Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 460: At Home

For several minutes after the proposal, nobody moved toward the dinner table.

The patio remained filled with laughter, cheers, and congratulations.

Genevieve stood beside Stefan with her hand firmly locked in his. Neither of them seemed willing to let go.

The ring glittered beneath the patio lights every time she moved her hand. And every time she saw it, her heart squeezed all over again.

The first person to reach them was Lucy.

She wrapped her arms tightly around Genevieve. “I’m so happy for you, darling.”

Genevieve smiled through fresh tears. “Thank you.”

Lucy pulled back and brushed her tears away before hugging Stefan too.

“About time.”

Everyone laughed.

Stefan chuckled. “Fair.”

Then Tom stepped forward. He shook Stefan’s hand first for exactly two seconds. Then he pulled him into a hug.

Stefan blinked.

Tom was not particularly known for hugs.

“Congratulations. We’re really happy to be hosting this for you.”

Something warm settled in Stefan’s chest.

“Thank you, sir.”

Tom stepped back and looked at Genevieve. “Happiness looks good on you. Congratulations.”

Genevieve’s throat tightened. “Thank you, sir.”

Harry came next. Unlike Tom, he didn’t even pretend to offer Stefan a handshake.

He immediately hugged him. “Congratulations, son.”

Stefan smiled. “Thank you, sir.”

Then Harry pointed at Genevieve. “Try not to lose this ring.”

The entire patio exploded into laughter.

Genevieve giggled as a blush stole up her cheeks, while Stefan laughed beside her.

One after another, the others came.

Even little Josh ran over. “Aunt Genny!”

Genevieve immediately crouched down.

Josh pointed excitedly at her ring. “You’re getting married!”

Everyone laughed.

Genevieve nodded. “I am.”

Josh looked at Stefan. “Does he love you like my daddy likes my mummy?”

Genevieve giggled as the patio erupted in laughter.

“I love her more than your daddy loves your mummy. Has your daddy given your mummy a ring?” Stefan asked playfully.

Josh looked at Stefan for a moment, like he was considering the question. “My daddy gave my mummy me. I am better than a ring,” he said, and Jamal nearly choked laughing.

Dawn covered her face as she laughed helplessly.

Josh looked confused. “What?”

Dawn scooped him up before anyone could explain. “You’ve said enough. Give others room to congratulate them.”

Josh nodded seriously. “Okay.”

The laughter continued.

Then attention shifted towards the phones because people were still waiting online.

Jamal carried his phone closer, and immediately Emily and Callan smiled at Stefan and Genevieve.

“Congratulations guys,” Callan called out to them.

“Stef, I never knew you had it in you to give such a romantic speech,” Emily said, making them laugh.

“Thank you,” Stefan and Genevieve responded.

Dawn carried the tablet closer.

Immediately, voices began speaking over one another.

“Congratulations!”

“Congratulations, you two.”

“You both look amazing together!”

“Why did you have to fix your wedding when we are having our exams?” Bella asked with a scowl.

Genevieve laughed.

Stefan shook his head.

The volume was unbelievable.

Family members from different places all wanted to talk at once.

Eventually, someone managed to restore order.

Barely.

Leo appeared on the screen next. He looked offended. “I would like everyone to know that I wasn’t invited to be physically present.”

Stefan rolled his eyes. “You are on another continent.”

“Excuses,” Leo hissed, then looked at Genevieve. “You’re so pretty. If Stefan hadn’t already laid a claim to you, I’d ask you to be my sweetheart.”

“Leonard Hank!” Sonia, who was also on the call, snapped.

“Mom? I didn’t realise you were on the call. Chill. I’m just kidding,” he rushed to assure her, and everyone laughed.

Stefan glanced towards Genevieve. Then smiled because thanks to her, he had finally stopped carrying so much weight alone, and he could feel the love of the family he’d spent years convincing himself he wasn’t a part of.

The congratulatory calls continued.

Eventually, Grandpa Aaron’s voice cut through the noise.

“Alright. Let the old man speak,” he called out, since he’d been seated the whole time and giving them room to do their thing.

The patio immediately became quiet. Even the people on the screens stopped talking.

Aaron smiled as his gaze moved from Genevieve to Stefan. Then back again.

The warmth in his eyes was impossible to miss. “I’m proud of both of you. You’ve both come a long way individually to where you are now.”

Genevieve’s eyes softened.

Stefan remained quiet.

Aaron continued. “I’m going to say this now because I might not have the chance or remember to say it after now.”

His gaze moved between them both.

“Marriage is about two people becoming one. Two, not half. That means you’re both whole individually before you come together as a team. Never expect the other person to complete what you should heal within yourself.”

They both nodded.

Aaron smiled gently as he looked at Genevieve.

“Genevieve, I may not know much about you personally, but I believe you’ve spent years searching for where you belong,” he said, causing a lump to form in her throat.

Then he turned to Stefan, “And you…” he paused. “You’ve spent years acting like you don’t belong.”

Stefan looked down briefly.

Aaron continued gently.

“I’ve watched you for a long time. Every time this family tried to pull you closer, you’d take one step forward and two steps back.”

A few people smiled because they knew it was true.

Aaron shook his head. “You’d show up when someone needed help. You’d carry burdens that weren’t yours. But when it came time to let people love you back, suddenly you remembered you weren’t a Jonas.”

Stefan swallowed and Genevieve squeezed his hand.

Aaron’s voice softened. “But now you’re building a family of your own. You’re going to be a husband, and one day you’ll be a father too.”

Stefan glanced toward Genevieve.

“So my wish for you is simple. Stop standing at the edge of the family and finally come all the way in. Because whether you like it or not, you’ve belonged here for years. You’re a Jonas as much as I am.”

The words hit harder than anyone realised. And tears gathered in Stefan’s eyes. He blinked quickly as he looked down.

Genevieve immediately looked at him and embraced him briefly.

Stefan’s throat tightened.

Aaron continued softly. “So I hope you’ll finally let down your guard completely, son.”

Aaron pointed toward the family gathered around the patio.

“This is your family.”

For a second Stefan couldn’t speak.

Then finally he nodded. “Thank you, Grandpa.”

Aaron nodded. “Good. Now prove it.”

A few people laughed.

Then Harry snorted. “Don’t encourage him. He always listens, nods respectfully, then returns to factory settings three days later.”

“He won’t,” Genevieve assured them quickly. “I won’t let him,” she promised.

Aaron grinned. “Come give me a hug, dear. I love you already.”

Everyone laughed, and the heaviness disappeared, replaced by warmth.

Lucy finally clapped her hands together. “Alright. Everybody, sit down before the food gets cold.”

That immediately got everyone’s attention.

Because there was a lot of food.

The long dining table had been arranged beautifully beneath the lights, and large platters filled almost every inch of the table.

As everyone headed for the table, Stefan looked around the patio at the people laughing, teasing, and celebrating around him. Something inside him settled.

They were all here for him and Genevieve. Because he was one of them.

“How do you feel?” Genevieve whispered.

“At home,” he admitted.

She grinned immediately. “Good.”