Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress - Chapter 301

Chapter 301: Gifted?

Jamal walked into Abigail’s bedroom just as she finished dressing up, and he watched her quietly for a moment as she looked at her reflection in the mirror.

“What?” She asked, turning from the mirror to look at him.

“Are you fine?” He asked, and she smiled softly.

“Yeah. As long as you’re here and Josh is here, I’m fine,” she said as he walked up to her and wrapped his hands around her waist.

“I love you, Dawn,” he said, and her eyes softened.

“I know. And I love you, too,” she said, leaning forward to kiss him. “I want to ask you a question.”

Jamal’s brows shot up, “What?”

“You always say Tom is your mentor, right? Are you trying to be like Tom? I mean, he’s great, but he seems to me like the type who can be pretty ruthless when he wants to be, and I think he’s this calm only because Lucy puts him in check. What I’m asking is, do you want to be that way too, exactly like him? I think your Uncle is the same way, too, seeing how he commended me for the fire at the airstrip. And his wife’s comment had me thinking. Don’t get me wrong, I’m saying this because you don’t seem anything like them in that regard…”

“Does it bother you that I might want to be like them?” Jamal asked, watching her closely.

“I can’t say it doesn’t. I will love you regardless, but it’s just that I feel like, between us, you’re the one who would keep me in check. You see, like you reprimanded me for the fire? I think between us, I’m the one more prone to being reckless and ruthless. I don’t want you to tow that path. I love and admire you just the way you are. I wouldn’t want you to change that,” Abigail said, and Jamal smiled.

“Don’t you think I’d be able to protect you and Josh better if I’m ruthless like them?” He asked, and she shook her head.

“I think you’re doing great already. You easily won both Ryan’s and Genevieve’s trust, including that of Josh and the other domestic staff. Not all battles will be won with a sword or a gun. I think your own weapon is your sweet nature,” Abigail said, her voice filled with admiration for him.

Jamal smiled at her. “Don’t you think if I or either of them wanted me to be exactly like them in that regard, I’d be that way already? I love and admire Tom and my uncle a great deal. I love how dependable and capable they are. But they don’t want me to be like them. I don’t want to either. You know why? I don’t want to be anything like my biological father. I don’t think either of them is like my father, but I want to be the total opposite of my father. When I grew up and got to know more about him, the idea that I might become like him terrified me. Where he is hard, I want to be soft. Where he is vengeful and unforgiving, I want to be forgiving; where he is hated by all, I want to be loved. If I become half as ruthless as Tom and my uncle, I’m afraid I might easily follow in my father’s sloppy footsteps. I don’t want to. So, all I want to be is a very wealthy, loving, and happy husband to you, and a great father to Josh and any other kids we might have together. That’s all,” Jamal said, and Abigail sighed softly, smiling at him.

“We can definitely make that happen,” she said, and Jamal grinned.

“Make what happen? The other kids?” He asked with a teasing smile, and Abigail giggled.

“All of it. Let’s go already,” she said, and together they left the room hand in hand.

In the Den, Genevieve had a slight frown on her face as Stefan told her about how they’d found out about her mother. “… Ryan got to her first. It was through her conversation with him that we found out his connection to Callan. And then he shot her after she gave him the information,” Stefan concluded.

“So, you knew about the blackmail and pictures?” She asked, and Stefan nodded slowly.

“I never saw it. Jamal told me about it,” he explained, and she shut her eyes, feeling more embarrassed and humiliated at the thought that nothing about her life was hidden from them.

“Why didn’t you say anything when I told you about her at the resort?” She asked, opening her teary eyes to look at him.

“What was I supposed to say? I didn’t know the whole story. All I knew was that there was a picture, and you were being blackmailed. And I just didn’t think it was wise to bring it up then,” he said, and Genevieve sighed deeply.

“Is there anything else I need to know?” She asked, but before he could respond, Abigail and Jamal walked into the Den.

“Can we leave now?” Stefan asked, and Jamal nodded.

“Yeah.”

“Can I have your car key? Our bags are still in the lobby. Maybe you can drop us off at my place after you’re done at the hospital,” Stefan said, and Jamal raised a brow.

“You will do the driving, Stefan. This isn’t Westend. I’m no longer Pete, and you’re not Jamal. I’m tired of driving people around,” he said, throwing the car key at him.

Stefan scowled at him while Abigail giggled. Although Genevieve was amused, she didn’t feel like she was in any position to laugh at any joke, so she held back.

“Talking about being Pete, when am I receiving payment for all the driving I did, and my job at the office?” Jamal asked Genevieve, “Or should I deduct it from Stefan’s salary?”

Abigail giggled while Stefan frowned. “Why are you asking that? It’s not like you need the money. Besides, why do you need to be paid when you did the job to find the truth and were rewarded with Dawn and your little boy?”

“Really, Stefan? Why did you need the SUV when you were simply following my orders and got rewarded with Genevieve?” Jamal asked sweetly.

Genevieve looked at Stefan. “What SUV?” She asked, and Stefan groaned.

“He gifted me an SUV…”

“Gifted? You demanded it, buddy,” Jamal corrected, grinning at him, while Abigail continued to giggle.

“Fine. Just deduct the damned amount from my salary. Or better still, tell me how much she owes you and I’ll transfer it to your account. I hate you so much right now,” Stefan hissed as he walked away with Genevieve following closely behind, while Jamal’s and Abigail’s laughter followed them.