Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress-Chapter 393: Go See Her

Jamal sat in his office, his brows drawn together and a dull ache in his chest as he checked the countless messages he’d sent to Dawn all day with no response, even though he could see she’d read every one of them.

He leaned back and ran a hand over his face. "How long does she plan to do this?"

He dropped the phone beside him and stared at the ceiling.

His mind drifted again to the night before, and he replayed everything slowly in his head.

His chest tightened again as he recalled how she’d asked him to leave and turned her back to him.

Did she not realise that she had hurt his feelings? Yes, he shouldn’t have left the way he did, but he’d expected her to reach out. That was what he would have done had the situation been reversed, not this attitude she was putting up.

Yes, he was wrong, but she was wrong too, and the fact that he was the only one trying too hard to bridge the gap between them right now didn’t feel fair.

Did she really not care that he’d not spoken to her all day? What about Josh? Was she going to deprive him of his right to hear from his son because she was upset?

He’d texted asking her to give the phone to Josh if she didn’t want to talk to him, and there was no response to that too.

He picked up his phone again to see if she’d responded yet, and a small knot formed in his chest when he saw there was nothing yet.

Jamal let out a deep sigh and set the phone on the table, then walked over to the window to look out of it.

His phone buzzed on the table, and immediately he hurried over to get it, hoping it was Dawn, but to his irritation, it was Mila.

He wanted to ignore the call for a moment, then he remembered what Dawn said about Mila being the teenager between them, and he sighed and received the call.

"What do you want? Are you calling to tell me what a golden boy I am?" Jamal asked without hiding his annoyance.

Mila sniffed on the other end of the line. "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that."

For a moment, Jamal didn’t say anything. He walked slowly back to his chair and sat down. "You didn’t mean it?" he asked quietly.

"I did mean it," Mila muttered. "Just... not the way it came out."

Jamal sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Mila—"

"I was angry," she cut in quickly. "And when I’m angry, I say stupid things. You know that."

He leaned back in his chair. "Yeah, I do. But what you said wasn’t stupid. It was hurtful."

There was silence on the line. Then Mila spoke again, her voice smaller. "I’m sorry. I love you. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings or Mum’s. I was only expressing myself the best way I could."

Jamal stared at the desk in front of him. For a moment, he could picture her clearly, with her eyes gleaming with tears and pouty lips.

She was just a fourteen-year-old girl who was upset, Jamal reminded himself.

Mila sniffed again when Jamal didn’t respond. Then she asked softly, "Are you very mad at me?"

Jamal leaned back in his chair. "I was upset, not necessarily mad."

"And now?"

He exhaled slowly. "Why? Did Dad or Mum put you up to fixing things with me?"

"Yes, but that’s not why I’m sorry. I’m apologising because I know I was wrong. I didn’t mean to make you sound like the bad guy."

"The golden boy, you mean?"

"You’re the first kid," she explained quietly. "You were there when Mum met her family. You know Uncle Harry and Uncle Tom and Aunt Andy and everyone else better than we do." Jamal listened without interrupting. "You’re everyone’s favourite. And Grandpa Aaron loves you so much," she added.

"He loves you too."

"I know," Mila said quickly. "But it’s different. And I don’t mean it in a bad way. I’m just saying you don’t understand how it feels to not have Mum and Dad’s attention. I have a lot going on with me and I wish I could talk to Mum like everyone else does with their mums. Aunt Jade is a lawyer too just like Mum and yet she spends time with Zoe and Nora. Aunt Lucy has her company and she spends time with the Bees. Same goes for everyone else. Even Aunt Andy and Mari. Why does Mum have to be so different?"

Jamal swallowed slowly. "Are you asking because you want me to respond or you want me to just shut up and listen to you?"

"You can respond if you want to. I guess."

"What happened after I left?" he asked quietly.

"Dad talked to me."

"And?"

"And Mum talked to me too, and Presley joined us, so we had an incomplete family meeting since you weren’t there," she murmured.

