Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Jax stood at the sink, a smile tugging at his lips as he washed the dishes. He caught his reflection in the glass window by the sink and his smile widened.

His heart felt lighter now that he'd opened up to Mari.

He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the memory rush back. The way her eyes had filled with tears when the truth hit her. And then her kiss.

Jax leaned against the counter for a moment, closing his eyes as relief washed over him like the warm water he was using to wash the dishes.

Three years of silence. Three years of admiration from a distance, of sending his heart hidden in canvas and color. He had told himself she might never know, and that it was okay if she didn't ever know about him. Uncertainty had tied his tongue and had kept his name off every painting.

But not anymore. Fate had delivered her to him through her parents, and now she was going to be his.

The corners of his mouth lifted as he opened his eyes. A quiet laugh escaped him. He hadn't realized how scared he'd been until now, when the fear was gone.

He picked up the sponge again. Soap foamed between his fingers. He was glad he had told her first thing in the morning. Glad he hadn't waited until night. He could breathe easier now, knowing she knew the truth and was happy that he was the one.

Just then, Mari, who had just finished her phone call with Emily, returned to the kitchen, and when she saw Jax standing by the sink and washing the dishes, she tiptoed over to where he stood and wrapped her arms around him.

Jax chuckled in amusement since he'd seen her reflection through the glass window as she tiptoed towards him.

"Done with your phone call?" He asked as he dried his hands and turned to face her.

"Yup," she said, smiling up at him as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"So, you're an artist?" She asked, and when he nodded, she grinned. "I heard artists are eccentric."

"Am I?"

"You are, but in an endearing way. That explains it."

He arched an eyebrow. "What explains what?"

"The smell I get from you some times. It's the smell of paint. Why did I not figure it out sooner?" She asked thoughtfully.

"Because you thought I sold drugs and kidnapped people for a reason and you wanted to turn me into an idol," he said with a grin and she slapped his arm playfully.

"You can't blame me for that. What else was I supposed to think when you had me kidnapped?"

"And you were hitting on someone who sold drugs and kidnapped people?" Jax asked, and she batted her lashes.

"You can't blame me for being drawn to you when you look like this," she said, and Jax chuckled.

"Take the fruit to the living room while I finish up here. I'll join you shortly," he said, but she shook her head.

"No. Let's do it together so we can go together," she said as she went around him to dry the dishes he'd rinsed.

After they'd done the dishes they went to the living room together with the bowl of carved fruits, and sat on the couch.

"You're only allowed to eat the fruits that say happy birthday Mari. The ones that say I am in love with you, belongs to me," Mari said, and Jax chuckled.

"How am I supposed to separate them that way when they're all mixed up? Should I get a bowl so we separate them?" He asked, and she pursed her lips as she thought about it.

"No. It's easy. You eat the H, three As, the two Ps, two Ys, two Is, the…" she trailed off when he began to laugh. "What?"

"That sounds so stressful. You can just have it all," he said, and she batted her lashes as she grinned playfully.

"I was hoping you'd say that. Thank you," she said as she picked up one of the fruits and stuffed it in her laugh.

Jax laughed as he watched her, still unable to believe how lucky he was.

"So, tell me. How did you meet me three years ago?" She asked as she chewed slowly.

"Hmm." Jax leaned back into the couch, his arm stretching along the backrest behind her. His eyes softened as he looked at her. "Three years ago… I saw you for the first time. You were with your parents."

The fruit paused halfway to her lips. "My parents? Where?"

Jax's gaze drifted away like he was seeing that day all over again.

"It was at the gallery in Ludus," he said, his voice low, thoughtful. "Before then I've seen your pictures on Instagram. I first noticed you on Andy's Instagram page. She was always posting photos of you both. Also, I've seen your childhood photos…"

Mari gasped, "My childhood photos? Not the Pre-mom photos I hope?"

"Pre-mom?" Jax asked, confused.

"I mean the pictures before my Mom came into my life. Which pictures did you see?"

Jax laughed. "Pictures in the album at the island."

"You know about the island? You've been there?" Mari asked, and Jax smiled.

"At this rate we are not going to finish talking, are we?"

"Okay. Go on. Go on," she urged him.

