Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 379: Crazy

Mari lay on her bed on her stomach, one leg hanging off the edge, her phone in her hand.

The room looked like a small storm had passed through it. Clothes lay on the chair. Shoes and shopping bags she was yet to unpack sat on the foot of the bed.

She was yet to organize her room since the last time her and Emily turned her closet over in search of what to wear to the club, and she had added to the mess the previous day while trying to find what she could wear out on her date with Jax.

Her laptop and a couple of books were open on the bed. Her blanket was half on, half off.

She had not had her bath yet and it was past noon.

She stared at her phone again, sighed, then dropped it on the bed.

”Why is he not calling or taking my call?” she muttered, staring at the ceiling and wondering if Jax needed her to remind him again that he had promised to visit her the previous day or today.

He had done well enough to call a couple of times the previous day and had even chatted with her. But he was yet to call her today or even send a text.

She dialed his line again but this time Jax rejected her call, infuriating her. ”Whatever! Go to hell! I’m not doing this with you,” she hissed as she threw down the phone and decided to go to sleep.

At that same time, Jax’s car rolled into the driveway downstairs.

Jax stepped out of the car dressed in a neat dark suit. His hair was combed back, and he held a bouquet of fresh red roses in one hand. He took a breath, squared his shoulders, and walked to the door.

He had a wide smile on his face as he knocked on the door.

The door opened a moment later and the smile wavered a little when he saw Alex standing there. He’d been hoping that somehow Mari would be the one to open the door.

Jax froze for half a second, then smiled nervously. ”Good day, sir,” he greeted politely.

Although he was no stranger to Alex and he knew he had Alex’s permission to be with Mari, he still felt a little nervous since Alex was Mari’s father.

Noting his nervousness, Alex’s face broke into a wide smile. ”Jax,” he said warmly. ”Come in.”

Jax let out the breath he didn’t know he was holding and stepped inside. ”Thank you, sir.”

”Mari is upstairs,” Alex said easily. Then he paused. ”But before you go to her, if you don’t mind—”

”Of course,” Jax said quickly. ”I actually wanted to apologize again for what happened the other night.”

Alex waved a hand. ”As long as you understand where I was coming from, we’re good.”

Jax nodded. ”I do. Completely.”

”Good. Just don’t let it repeat itself. We both love her and want her safety despite how hardheaded she can be, so play your role to ensure her safety as I play mine and carry me along. I don’t think I’m asking too much.”

”You’re not,” Jax agreed.

”Good,” Alex said. ”You can go get her yourself.” He pointed toward the stairs. ”Second door on the left.”

Jax’s face lit up. ”Thank you, sir.”

”Wait,” Alex added when Jax started turning to leave.

Jax stopped. ”Yes, sir?”

”How are you?” Alex asked. ”And how are Chad and Venita?”

Jax’s expression softened. ”Chad is at the hospital now. He’s getting proper care. Venita is taking care of him.”

Alex nodded. ”And you?”

”I believe I’m fine,” Jax replied honestly.

Alex studied him for a moment, then said quietly, ”Take care of my daughter, Jax.”

”I will,” Jax said without hesitation.

Alex stepped aside. ”Go.”

Jax climbed the stairs two at a time, excited to see the surprise on Mari’s face. He wondered how she’d react. He chuckled at the thought.

Upstairs, Mari lay on her bed with her eyes closed, still lost in her thoughts and unable to sleep as she wanted.

She groaned when a knock sounded on her door. ”If it’s important, come in. If it’s not, please go away.”

Jax opened the door and took a step inside but stopped almost immediately when he saw the state of the room.

He raised a brow as his eyes moved slowly around the room, taking in the mess.

Mari remained where she was waiting for the person to speak and when she got tired of waiting she sighed deeply.

”Why are you not saying anything?” she muttered with a frown, then lifted her head and opened her eyes.

Her poor eyesight made the figure by the door blur, so she squinted at him since she wasn’t wearing her glasses and didn’t have her contacts on.

