Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 505: I’m Fine

By the time Jamal’s car turned into the driveway of Tom’s mansion, the sun was already beginning to drop.

He slowed the car and drove through the gates.

His hands were steady on the steering wheel, but his heart was not.

He had spent the last few hours trying to calm himself. He had told himself not to act differently.

He had tried to convince himself that what he saw did not mean what his mind was making it mean and that he would trust Dawn.

But every time he closed his eyes, he saw Adam holding her hand.

He saw her laughing.

He saw her giving him her number.

Then he remembered what the receptionist had told him.

She was in the manager’s office.

Jamal swallowed.

Yet she had lied to him. How could he trust her when she didn’t even have the decency to tell him that she had missed Lucy because she was in the manager’s office?

What had she been doing in there alone with him for almost three hours?

In all his life, he had never entertained advances from any lady apart from Dawn when they met at the club.

He had always been quick to draw the line and make it clear he wasn’t interested in them even when they tried to flirt with him.

Yet Dawn couldn’t accord him the same respect he had for their relationship.

He shook his head as he parked in front of the house and turned off the engine.

He did not want to think about it anymore. Not now.

For a few seconds, he remained inside the car. He looked at himself in the rearview mirror. His eyes looked tired.

He rubbed his face. “Get yourself together.”

He got out of the car and walked into the house a minute later.

He stepped inside in time to see Dawn descending the stairs.

She was wearing a beautiful pink midi dress. Her hair was styled neatly, and she had light makeup on her face.

For a moment, despite everything, his heart still reacted to her.

She was beautiful. His beautiful Dawn.

He forced a small smile. “Wow.”

Dawn smiled, looking at him closely. “I wasn’t sure what to wear.””

“No one would guess. You look lovely.”

Her smile grew. “Thank you.”

She walked closer until she stopped in front of him. Something in his eyes caught her attention.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I’m fine.”

Dawn studied him. “You don’t look fine.”

“I’m alright. Let’s go. We don’t want to be late,” Jamal said, then turned and headed for the door.

Dawn hesitated before following him.

When they got to the car, Jamal opened the passenger door for her.

Instead of entering, she searched his eyes for another moment. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

He looked at her and forced a smile. “I’m okay. I guess I’m stressed. It’s been a long day for me.”

She looked at him one last time before getting into the car. Jamal closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side.

He got in and started the engine.

Dawn watched him quietly. She could feel that something was wrong. She just didn’t know what.

“What have you been up to? What got you so stressed?” She asked as they drove out of the compound.

Jamal shrugged. “I had to make some unpleasant investigations. I can’t get into the details right now.”

Assuming it was about work, Dawn nodded. “Were you able to resolve it?”

Jamal sighed. “No. Not yet. I’m not sure I can.”

“And you don’t want to tell me about it? You know your girlfriend is a genius. I might provide a solution,” she said with a teasing smile.

Jamal forced a laugh. “Thanks. I’ll handle it.”

Seeing that he didn’t want to talk about it, Dawn relented.

For several minutes, neither of them spoke.

After a while, Dawn broke the silence. “By the way, I was right.”

Jamal kept his eyes on the road. Looking at her right now hurt. “About what?”

“Lucy said Mari’s mum told them that Jax is proposing to Mari tonight.”

Jamal nodded. “That’s nice.”

Dawn raised a brow, disappointed by his reaction. “That’s all?”

Jamal glanced at her. “What do you mean?” He asked even though he knew exactly what she meant.

“I don’t know.” She watched him. “You don’t sound as excited as I thought you’d be.”

“I’m happy for them.”

“Jam, are you really okay?”

“I am.”

“You don’t sound like it. Did I do something?”

“Did you?” Jamal asked, turning to look at her.

Dawn sighed. “You always say you’re big on communication but right now I don’t understand what’s going on with you.”

“I told you I’m okay. Nothing is going on,” Jamal insisted.

Annoyed now, Dawn turned toward the window.

After a few moments, she decided to try again. “How about we go on a date after the exhibition? That way I can make it up to you for not being at the spa when you arrived.”

Jamal shook his head. “That won’t be necessary. Besides there is nothing to make up for.”

Dawn frowned. “Why can’t you?”

“Because I need to prepare for work on Monday. Stefan isn’t around so I have a lot on my plate. And I believe you should be back home before Josh goes to bed. He’s coming back today, isn’t he?”

She nodded slowly. “That’s true.” She leaned back in her seat, “Have you heard from Stefan?”

“No.”

“What about Tom or Uncle Harry?”

“No.”

Dawn waited.

When Jamal said nothing else and just kept his gaze on the road, she decided that if he didn’t want to talk, she wouldn’t force him.

She picked up her phone and opened Instagram.

She raised a brow when she saw that her notifications were filled with new likes and comments.

It was all from a new follower. Adam Whitefield.

Dawn smiled as she read through the comments from him beneath her recent posts.

Beautiful.

You look amazing.

This picture is my favourite.

Dawn’s lips curved as she liked each of the comments.

Almost immediately, another notification appeared.

A message.

Adam>: Did you get home safely? Is everything okay with Jamal?

Dawn looked at the message for a second before responding.

Dawn>: Yes. I’m fine. We’re on our way to the exhibition.

His reply came quickly.

Adam: Good. I’m relieved.

Another message appeared.

Adam: I was worried about you. I didn’t want to call because I didn’t want to cause any problems or stress you out.

He was always worrying, Dawn mused as she typed back.

Dawn: Thank you for checking on me. I’m okay.

Jamal glanced at her and when he saw the smile on her face as her fingers moved across the screen, his stomach tightened.

Was she talking to Adam? Were they texting each other already?

Without saying a word, his eyes returned to the road.

Dawn looked up, and when she noticed Jamal’s clenched jaw, she lowered her phone.

Dawn studied him. There was something cold about him, and she did not understand it. He seemed cold and somewhat sad at the same time.

After a moment, she asked, “Are you upset about last night?”

He said nothing.

“Jamal?”

Jamal’s jaw tightened. “I already told you I’m okay. Stop trying to figure out what is wrong. I don’t want to talk about it.”

Dawn turned toward him. “Why?”

He kept his eyes on the road. “Because I don’t.”

She frowned. “Since when did you start keeping things from me?”

Jamal’s fingers tightened around the steering wheel.

Since when?

He almost laughed.

Since when had she started keeping things from him? Since when had she started telling him lies?

His mind went back to his phone conversation with the receptionist at the spa.

She was in the manager’s office the whole time.

His chest hurt again.

She had told him she had probably missed Lucy when she left to use the restroom.

But she had been with Adam the entire time.

For hours.

Jamal swallowed hard.

He had wanted to trust her. He still wanted to. But the more he thought about it, the more the pain spread through his chest.

He looked at Dawn from the corner of his eye. She was staring at him like she was still waiting for a response.

He wanted to ask her about Adam. He wanted to ask why she had been with him. Why she had given him her number and allowed him to hold her hand. Why she had lied about where she had been.

But the words stayed in his throat.

He couldn’t bring himself to ask. Especially not now.

“Don’t say I didn’t try my best. Have it your way,” Dawn muttered before looking out the window.