Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 429: Figuring It Out

Mari sat in the backseat of the car while the security detail drove her to Jax’s place. She couldn’t stay still because of how excited she was.

She knew he was going to need to focus on his work, and she had no plans of distracting him. She just wanted him to know she was there so he could take a break as often as he could.

She could be busy on her laptop while watching him do his thing.

Checking the time and realizing it was over an hour already since she talked to Emily, she smiled to herself, wondering if Emily was yet to get back to her because she had made up with Callan and they were too busy being lovey-dovey to remember the outside world.

The thought amused her.

She tapped Emily’s contact and lifted the phone to her ear as the car sped down the road.

The call rang twice before Emily picked up.

"Hey!"

Mari’s smile faded slightly at the sound of her voice. "Just an unenthusiastic hey? Don’t tell me you’re yet to make up with Cal." she said suspiciously.

Emily sighed softly. "I tried. I apologized, and he did too."

Mari sat up straighter immediately. "Then why do you sound this way?"

Emily was quiet for a moment. "It was weird."

"Weird how?"

Emily leaned back against her headboard and closed her eyes.

"I don’t know," she said quietly. "I can’t explain it, but something feels off. I’ve been trying to figure it out."

Mari frowned. "What do you mean off? Tell me what happened."

Mari listened carefully as Emily told her how she’d gone to his room to talk to him and how he’d responded.

"He keeps saying he’s fine, but he doesn’t feel fine," Emily admitted. "He was talking to me normally but not really. Do you get what I mean?"

Mari’s brows furrowed. "Like he’s talking to you but he’s emotionally distant?"

"Exactly!" Emily sighed again. "It felt like he suddenly pulled away from me. Even when we he was upset at the hospital, he didn’t shut me out this way. I don’t just get why he’s overreacting now. It’s bothering me and pissing me off at the same time."

Mari immediately narrowed her eyes when her mind immediately went back to the exact words Emily had used earlier.

Her stomach sank slightly. "Em..." she said slowly. "Is it possible Cal overheard anything you said while we were talking earlier?"

There was silence on the line.

Then Emily spoke carefully. "I don’t think so."

Mari frowned harder. "Think properly. Did he maybe knock and you didn’t notice?"

Emily sat up slowly now. "No..." she trailed off when something occurred to her, and her heart skipped a beat at the thought that he might have heard her.

"What?" Mari asked immediately.

"I’m not sure he heard me, but earlier he lied that he had dinner, but when I took my takeout plate to the kitchen, I saw that he’d moved his to the refrigerator."

"I don’t follow," Mari said.

"I mean... when we got home he left the takeout bags at the dining table and went to his room, so I took my share to the bedroom. By the time I came out, he’d moved it from the dining to the refrigerator. That means he walked past my bedroom," Emily explained.

Mari closed her eyes briefly. "I think he heard you," she said softly.

"Oh no," Emily whispered. Her heart raced as she tried to recall all she’d said earlier.

He’d said he didn’t want her talking about their relationship to anyone. And not only had she talked to Mari, she might have said something to upset him and now he was acting up because of that.

"Did I say something you think might have hurt his feelings?"

"He probably heard you talking about his past," she said gently. "You said he had no right to tell you what do considering his reckless past."

Emily’s chest tightened instantly and she pressed a hand against her forehead. "Oh God."

Mari sighed quietly. "We could be wrong."

"I don’t think so," Emily whispered slowly as realization dawned on her. "That has to be the reason why he was acting like that. He looked so calm but something felt wrong."

"That means you’ve hurt him," Mari said softly.

Emily swallowed hard. "I didn’t mean it like that."

"I know you didn’t," Mari assured her quickly. "And I’m sure he will figure it out as well when he’s calmer. Words tend to hit differently when they come from someone you love."

Emily’s throat tightened as she recalled the way Callan had said he had no right to tell her what to do and would never do so again.

Now it sounded different in her head now. She’d hurt him deeply.

"Oh no," she whispered again.

Mari softened her tone. "Hey. Don’t panic."

"I hurt him, Mari," Emily said quietly.

"Yes," Mari said honestly. "You did. But relationships are not about never hurting each other. Sometimes you will. What matters is what you do after."

Emily wiped at her face quickly even though no tears had fallen yet.

"He wouldn’t talk to me," she murmured.

"He probably doesn’t know how to," Mari said gently. "You know Callan. He’s still learning how to be vulnerable."

Emily shut her eyes tightly.

There was silence for a moment.

Then Mari asked, "Do you want me to call him? I could talk to him."

Emily shook her head immediately even though Mari couldn’t see her. "No. I have to handle it myself."

"Okay. Just take it easy," Mari added carefully. "Maybe you should assure him that you don’t see him as that reckless person anymore and that you don’t hold his past against him."

Emily’s chest ached at that.

She had forgiven him.

At least she thought she had.

Hadn’t she?

Emily exhaled shakily. "I’ve forgiven him, Mari. I really don’t see him as that person anymore," she said softly.

Although Mari wanted to ask if Emily was sure about that, she held back.

"Then make sure he knows that," Mari replied instead. "And never bring it up again."

Mari leaned back in her seat as the car turned into Jax’s street.

"What do you think? Should I go meet him now and talk things through?" Emily asked, looking at her door.

"Maybe you should give him some time, then talk about it properly when he calms down," Mari suggested.

Emily nodded slowly. "I really love him, Mari," she admitted quietly.

Mari smiled faintly. "Don’t I know that?"

Emily sniffled softly. "Why does relationships have to be so complicated? Why can’t he just walk past right now and overhear me saying I love him?"

Mari burst into laughter. "I know right? Even in movies and books people only overhear when they’re being spoken ill of. It’s so annoying."

That pulled a weak laugh from Emily too.

Mari smiled when she heard it.

"Seriously though," she added more softly. "You both will be okay."

Emily leaned back against the bed again.

"I hope so."

"You will," Mari assured her.

The car finally stopped in front of Jax’s place.

Mari’s heartbeat quickened immediately.

"I have to go," she said softly. "I’m at Jax’s place."

Emily blinked. "Did you sneak off or did your dad allow you go there?"

Mari grinned proudly. "Your girl can be quite persuasive when she wants to be."

Emily laughed softly. "I need that persuasiveness in talking to Cal."

Mari smiled. "You’ll do just fine. You love each other too much not to work through this."

"Thanks, Mari. I love you," Emily said, grateful that Mari had helped her figure things out.

"Love you too. Goodluck," Mari said, then ended the call.

Mari lowered the phone and looked up at the building.

A soft smile rested on her lips as she stepped out of the car.

She couldn’t wait to see Jax.