Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 494: Loser

Dawn smiled. “Round two.”

Jax looked at Mari. “What happens now?”

Mari picked up one of the cards. “We reshuffle the same cards, but now it gets harder.” She looked at everyone. “One word only. And let’s reduce the time to 30 seconds since it is one word only.”

Emily smiled. “I’m loving the game.”

“Me too,” Dawn agreed.

They reshuffled the cards.

Jamal and Dawn went first again.

After thirty seconds, they had earned four more cards.

Their total climbed to twelve.

Mari and Jax went next.

This time, Jax gave the clues and by the time Callan stopped the clock, they had earned five more cards.

Their total was ten.

Mari groaned. “We’re still behind.”

Jax smiled. “Just by two. And we still have one round.”

“That’s true.”

Emily and Callan were next.

By the time the clock was stopped, they had gained five cards making theirs a total of 14 cards.

“We are still leading,” Emily said happily as she hugged Callan.

Mari pointed at them. “Don’t celebrate yet.”

Callan smiled. “You can’t stop us from celebrating.”

“We still have the final round,” Jamal reminded them.

Everyone looked at the cards, their hearts racing with anticipation.

“No clues this time. Just charades,” right?” Dawn said with excitement. She was enjoying herself too much to worry about who won or lost.

“Yes. This is my favourite part.”

Jax leaned back. “Why is my heart beating so fast?”

Mari grinned. “That’s the fun of the game.”

They reshuffled the same cards again, and Jamal went first.

The room filled with laughter as the game continued.

When their time ended, Jamal and Dawn had added five more points.

“Total?” Jamal asked.

“Twelve plus five,” Callan said.

“Seventeen.”

Mari looked at Jax.

“We need ten.”

Jax nodded. “Let’s do it.”

By the end of their turn, they had earned eight points.

Mari jumped up. “Eighteen!”

Jax laughed. “We will win.”

“Not yet,” Emily said.

Everyone turned to her. “We still have our turn.”

When it was time, Mari screamed. “Time!”

Callan looked at Emily. “How many?”

“Seven. That is twenty-one!” She exclaimed, jumping happily.

“We won!” Callan said, laughing as he pulled her into his thighs and kissed her.

Dawn laughed, clapping happily even though they came last. “Congratulations.”

Jax laughed as Mari threw her arms around him. “We came second.”

Mari smiled. “Second place isn’t bad.”

“So…” Callan raised a brow.

Emily grinned. “So what?”

“We’re getting married first.”

Emily laughed. “I guess we are.”

“Isn’t it funny that the one who suggested the contest came last?” Mari asked, and everyone laughed as they turned to Jamal.

“Certainly, you guys didn’t take me seriously. I’m sure you know I was kidding,” Jamal said, making everyone howl with laughter.

“Now he’s singing a different tune. Jam, you’re a terrible loser,” Mari said, laughing.

Jamal looked at her. “You came second. Don’t feel too smug.”

Jax chuckled. “Second is still better than last.”

Mari nodded proudly. “Exactly.”

Dawn reached for her glass and took a sip. “So, what happens now?” she asked, looking from Callan to Emily.

Everyone looked at her.

Callan raised a brow. “What do you mean?”

“The game was supposed to decide who gets married first. Now that you’re first, when do we start planning your wedding?”

Emily laughed. “You must still be in your wedding planning mode.”

Mari pointed at her. “Don’t try to avoid the question.”

“I’m not avoiding it,” Emily said giggling, then she looked at Callan.

“We are not ready yet. I suppose the rest of you will have to wait until we are,” Callan said with a grin.

“Didn’t I make it clear already that I was kidding?” Jamal asked incredulously.

Everyone laughed.

“Besides, I thought I mentioned that the loser will have to get married first as punishment?” Jamal asked, and they all laughed harder.

“Babe, please stop,” Dawn said, laughing uncontrollably.

Although the game had started as a silly challenge, thanks to it they had laughed until their cheeks hurt.

The night went on.

They played more games, told old stories, teased one another, talked about relationships, work, family, and the strange paths that had brought all of them together.

By the time they finally looked at the clock, several hours had passed and it was almost midnight.

Dawn sighed. “We should call it a night.”

Mari groaned. “I don’t want to.”

Emily smiled. “Neither do I.”

Jamal stood and stretched. “We can do this again tomorrow after the exhibition.”

Callan nodded. “Definitely.”

Jax looked around the room. “I actually enjoyed this.”

Mari looked at him. “Actually?”

He smiled. “Very much.”

She smiled back, happy that he enjoyed hanging out with her friends. “I’m glad you enjoyed yourself.”

Jax nodded. “Me too.”

Jamal held out his hand. “Then you’re officially part of the group.”

Jax shook it. “Glad to be.”

Dawn smiled. “Am I part of it too?”

“Of course, you are. I’m the president of the group and you’re the First Lady,” Jamal said confidently.

“Who made you president?” Mari asked dryly.

“I was wondering when the election was held myself,” Emily said, giggling.

“I am self-elected,” Jamal announced, and everyone laughed.

As they walked out of the lounge together, the cool night air met their faces.

They all headed for their cars.

Jamal raised a brow when his phone rang, and he saw it was Tom.

“I’m bringing your aunt home now,” he said the moment he received the call.

“Harry and I are flying out to West End right now.”

Jamal’s smile faltered, and he stopped walking. “Right now? Did something happen?”

Dawn stopped walking and looked at Jamal curiously.

“It was just announced on the news that the body in the hotel room isn’t Genevieve’s. We have to act fast now.”

Jamal frowned. “How did the word get out? I thought you paid the cleaner’s family to keep quiet?”

“We put the word out. Stefan and Genevieve will be safe on the island. I have to go now.”

Tom hung up before Jamal could ask any more questions.

“What’s wrong?” Dawn asked after he returned his phone to his pocket.

Jamal shook his head. “I’m not sure what Tom and Uncle Harry are up to.”