Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 92: Anything Can Happen

Jamal’s heart skipped a beat and he froze at the mention of Josh, and Ryan’s reference to him as his son.

What was Ryan planning exactly? Jamal mused. Why would a man that went so far to get all this wealth for himself be willing to give it all away to a child that wasn’t even his blood?

Was he so greedy that he wasn’t thinking straight? Why would he be stupid enough to want Genevieve who isn’t really Dawn to marry Jamal?

Didn’t he know the chances of being discovered were higher for them if truly he married Genevieve? Jamal pondered.

And what made him think it was okay to marry off the supposed ’Dawn’ and give all that should be hers ordinarily to his supposed ’son’?

”I didn’t realize you had a grown up son,” Jamal said, acting ignorant.

Ryan didn’t notice the slight change in Jamal’s demeanor as he laughed, ”Grown up? No. Josh isn’t grown up. You don’t know much about my family, do you?” Ryan asked with a raised brow.

Jamal shook his head, ”Not exactly. I moved here from Westend recently.”

”I see,” Ryan said with a small smile, ”That explains it. Well, my son, Josh, is four years old. He will be five in some months time. I want my daughter Abigail and my son Josh to control all that I have. I can’t trust Genevieve to do that. She is quite reckless and she’s not as intelligent as Abigail.”

Jamal’s brows drew together in confusion. He didn’t understand Ryan. No matter how much he wanted to, he couldn’t understand the logic behind what he was doing.

Was he assuming now that Abigail was his biological daughter? Why did he do all he did only to give it back to her and her son? Was it because to the world they would seem like he was doing it because they were his real biological children? Did he not care what people would say if he married off Genevieve who was supposedly his stepdaughter and owned half of the company?

”You seem confused by something,” Ryan observed as he watched him.

”It’s just that everyone says Ms Genevieve is a genius. I’m surprised you are saying she’s not as intelligent as Ms Abigail. You must have a high standard for intelligence if the person everyone else is referring to as a genius isn’t smart to you,” Jamal said, and Ryan laughed, amused by Jamal’s statement.

Ryan picked up his glass and took another sip of his wine, still watching Jamal. ”Well, they’re all my kids. I know them better and I know who deserves what. So, back to my question, tell me, do you think Jamal would fall for Genevieve if she... seduced him?” Ryan asked, changing the subject.

He wanted Genevieve to seduce him so that he would marry her? Jamal’s blood boiled.

Even if Genevieve wasn’t the real Dawn, and even if Abigail had told him what a bitch Genevieve was, Jamal still couldn’t help but feel sorry for her.

All these years he had thought Genevieve was Dawn, so he couldn’t just switch to hating her.

Knowing her age, he understood she had been a kid when the switch happened, and he couldn’t even imagine how Ryan could have made a kid of her age take up Dawn’s identity.

What kind of father treated his own daughter like a prostitute to be traded for financial security?

Jamal shrugged. ”Anything can happen,” Jamal said, and Ryan smirked, pleased with the response.

Jamal took a slow breath before speaking again. ”Actually, Mr Jamal asked me a few questions about Ms Genevieve the other day.”

Ryan’s smile didn’t fade, but there was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. ”Oh? What kind of questions?”

Jamal leaned back, watching him. ”He asked me what kind of person Ms Genevieve was. If she was still as... promiscuous as she had been five years ago. So, I’m not sure seducing him is a good idea.”

Ryan’s smirk faltered, but he recovered quickly. ”And what did you say?”

Jamal shrugged. ”I ignored the question. I told him I’m a new employee and I don’t know anything about Ms Genevieve.”

Ryan nodded, his expression relaxing. He leaned back again, tilting his glass in Jamal’s direction. ”Good. But I want you to do something for me.”

Jamal said nothing, waiting.

”When next you drive him, I want you to put in a good word for Genevieve. Encourage this... connection between them.” Ryan’s gaze darkened slightly. ”If she marries him, it will benefit her. And in turn I will reward you with a more befitting position.”

Jamal gave a small nod. ”I’ll do my best.”

Ryan smiled. ”I expected no less.”

There was a brief silence before Ryan spoke again. ”And Abigail?”

Jamal kept his expression unreadable. ”What about her, sir?”

Ryan took another sip before setting his glass down. ”You spent most of the day with her. What do you think of her?”

Jamal hesitated for only a second. ”She’s friendly. Communication with her is easier because I can sign.”

Ryan raised a brow. ”You can?”

Jamal nodded, ”Yes, sir. A childhood friend of mine is mute so I learned to sign for her sake.”

”That’s nice. The skill has come in handy now. And it’s going to be useful to me,” Ryan said with a pleased smile. ”I’m impressed, Pete. I’m so glad Genevieve employed you.”

Jamal knew that was his cue to leave. He stood, nodding once. ”Thank you, sir.”

”Let me know if you need anything. I told you I like to reward those who are loyal to me.”

Jamal gave him a nod before walking to the door and pulling it open. Just as he stepped out and was shutting the door behind him, a small figure came hurtling toward him.

Josh.

The boy was running down the hallway, his eyes wide with excitement. He didn’t notice Jamal until it was too late and crashed straight into him.

Jamal instinctively caught him before he could fall.

Josh blinked up at him, surprised at first. Then, a slow smile formed on his face when he recognized Jamal.