. "You think I wasn’t worried about you even when I thought you were headed for the club?"

"I’m not a child, Dad," she said softly.

"That’s the problem."

She frowned. "What do you mean?"

"When you were a child, I could lock the doors and keep danger out," he said. "I could decide where you stay or go and who you meet. I could protect you by force if I had to." His voice dropped. "But you’re not a child anymore. And that terrifies me."

Mari’s chest tightened.

"I can’t control the world for you," Alex went on. "I can’t stand between you and every bad thing. And last night..." He shook his head. "Last night told me that much."

Mari’s eyes burned. "Dad..."

"I kept thinking about it all night," he admitted. "What if my men had been a few seconds late? What if the car had hit you? What if the next call I received was that you were gone?"

His voice broke on the last word and he shut his eyes as if to block out the image his words created.

Mari stood up suddenly and crossed the space between them. She knelt in front of him and hugged him.

"I’m sorry. I didn’t think of it like that," she whispered. "I was just thinking about Jax. About how lonely he looked and how much I missed him."

He pulled back and looked at her. "I understand that," he said slowly. "And I need you to understand that my fear or reaction doesn’t come from control. It comes from love."

She nodded. "I understand that."

"Sit here," he said, patting the space beside him on the couch and she sat down.

They were quiet for a moment. "About Jax," Alex said and Mari tensed slightly.

"I respect him, and care about him. But right now, his world is messy..."

Mari cut in. "I resolved the issue with his siblings and Mom said Diva is dead. I believe everything is sorted now."

"You are my only child. I won’t gamble with you."

"I’m not asking you to gamble. I’m asking you to trust me, Dad. And trust Jax to protect me. You trusted him once before to do so, you can trust him even now."

Alex leaned back, thinking. "I can do that," he said at last. "But you have to meet me halfway."

"How?" she asked.

"You communicate," he said. "You tell us where you are. You don’t disappear. You don’t let us hear about danger from other people."

She winced. "That was my fault."

"Yes," he agreed gently. "It was."

"I’m sorry," she said again, this time without being prompted.

He reached out and brushed her hair back from her face. "I forgive you. I’m also sorry for hurting your feelings."

Her throat tightened. "Does that mean I can go see Jax?"

A corner of his mouth twitched. "You can’t."

She laughed weakly. "Dad!"

"He can come over to see you. You both can go out on dates. But you can’t go to his house. I need to see that things around him are truly settled."

She nodded. "That’s fair." She leaned forward and hugged him tightly. "Thank you."

He wrapped his arms around her and held her just as tightly.

From the staircase, Andy watched them, relief softening her face. She smiled and turned away, giving them their moment.