"Did you make up with Mum?" Jamal asked hopefully.

"Yes. I apologised if that’s what you’re asking."

"And?"

"And we talked. Presley and I expressed our dissatisfaction and Dad and Mum promised to talk things over and get back to us," Mila said.

Jamal sighed softly. "I’m sorry you felt I was invalidating your emotions. I didn’t intend to do that. Mum is not like any of those others you mentioned. She has her personal experience that has shaped her. This is not me trying to make excuses for her. I’m just saying you shouldn’t compare her to anyone else. You wouldn’t want her comparing you to the other kids, would you?"

"I guess not." She muttered.

"Good. Now, are you still mad at me?"

"You’re golden boy. No one can stay mad at you," she teased, and Jamal chuckled.

"I really hate that name."

"You shouldn’t. It’s not meant to be an insult. It’s a compliment."

"No, when you say it the way you did last night."

"Well, let’s forget last night ever happened. Deal?"

"Fair enough. Deal," Jamal responded.

"If we’ve forgotten it, do you mean calling Dad and letting him know it never happened so he should un-ground me?" She asked sweetly, and Jamal chuckled.

"Only if you call Dawn and tell her last night never happened so she should un-ignore me."

Mila perked up immediately. "You and Dawn are fighting?"

"I’m not fighting. She’s fighting all on her own."

"What does it have to do with me, then?"

He sighed. "She sort of defended you, and I got pissed. And now she hasn’t answered my calls all day."

Mila gasped softly. "Wow."

"Wow?"

"That sounds serious."

Jamal frowned. "Thanks for the support."

"I’m just saying," Mila continued. "You must have been pretty mad at me to get mad at Dawn for defending me. And you must have messed up for her to be ignoring your calls."

Jamal sighed heavily. "I guess."

Mila thought about that. Then she said carefully, "Well, I think you should go see her."

Jamal frowned slightly. "She’s ignoring my calls."

"That’s exactly why you should go see her," Mila said simply. "I have to go now. Don’t forget to call Dad. And make sure you go see her. Last night she kept talking about you and looking at pictures of you in the family album with lovey eyes. I’m sure seeing you would make the ice around her heart thaw. You can also use Josh as a shield. She told me you’re both her soft spots. You’re welcome. Bye."

Jamal leaned back in his chair and smiled as he dropped the phone on the table, feeling better after talking to his smart kid sister.

Jamal was still smiling when Stefan walked in a few seconds later, carrying a tablet.

He stopped when he saw Jamal’s expression. "I guess whatever was wrong with you has been resolved. You’ve been distracted and frowning all day."

Jamal sighed. "Not exactly. Dawn is ignoring my calls. She’s never ignored my calls before."

Stefan clapped. "Congratulations. You unlocked a new level. So, how did you do it?"

"Do what?"

Stefan gave him a look. "How did you manage to get her upset enough to ignore your calls?"

Jamal frowned. "I didn’t do anything."

Stefan crossed his arms. "Okay. Let me rephrase. What did you not do?"

Jamal leaned forward and rested his elbows on the desk as he told Stefan what had happened.

Stefan stared at him. "That’s it? You didn’t call her after you got home or send a goodnight text?"

Jamal said nothing, feeling silly and childish now that he had said it out.

Stefan sighed. "I must confess that I am disappointed in the way you’re both handling this. You give good advice to others, yet you can’t advise yourself. Unnecessary pride and ego are what are playing out here right now. This no longer has anything to do with what happened with Mila. You left because your ego was wounded, and pride stopped you from reaching out to her. Pride kept her from doing the same, and now she’s too hurt and proud to talk to you. Go see her and talk things out like two adults."

Jamal frowned. "You think so?"

Stefan leaned against the desk and rubbed his face. "Of course! I’d rather you’re there and I handle things here, than you’re here occupying space and not focusing on anything. Go."

Jamal didn’t wait for any more encouragement; he picked up his stuff and hurried out of the office.