Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 498: No Spark

Jamal looked at her. He was quiet for a moment. Then he sighed.

“When I lose, part of me starts thinking about what I could have done better. What I missed. What I should have noticed.”

“It was only a game, Jam. A game with friends. It was supposed to be about having fun and enjoying the moment.”

“I know.”

“Then why does it feel bigger than a game to you?”

“I don’t know.” Jamal rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. “Are you disappointed?”

Dawn moved closer. “No. I’m not.”

“Are you sure?”

Dawn was quiet.

This whole time she had seen his confidence, his strength, and how he took control when things went wrong.

But tonight, she had seen something else. A man who did not know how to accept defeat without turning it into a judgement about himself.

It reminded her of the way he had behaved when he had the argument with Mila.

He seemed to want to be perfect in every way.

“Jamal.”

He looked at her.

“Do you think you would feel bad too if you were to lose to me or Josh?” She asked, and his brows pulled together.

“That’s different…”

“Not really,” Dawn said softly. “What would you teach Josh if you were to find out he had a problem with accepting defeat?”

He smiled faintly. “I’d teach him not to be defeat-able in the first place.”

Dawn laughed. “And what happens when he is defeated? Should he throw a tantrum? Have a mood swing? Allow it to affect him?”

Jamal sighed but said nothing.

“You can lose a game and still be smart. You can make a mistake and still be good at what you do. You can fail at something, and it doesn’t mean you failed as a person.”

Jamal stared at her.

She continued.

“And you don’t have to prove yourself to anyone by winning.”

His face softened. “I know all of that.”

“Do you?”

He smiled. “Yes.”

Dawn studied him for another moment, then nodded. “Good.”

She rested her head against his shoulder. “We lost the game tonight, Jamal. We came last.”

Jamal groaned. “You’re not helping.”

She laughed again. “I want you to face it. And going forward, we are going to lose more games until you get so used to losing that losing becomes like winning to you, okay?”

Jamal couldn’t stop himself from smiling. “That’s nonsense.”

Dawn leaned against him. “We will lose until it no longer affects you. Every time we lose a game, you win a point with me, and when it’s up to ten, you can ask me for anything.”

“Anything?”

“Absolutely anything,” she promised.

“You promise?”

She smiled. “I promise.”

“Okay then.”

Jamal watched her return to the dressing table.

After a moment, he said, “I still think we should have won.”

Dawn stopped, then she burst out laughing. “Jamal!”

He grinned. “I only said we should have won. You’re a genius after all. And I am too.”

Dawn shook her head, laughing. “Go and freshen up, you loser.”

Jamal scowled at her as he headed for the bathroom.

A moment later, he returned and joined her in bed.

The moment he got into the bed, Dawn rolled over and wrapped her arms around him.

“You know, I don’t think they should have announced news of Genny being alive now. I think they should have caught the culprits before making a move,” Dawn said with a yawn.

Jamal nodded. “I agree with you. I don’t think Stef would like this too.”

“I suppose that was the reason they waited until they had left for their honeymoon to do this,” Dawn said thoughtfully.

“Let’s hope they’re able to get it settled,” Jamal murmured.

“I sort of trust them. I believe they can pull it off,” Dawn said after a moment.

“Enough about everybody else. Let’s talk about us. What’s your plan now? Josh resumes school on Monday,” Jamal said, looking at her.

Dawn lifted her head from his chest and looked at him. “My plan?”

Jamal nodded. “Yeah. You’ve been so busy with the wedding, the girls, Josh, and everything else. Now that the wedding is over, what are you going to do?”

Dawn rested her chin on Jamal’s chest. “Plan the next wedding.”

Jamal raised a brow. “Whose wedding?”

Dawn giggled. “I have a feeling Jax might be proposing to Mari tomorrow.”

Jamal chuckled. “What makes you think that?”

“Haven’t you noticed how his eyes light up every time the exhibition is mentioned and he looks at Mari? And Emily knows about it and that was the reason she went with Jax to the lounge,” Dawn said, making Jamal laugh.

“You really think he is going to propose tomorrow?”

Dawn nodded. “I do.”

Jamal smiled. “Mari is going to lose her mind.”

Dawn laughed. “She is. I can already imagine her reaction.”

“So if Jax proposes tomorrow, you’re going to be planning Mari’s wedding?”

Dawn giggled. “Yeah. She said I’d join her in planning her wedding when it’s time.”

Jamal shook his head. “I didn’t realise I was dating an event planner.”

Dawn giggled. “I didn’t realise I had a thing for event planning either until Genny’s wedding. I guess it’s my hobby.”

“You know Emily’s mum is an event planner? We can talk to her so she lets you tag along. And I’m pretty sure she is going to be doing the official planning for Mari’s wedding since she’s very close to Aunt Andy.”

“Talking about your aunt Andy, I haven’t really interacted with her. Can we visit her one of these days? I’ve heard a lot about her from Mari and I’d love to know her better,” Dawn said with a yawn.

“She will be at the exhibition tomorrow. We can say hello to her and plan a meeting,” Jamal suggested.

Dawn yawned again and closed her eyes.

“Tomorrow is going to be a long day.”

“Yes.”

“Goodnight, Jam.”

“Goodnight, baby.”

Jamal kissed her forehead and pulled the blanket over them.

But just before Dawn drifted off, she opened her eyes again.

“Jam?”

“Hmm?”

“Why are we just going to sleep like an old couple? Shouldn’t we be wanting to make love to each other whenever we are in bed this way? Especially when Josh is not here.”

He laughed softly. “I thought you were already half asleep.”

“I was.”

“And now you are asking me that?”

She nodded, “Yes.”

Jamal shook his head. “You really are something.”

Dawn lifted herself onto one elbow. “You didn’t answer my question.”

He looked at her for a moment. “I thought you were tired.”

“Should tiredness erode attraction? Besides, it’s not just about you. I’m saying this because we are not even married, and it seems we are so comfortable with each other that there is no attraction. We do not spend the night together often, yet when we do, we hardly have sex. I can count the number of times we’ve had sex,” she said, thinking about what Genevieve had said about sex with Stefan and what Mari had said too.

Their relationship seemed very passionate, while hers with Jamal seemed dull.

Jamal’s expression softened, and he brushed a strand of hair away from her face. “I’m very much attracted to you, Dawn.”

“I don’t feel it. I know you love me. That much is obvious. But I don’t feel that chemistry. The not being able to keep your hands away from someone you love feeling. I want that.”

Jamal did not say anything for a moment, then he asked, “You don’t feel sexually attracted to me?”

“You’re my first. I enjoy sex with you. But I feel as though we don’t have the spark…” she trailed off with a shrug.

Jamal stared at her without saying a word.

“Don’t get me wrong. I love you. And I’m only saying this because I want us to work on it,” she said when he didn’t say anything.

“How do you suggest we do so?” He asked, “Because I know I love you and I’m very much sexually attracted to you, even though I do not make sexual advances at you all the time. But if you’re not sexually attracted to me…”

“I didn’t say I’m not.”

“You implied it.”

Dawn sighed. “Forget I said anything. We should go to bed.”

Jamal pulled her closer and kissed her.

The kiss started softly, but neither of them rushed it. Dawn smiled against his lips.

“I love you, Jamal.”

“I love you too,” he said quietly.

Jamal adjusted on the bed and held her close as she closed her eyes again.

A few seconds later, her breathing became slow and steady.

Long after she slept, Jamal remained awake, thinking about what she had said.