Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 437: Call From Rehab

Long after Jamal left, Stefan remained seated alone in the kitchen.

For a long moment, he just stared at the breakfast spread in front of him without really seeing it.

Only the soft ticking of the clock on the wall and the low hum of the refrigerator filled the silence.

Late morning light streamed in through the large windows and settled across the marble counter.

Stefan leaned back slowly in his chair and dragged a tired hand over his face.

He was exhausted; physically, mentally, and emotionally. Everything that had happened since yesterday still felt unreal to him.

The explosion.

Fearing Genevieve was dead.

Seeing her alive again.

The exchange with Jamal.

His chest tightened slightly at that as he remembered his conversation with Jamal and Genevieve about acting like an outsider when he was part of the family.

Family.

It was strange how such a simple word could feel so warm and terrifying at the same time.

Because wanting something always came with the possibility of losing it.

And Stefan had spent most of his life learning not to want too much.

His gaze dropped to the untouched mug of coffee in front of him.

But this family, no matter how much distance he tried to keep, they kept dragging him in anyway.

Jamal had traveled all the way here because of him. Tom and Harry were still trying to protect him. He had received messages from almost all the members of both the Jonas and Hank family include the young ones.

And there was Genevieve, who regardless of how much times her mother and Ryan had failed her, she was still desperately hoping to be part of a larger family.

The thought warmed his chest and terrified him all at once because he didn’t want her to end up becoming disappointed.

He guessed he’d have to try and sink in those roots as she’d said. Both for her sake and for the sake of the kids they’d have together.

He smiled at the thought of Genevieve being pregnant with their kids.

His thoughts were interrupted when his phone suddenly rang. He glanced at it, and his brows pulled together when he saw it was the Rehabilitation Center where he’d kept Genevieve’s mother.

He’d totally forgotten about her.

Stefan straightened slightly in his seat and his expression immediately grew serious as he answered the call.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Kirk?" a female voice asked politely from the other end.

"Yes."

"Good day, sir. I’m calling from the rehabilitation center concerning Ms. Karen."

"What happened?" he asked quickly.

The woman hesitated briefly before speaking. "She happened to watch the news this morning and has been upset all day. We tried calming her down, but she keeps crying and saying Genevieve can’t be dead."

Stefan’s stomach sank immediately.

Of course. The explosion at the hotel had been all over the news since yesterday. Genevieve’s supposed death too.

Karen had spent years emotionally disconnected from Genevieve because of her drug and alcohol addiction but despite everything, Genevieve was still her daughter.

And now she was devastated because she believed that daughter was dead.

It didn’t matter.

He couldn’t tell her that Genevieve was alive. Perhaps it was better this way for her to believe Genevieve was dead. That way she could spend some time reflecting on how she treated her daughter.

"How has she been responding to treatment?" he asked quietly, ignoring the subject.

"Not very well," the woman admitted carefully. "But she’s adjusting slowly."

Stefan shut his eyes briefly.

Upstairs, Genevieve was asleep peacefully, unaware that her mother was under his care.

Guilt twisted unpleasantly inside him. He knew she wasn’t going to be happy when she found out about it.

"Could you come in to talk to her?" The woman asked after a moment when it seemed Stefan had no interest in Karen’s state. "That might help calm her down."

Stefan rubbed a tired hand over his jaw and exhaled slowly.

"I’m not in the country at the moment. But I’ll come see her when I get back," he said finally. "I believe you can handle the situation until then."

"We can, sir."

"Good."

After the call ended, Stefan leaned back slowly in the chair and stared ahead blankly.

Everything was such a mess.

Nothing about any of this was simple.

He thought about telling Genevieve immediately that her mother knew about the news and was upset.

But then he remembered how happy she’d been last night. He remembered how peaceful she looked in her sleep when he left her in bed earlier.

He didn’t want to ruin that with talk about her mother. At least not yet.

Stefan exhaled heavily.

Then suddenly, a loud crash sounded like it was coming from the bedroom.

Stefan’s head snapped around immediately.

His heart jumped violently and fear slammed into his chest so hard it almost hurt.

"Genevieve?"

He was already moving before he finished saying her name.

He rushed toward the bedroom.

"Genevieve!" he called again as he pushed the bedroom door open.

Then froze.

Genevieve stood beside the bed stark naked.

A glass lay shattered on the floor beside her.

She blinked at him in surprise.

Stefan’s chest heaved hard.

For a second he just stood there staring at her like he needed to physically see that she was okay.

Genevieve frowned slightly. "Why are you breathing so hard?"

He exhaled shakily and dragged a hand through his hair. "I heard something break."

Realization crossed her face immediately.

"Oh."

She looked down at the broken glass sheepishly. "I knocked it over by mistake."

Stefan stared at her for another second before walking toward her quickly and pulling her against him.

Genevieve blinked in surprise. "Stefan?"

He held her very tightly against his chest.

Genevieve slowly relaxed into his arms as understanding dawned on her.

"You got scared," she said softly.

Stefan buried his face briefly against her hair and didn’t answer.

That alone was answer enough.

Genevieve’s chest tightened painfully.

She wrapped her arms around him properly and held him back.

"I’m okay," she whispered gently.

Stefan shut his eyes tightly. "I know." But his voice sounded rough like he was trying very hard to hold himself together.

Genevieve pulled back slightly to look at him.

"You really thought something happened to me in here?"

Stefan let out a quiet humorless laugh.

"I don’t think my heart can survive another scare right now."

Her expression softened immediately. Without saying anything else, she rose slightly on her toes and kissed him softly.

The kiss was slow and tender. Stefan kissed her back instantly.

When they finally broke the kiss, Stefan looked at her, "Why are you up? I was going to wake you up with breakfast in bed."

She grinned. "Really? Then I better go back to sleep," she said, getting back on the bed.

Stefan chuckled. "Yeah. Do that. I’ll get something to clear the ground then bring breakfast to you."

"Hurry, then. I’m waiting."