Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 355: Change Of Plans

Genevieve leaned down and kissed Stefan softly, nothing like before. This kiss was gentle.

”Thanks for telling me that. I was going to respond, but figured I’d let you get it all out of your chest before telling you that I changed my mind,” she said quietly.

His eyes widened, and he sat up. ”You changed your mind? What does that mean? Are you staying?” He asked, afraid that he was getting his hope up for nothing.

She smiled. ”Yes. I am. Callan’s mom offered me a position at her foundation...”

”The foundation she co-founded with Lucy?” Stefan cut in.

Genevieve nodded. ”Yeah. The Heal The Girl-child Foundation. She said Lucy talked to her about me and they both agreed she was the most suitable person to talk to me since she could relate more,” she said, tears filling her eyes. ”She said I could work with them at the foundation after I’ve been to therapy. Although I told her I’ll think about it, and I’ve been doing that all day since I left her. It’s something I believe I should do.” She brushed her thumb along his jaw.

”You’re sure?” he asked, doubtful.

”I am,” she said, laughing. ”But, I’ll go to Westend for just a couple of days or a week. I need to sort out my father’s estate. Then I’m coming back.”

He searched her face. Although he wanted to object and ask why she needed to do anything for Ryan, he chose not to. ”Will you really spend only a week?”

She nodded. ”I promise.”

Relief washed over him so fast it almost made him dizzy. For a moment, he didn’t say anything, and then he asked, ”What did she say to you to make you change your mind like this?”

”She talked to me about her past, the mistakes she made, and how she got married to Mr Quinn. And then she listened to me. She didn’t judge. She offered to be my friend,” Genevieve said. ”But most especially, she told me not to run from people I love, but to stay and prove myself. She told me healing doesn’t always mean leaving, and that it would have been her worst mistake had she left when she felt overwhelmed by the consequences of her past. So, I figured I would listen to her. And since they offered me a chance to make a difference in the lives of other kids, I’d love to take it.”

Stefan’s chest loosened for the first time since she told him she was leaving. ”I’m so glad she talked to you.”

”So am I,” Genevieve replied. ”I’m even more thankful to Lucy. She didn’t have to do that for me. Talking to me so kindly the other day was surprising enough.”

Stefan nodded. ”It’s easy to see why Jamal is so smitten by her. At this point, I might be, too,” Stefan said, and Genevieve grinned.

”So, what about the hairdressing and makeup? Do you no longer want to do that?” Stefan asked, and Genevieve sighed.

”Maybe that can come at a later time. For now, I need something to give me purpose, and I have a feeling that working at the foundation will go a long way in helping me,” she said, and Stefan kissed her hair.

”I think it’d be good for you too.”

She shifted, smiling. ”Now, should we freshen up and go out? Or are we missing the club entirely?”

He smiled, brushing his thumb across her cheek. ”I do not mind missing it...”

”I mind. I told Dawn I’m coming, let’s get dressed,” Genevieve said as she started to get up.

Stefan raised a brow. ”I hope you’re not wearing that dress again? We might not make it out the door if you do.”

She laughed and kissed him once more. ”Noted.”

Together, they stood, and then Stefan asked, ”So, did you enjoy it more than your toys?” He teased.

She hit his arm playfully. ”There’s no comparison.”

He pulled her close. ”Good. I want to be enough for you.”

She looked at him for a long moment. ”I still don’t know what I did to deserve you.”

He kissed her forehead. ”We’re both lucky. I don’t want you to forget that you’re priceless.”

Genevieve groaned and threw her arms around his neck. ”I’m not sure what you see in me, but thank you.”

Away from there, Jax sat beside Chad’s bed, watching him drift in and out of consciousness because of the pain relief medication the doctor had given him.

He was still dressed in his bloodstained clothes because he had not stepped out of Chad’s bedroom since Mari left. He’d not slept or done anything else other than stare at Chad, while still trying to convince himself that Chad had not ganged up with Venita and Diva against Mari.

He was still very hurt by the betrayal. If it were just Venita and Diva’s doing, he wouldn’t have been so surprised, but Chad’s involvement in it was what cut deeply.

Now he was torn between his anger at Chad and his concern for him, not to mention the guilt he felt toward Mari because he couldn’t bring himself to tell her how Chad and Venita had endangered her life.

He felt like his heart was going to explode, and he didn’t know what to do.

He raised his hand when the door opened, and Venita walked into the room, her eyes red and swollen like she’d been crying for a long time.

He hadn’t seen her since the exchange with Alex the previous day, and seeing her now, he realised he was still very furious and couldn’t stand to look at her.

He turned away from her and picked up his dead phone as he rose. ”Since you’re here, sit with your partner in crime while I freshen up,” he told her before heading for the door.

”Jax,” she called, stopping him just as he got to the door. ”I’m sorry.”

Jax turned to her. ”After Chad recovers, I want you both out of my house. You can go live with Diva since you chose her over me,” Jax said, then walked away before she could respond.

Jax walked straight into his bathroom, and his steps faltered when the first thing his eyes fell on was the nude painting of Mari.

His heart ached, and he felt a pang of guilt knowing that she was probably waiting to hear from him.

He’d seen all her messages enter and even her call, but he’d not been able to respond or take her call because his guilt weighed heavily on him.

With a sigh, he set aside his dead phone and stepped into the shower to freshen up while gazing at Mari’s nude painting the whole time.

After he showered, he went to connect his phone, and just as it came on, Alex’s call came in.

”How are you doing? And how is Chad?” Alex asked the moment he received the call.

”He’s in a lot of pain, but the doctor said he will be okay. How is Mari?” Alex asked, unable to keep the worry out of his voice.

”Like you care,” Mari hissed as she snatched the phone from her Dad.

”Mari?” Jax asked, taken aback.

”Of course. Who else? You didn’t respond to my text all day or take my call. You know very well that I’m not very patient. I wanted to see if you’d also ignore my Dad’s call, but you didn’t,” Mari hissed.

Jax opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, Alex spoke.

”Didn’t you say Jax asked you to ask me to call him immediately? Did you trick me?” Jax heard Alex ask Mari, in disbelief, while Andy giggled in the background.

”Sorry, Dad. I wasn’t sure you’d cooperate,” Mari apologised before focusing on the phone once again. ”I’m going to call you right now with my own phone. Make sure you take my call,” Mari warned before hanging up the call.

”Sorry, Dad,” she said, flashing her father a smile before walking away from her parents’ bedroom to go get her phone in her room where Emily was getting dressed.