She blinked when she saw it Jax.

Then she muttered, ”Great. Now I’m seeing things. I miss that jerk so much I’m hallucinating.”

Jax cleared his throat. ”Jerk? How can you call your boyfriend that?”

Mari froze when she heard his voice, then her eyes widened as she stared at him. She sat up straight. ”Wait. Jax? Are you really standing there in my room?”

He chuckled. ”Is this really your room? I am wondering if I’m in my girlfriend’s bedroom or a pigsty.”

She grabbed her glasses from the bedside table and put them on, then gasped when she saw the grin on his face.

There was no way she was imagining that.

Then realizing that he was really in her bedroom, she shrieked.

”Oh my God!” she screamed, jumping off the bed. ”You’re really here!”

Jax chuckled, expecting her to rush over to him, but to his surprise she rushed to the mirror. ”Why am I looking like this?!” she cried, tugging at her messy hair and staring at the oversized, ugly pajamas she was wearing.

She looked the ugliest she’d ever been.

She spun around. ”Who let you in? Who told you to come to my room?” She asked, alarmed.

”Your father,” Jax said calmly.

She groaned. ”Of course he did.”

She rushed toward him and Jax smiled and opened his arms, ready for a hug.

Instead, she shoved him hard toward the door.

”Out!” she said. ”Stay out!”

Jax laughed in surprise as he stumbled back into the hallway. ”Is this what I get for surprising my girlfriend?”

”Yes,” she snapped. ”This is what you get for coming into my pigsty uninvited.”

She slammed the door in his face.

Jax stood there laughing in disbelief.

Inside, Mari leaned against the door and groaned loudly. She looked around her room and clenched her fists.

”Dad,” she muttered. ”I will deal with you later.”

From the hall, Jax called out, ”I can help you tidy up while you freshen up.”

”No!” she shouted back. ”I have housekeepers. Wait there.”

He smiled. ”I’m surprised you have housekeepers and your room looks that way.”

”Shut up, Jax, or I’m going to kill you,” she called back as she headed for the bathroom.

Jax chuckled. ”Okay.”

Just then, a door down the hall opened and Andy stepped out of her room wearing a tight dress that was unzipped at the back. Her bra and underwear were clearly showing.

She smiled when she saw Jax. ”Jax! I knew I heard your voice. How are you doing?”

Jax turned his face away at once when he saw the state of her dress. ”I’m fine, ma’am.”

Andy laughed. ”Oh, please. The world has seen me wearing less on stage. Why are you embarrassed? I’m not naked.”

”Maybe because you’re not on stage right now and you’re my girlfriend’s mother,” Jax said, still not looking.

Andy laughed harder. ”Fair enough. Where is the girlfriend in question?”

”She’s... freshening up,” he replied.

Andy turned slightly. ”I need her to zip my dress. Or maybe you can. Lovely flower by the way,” she said, taking it from him so he can zip up her dress.

Jax hesitated, then carefully reached out and zipped up her dress without looking at her back.

”You’re such a gentleman, Jax, Thank you,” Andy said cheerfully, returning the flower to him before returning to her room.

Jax shook his head slowly as he watched her go. ”I don’t know who is crazier,” he muttered. ”Mother or daughter.”

He was still comparing them in his head when Mari’s door flew open.

Stepping out, she looked completely different. Her long dark hair was brushed and fell around her shoulders. She wore a red spaghetti-strapped bodycon dress and gold strappy heel sandals. Her glasses were replaced with contact lenses and she had very mild makeup.

”Oh! Babe!” she said sweetly, throwing her arms around him. ”I missed you so much,” she said like she was just seeing him and nothing had happened earlier.

She kissed him then pulled back and looked at the flowers. ”Are these for me?”

She took them from his hand before he could respond, sniffed them, and sighed happily. ”I love it. Thanks. And you look good.”

Jax stared at her for a moment then chuckled.

Definitely the daughter. She was crazier than her mother.

God help him.