Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 519: Fixing It

For Josh’s sake, Dawn tried to be cheerful whenever he was within view.

When her phone rang again and she saw it was Mari calling again, she received the call wondering why Mari was calling so persistently.

“Hey!” she greeted as she excused herself from Josh and went to somewhere private to receive the call.

“Hey you! Where have you been all day?” Mari asked, mildly annoyed.

“Sorry, I’ve been busy. What’s going on?” Dawn asked, doing her best to sound normal.

“I should be asking you. You don’t sound okay. What’s going on?” Mari retorted.

“Nothing…”

“Don’t give me that. Have you been able to figure out why Jamal is upset? Have you both resolved things?” Mari asked, acting like she didn’t know about the club incident.

Dawn hesitated for a moment then sighed. “Yeah. I figured it out, but we are yet to fix things.”

Dawn wasn’t sure if she should tell Mari that Jamal had asked for a break. She felt like admitting that aloud would be that she had accepted what Jamal said.

It was one thing to tell it to Tom so he could help her fix things, but a completely different thing to tell Mari.

She couldn’t.

Dawn wondered briefly if Mari would be that friendly and kind to her if she found out what she had done and how she had hurt Jamal’s feelings.

Seeing how Dawn was not saying anything, Mari figured she was finding it hard to confide in her about what she had done.

“How are you feeling?” Mari asked with concern.

Dawn exhaled deeply. “I’ll be fine when Jamal is fine. I hurt his feelings without meaning to. He’s very hurt.”

Mari nodded slowly. “What can I do? Want to tell me what’s up so I can talk to Jamal?” Mari offered.

She opened her mouth to say no, then figured that Jamal would need his friends to cheer him up since he was feeling down.

Dawn sighed. “Sorry. I can’t. I feel too ashamed of myself to tell you about it. But I would appreciate it if you could hang out with him and try to cheer him up.”

Mari considered the request for a moment.

She had tried reaching Jamal all day, but Jamal was yet to take her call. And that was very unusual and worrisome.

“Why don’t you do so yourself?” Mari asked softly. “I mean, it would be more effective if someone he loves does it. You hurt him, and only you will be capable of fixing it because you know best where it hurts.”

Tears gathered in Dawn’s eyes. “I don’t think he wants to see me right now,” she confessed.

Mari hesitated before speaking. “Listen Dawn, can you trust me and tell me what’s going on between you and Jamal?” Mari urged her. “I believe that we are friends. I promise that whatever you say to me stays between us.”

Dawn was silent for a moment, then she opened up and told Mari all that had happened between her and Adam, including what they had talked about and how intrigued she’d been by it all.

Then she also told Mari about her conversation with Jamal that morning and how he had asked for a break-up and also what Tom had just told her.

By the time she was done, she was crying again. “Mari, I didn’t mean to hurt him, I swear.”

Mari sighed softly. “It’s okay, Dawn. I understand.”

Mari was silent for a moment as she thought about it and tried to figure out what helpful advice she could give Dawn.

“Listen, Dawn, whatever is going on between you and Jamal may not exactly be the same, but my parents had a really rough time together at the beginning of their relationship. My father doubted my mum’s love because he had done some really terrible things and didn’t think he deserved her love or that what she felt was real. He tried to stay away because he loved her, but my mum didn’t make it easy for him.”

“How?” Dawn asked quietly.

Mari sighed softly. “Let me ask you a question. If the reverse was the case and Jamal was the one who hurt you, how would you want Jamal to fix things? Or how do you think he would fix it? Do you think he would leave it to others to fix it? Or do you think he would give you space?”

Dawn’s brows pulled together as she considered the question.

“Think about it, and whatever you figure out will be the right way to approach it. When love is in doubt, we love even harder, not pull away. Be good. Okay? Let me know if you need to talk or need my help,” Mari said before hanging up.

Long after Mari hung up the call, Dawn paced around her bedroom, thinking about what Jamal would have done if the situation was reversed.

When it was time for dinner later that evening, Dawn and Josh joined Lucy at the table as usual.

When Lucy saw her approaching, Lucy felt sorry for being so harsh towards her the previous day.

She had been feeling guilty all day, especially after she heard from Tom about the breakup and about Jamal’s decision to take a break from everyone.

“Hey, darling. How are you feeling?” Lucy asked as Dawn took her seat.

Dawn forced a smile. “I’m okay.”

Lucy looked at her for a moment. “I’m sorry about yesterday. I was critical and…”

“I deserved it,” Dawn cut in quickly before Lucy could finish.

Lucy sighed deeply. “Still, I’m sorry. I should have been kinder to you. I’m sorry about the state of things right now. I heard from Tom.”

Dawn looked at her. “Can I ask you a question?”

Lucy nodded. “Sure.”

“If something like this happened between you and Tom, would you give him space? Would you accept the break?”

Lucy shook her head immediately. “No. I don’t think I could do that. I mean the break. I could give him space while remaining within his space so he sees me and knows I’m still there.”

Dawn smiled. “I thought so too. I understand the family has a good reason for wanting us to stay apart, but I don’t think I can do so anymore. Josh and I will be moving in with Jamal tomorrow.”