"Yes. I know about the island. My Dad used to visit the island to supply groceries and other household materials the residents needed. After he stopped working for the Cartel and needed another means of livelihood, your father made him the major supplier of groceries and stuff. When we grew older he often took me and Chad with him to the island for the deliveries. By then you had already left and was living in Ludus so we stayed at your place with your father. Chad calls you little mermaid because your Dad once showed us a video of you saying you wanted to be a little mermaid when you grow up," Jax explained.

Mari pressed a hand to her chest. Her breath caught as she listened, every word sinking into her. "Wow. He remembered that."

"Yeah. So, we've known about you for a really long time. But I set my eyes on you for the first time three years ago. I invited your parents for my first exhibition in Ludus. It was somewhere around your school area. They said you couldn't join them because you were writing your final exams, but then just before the end of the exhibition you walked in," Jax said, his lips curving in a wide smile as if he were watching the scene again right in front of him. "I still remember it clearly. One minute I was talking to a buyer at the gallery, and the next I was staring down at the most alluring woman on earth. You were wearing a short yellow dress with thin straps. And the slit on the side… God, Mari, I swear every male head turned when you entered that hall."

Mari's cheeks flushed hot. She pressed a hand to her face, laughing through her blush. "Jax!"

He leaned closer, his voice low, teasing but thick with memory. "You had on a black boot. Your hair was straight that night, parted at the middle, flowing all the way down your back. And you were wearing this bold sunglasses. You looked like you walked out of the front pages of a magazine. Everyone else seemed dull compared to you."

Mari giggled. "I'm my mother's daughter after all."

"Yes, you are," Jax's laugh was soft. "You lit up that room. I forgot my own work that night. I forgot the paintings hanging on the walls. I forgot every critic and buyer in that hall. I only saw you." His eyes locked on hers, burning with honesty.

Her throat tightened and her chest felt warm and full at his words. "Really?"

"Yeah. You walked straight to your parents. I remember your dad kissed your forehead, your mom hugged you, and you spun around for your mom's inspection then your dad said something and you all laughed as you embraced your mom. I thought, how could someone so stunning still be such a baby with her parents? I wanted to come down to say hello, but I had lots of important buyers waiting to talk. That night was the most important in my career so I had to stay put."

Mari's lips parted in awe. She pressed her palm flat against his chest. "So you saw me that night… and I never even knew you were there?"

Jax nodded, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I sketched you in that dress before you even knew I existed. That was the first drawing I ever made of you."

Her heart twisted at his confession. "Really? Where is it? You never sent it. Maybe if you did, I'd have known."

"Yeah. You'd have known. But I wasn't sure I wanted you to know. There was the stuff going on with Diva and I wasn't sure how your parents would take it," he explained. "But one thing was clear that night. I knew I'd found my muse."

Tears welled in Mari's eyes as she leaned into him, her forehead resting against his. "Jax…"she breathed.

He kissed the corner of her wet eye softly, then her cheek, then finally brushed his lips against hers with slow, sweet heat. "That night, Mari… I fell in love with you. And every day after, I just kept falling."

Her breath hitched, and this time when she kissed him back, it wasn't playful. It was deep, trembling, a kiss that told him she felt it too, that his love had reached her even across those three silent years.

He pulled back, his thumb brushing over her lips. "When your parents asked that I keep you safe, at first I wasn't sure how to feel. I wasn't sure how to behave around you…"

Mari giggled. "No wonder you were dreaming about me. Yet you were playing hard to get."

Jax chuckled. "You were entrusted to me. I didn't want to take advantage of you or the situation. You made it so damned hard."

"Well, I don't mind taking advantage of you or the situation. My mom said you're my birthday gift after all. I wonder how she'd feel when she finds out you're my mystery painter," she said, and he smiled.

"She knows already…"

"No way!" Mari said with disbelief.

"She does. I didn't realize that your parents knew about my feelings for you. Your mom especially. They knew the paintings were from me, and she said she sent you to me because of that. Your parents are the reason I can open up to you now. They gave me the permission to open up to you."

A tear slid down Mari's cheek. She laughed softly through it, shaking her head. "My mom. All this while she knew the person behind the paintings and she never said a word. She does the craziest things, but I love her so damned much. I love them both so much."

"And they both love you," Jax said confidently.

"So all this time… you've known me longer than I thought. You've loved me longer than I knew," Mari said softly, cupping his face in her hands.

His voice dropped to a whisper. "Yeah. Any more questions?"

"None for now," Mari said softly, her heart in throat when she saw the change in his eyes.

"Good," Jax said as he rose and lifted her from the couch without another word.