Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 446: Too Soon?

Mari remained in bed for a long time after Jax finally fell asleep.

She lay curled against his side with her fingers buried lazily in his white hair.

A small smile stayed on her lips.

Every time she thought about the conversation they had shared, her heart fluttered all over again.

Marriage.

Jax wanted to marry her.

The thought of her getting married to someone she felt this way about still felt unreal.

Mari groaned softly when she felt the intense pressure in her bladder.

She needed to pee very badly.

As much as she wanted to just lie there for hours beside him until he woke up, Mari couldn’t deny the call of nature anymore.

She’d been feeling pressed for a while and needed to empty her bladder or risk doing it right there on the bed.

Carefully, she lifted Jax’s arm from around her waist.

The moment she moved, he frowned slightly in his sleep.

Mari paused.

Jax shifted once then settled again.

Mari smiled as she watched him. "Sleep, you clingy man," she whispered before slipping out of bed quietly and heading towards the bathroom.

A smile immediately found her lips when she stepped inside and her eyes landed on the painting hanging on the wall.

Her nude portrait.

Her chest warmed as she stood there for a moment staring at it.

She could never get over the fact that he had painted her all those years and had painted this right in front of her.

"Positively obsessed man," she muttered affectionately.

After easing herself, she washed her hands and looked at the painting one more time.

For a brief second she considered sneaking into his studio so she could finally see what he had been working so hard on.

Surely one little look wouldn’t hurt.

Right?

Mari grinned mischievously as she headed for the door.

Then jumped when her phone suddenly started ringing from inside the room.

"I thought I put that on Do not disturb," she muttered as she quickly hurried out of the bathroom and grabbed her phone from the bedside table.

The moment she saw the caller ID, her face lit up. "Emmy."

Mari answered immediately as she stepped out of the bedroom so she wouldn’t disturb Jax’s sleep.

"Good morning. Did you sleep well? What’s up? Did you resolve things with Callan? I’m guessing that was the reason you didn’t call back," Mari asked all at once.

Emily laughed on the other end. "Which do you expect me to respond to first?"

Mari grinned. "What’s up with Callan?"

Emily was quiet for a second.

Then she said unexpectedly, "Have I told you lately that I love you?"

Mari laughed. "It’s been a while."

"Well, I love you."

Mari smiled.

"And I’m grateful you’re my best friend."

Mari rolled her eyes immediately. "Okay. That definitely means you and Callan made up."

Emily burst into laughter. "How did you come to that conclusion?"

"You sound chirpy. When things are not going well with Callan, you tend to whine a lot."

Emily laughed. "That’s not true!"

"What’s not true?"

"Never mind. Anyway, we made up."

Mari smiled. "I said it."

"And you were right, by the way."

"I’m always right."

Emily groaned. "Can you at least pretend to be humble?"

"No, sweetheart. This is a no-fake-it zone. So tell me, what amongst the millions of things I’ve said did you only just discover was right?"

Emily laughed again. "He heard what I said."

Mari winced. "Ouch. I was hoping to be wrong about that."

"I know, right?"

"Did you handle it properly?" Mari asked, wondering how Callan must have felt about that.

Emily was silent briefly, then she said softly, "I’d like to believe I did."

She went on to tell Mari how she’d played games with him and convinced him to open up.

Mari smiled. "You’re learning well from me."

Emily rolled her eyes. "I didn’t learn that from you. You asked me to..."

"Yada yada yada," Mari cut in playfully, and Emily laughed. "What matters is that you made up. I’m proud of you."

Emily exhaled. "I really want to do better, Mari."

Mari listened quietly.

"I need to stop bringing up Callan’s past. Or thinking about it so much at the slightest provocation."

Mari nodded even though Emily couldn’t see her. "Yeah. You really need to stop that. That’s the only way you both can work."

Emily sighed softly. "I’m sure relationship counselling will help."

"I believe it will. So, enough about your complicated love story. Why don’t I brighten your day with my sweet love story?"

Emily giggled. "I’m all ears."

Mari grinned. "Jax wants us to get married."

Emily was silent.

Complete silence.

Mari started laughing. "I don’t mean he proposed yet. I’m saying he talked about us getting married really soon and stuff.

Then finally Emily spoke. "How soon?"

"I’m not sure. Maybe a couple of months? Or weeks? Could be days. I don’t care actually. The more I think about it, the more I want to do it," Mari said excitedly.

"Isn’t that too soon?" Emily asked.

Mari scoffed. "Soon? Of course not."

Emily laughed. "Seriously?"

Mari nodded. "If two people love each other and know what they want, how is it too soon?"

Emily rolled her eyes. "Interesting."

"What is?"

"Weren’t you the same person who said it was too soon for me to be thinking about marrying Callan?" Emily reminded her.

Mari snorted. "That is completely different."

"Really? Please tell me how? Last I checked, I’ve known and loved Callan for most of my life..."

"Oh, please. You and Callan have enough emotional baggage to fill an airport. You’re nowhere ready for marriage yet."

Emily gasped dramatically. "What?"

"You heard me. You both have to work all of that out before taking the step. Unlike Jax and I. We don’t have any baggage yet. I’m not saying we are perfect. We might have ours along the line, and I pray it doesn’t happen. But we can do what other couples do and just get married based on our whirlwind romance. You and Callan, on the other hand, would have a very toxic marriage if you don’t clear up your mess first."

Emily was laughing now. "Oh, wow!"

Mari continued, "And besides, nobody heard me saying Stefan and Genevieve were moving too fast. I only said that because I know you and Callan well enough to say that. And it’s from a place of love. Not judgement. You know that right?"

Emily sighed. "If I didn’t know that, I would be pissed at you. But yeah. I get what you mean, even though it stings."

"I’m sorry. If it wasn’t worded right."

"It’s fine," Emily said, then shook her head and smiled. "The idea of you getting married is so funny."

Mari laughed. "I know, right?"

"I genuinely can’t picture it."

"Well, I can."

Emily blinked. "You can?"

Mari smiled softly. "Yeah." Her voice grew quieter. "The thought of marrying Jax actually makes me excited."

Emily immediately softened. "Aww."

"Don’t aww me."

"I’m absolutely awwing you."

They both laughed.

Then Emily glanced at the time.

"I’m happy to hear the news. Tell Jax not to dare think of proposing to you until I meet him and approve. You know I have to approve, right?"

Mari grinned. "He’s sweet. I know you will definitely approve."

"I won’t take the word of a blind lover girl for it. Make sure you pass my message to him. I need to get ready for work now.

"Fine. I’ll let him know. Have a lovely day. We will talk later."

"Later."

The call ended.

Mari dialed Jamal’s number as she walked to the kitchen downstairs to find something to munch on.