Chapter 188: Birthday Gift

Words : 1908 Updated : Oct 6th, 2025

Chapter 188: Birthday Gift Jax didn’t speak. He just stared at Mari. She was pretty smart. He had to give her that. All these while he had been in love with her without even knowing anything about her other than the fact that she was beautiful and liked to dress crazy. But since she began to live there with him, he had gotten to know her better and love her even more than he had when he first set eyes on her. "Why aren’t you saying anything?" Mari asked when he merely stared at her. "I didn’t realize you expected a response. Were you asking or telling?" She lifted a hand before he could say anything else or deny it. "Don’t bother denying it. I’m not stupid." "I didn’t think you were. But I’m not working for your parents," he said flatly. "You know, I’ve been thinking," she continued as though he had not just said she was wrong. "I know it doesn’t make sense that you’re working for my parents and keeping me here if your father really died because of mine. But maybe that’s the point. Maybe my father is paying you to hide me right under everyone’s nose. Maybe being here in this place with you is the safest place for me because no one would expect me to be here. I want to talk to them. Please call them." Jax didn’t move. "I’m not working for your parents." Mari leaned forward a little. "The only reason I really haven’t tried to escape is because I know you’re protecting me. I knew from the moment you brought me my glasses. So please. Call them. I need to talk to them. You don’t have to worry about me trying to leave. Seeing how much effort they put into getting me kidnapped here, I can tell that things must be pretty serious and they do not want to take any risks. So, please, call them." Jax stared at her for another long second, then let out a quiet sigh. It was best they talked to her anyway. What difference did it make whether they talked with her today or Friday? Without a word he reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and tapped the screen a few times. Then, he handed the phone to her after putting it on speaker. Mari’s heart pounded. She looked at the screen, then up at him. Slowly, she smiled. "Thanks," she whispered, and took the phone. Jax said nothing as he rose and picked up their half eaten lunch since he had lost his appetite and he doubted she was going to eat it after the phone call. It rang thrice before her father’s familiar voice came on, "What has she done this time, Jax?" her father asked, his tone tinged with amusement. Jax, who was busy washing the dishes turned around to meet Mari’s gaze. Her eyes were narrowed as she wondered just what he must have told her father that she had done to make him ask such a question. "Hello, Dad. I’m fine, thank you," Mari said dryly. "Mari?" her father asked, surprised to hear her voice. "In flesh and blood. Unless you have another daughter, who was kidnapped and sounds like me. Just so you know I’ve been waiting for ages in my car for you to rescue me from the kidnappers. Thanks for finally showing up," she said in an accusatory tone and Jax raised a brow as he returned to his seat, while her father chuckled. "I’m sorry, honey. You should know if I have to choose between making you mad and keeping you safe I will always choose the former. Where is Jax? How did you get the phone?" her father asked but before Jax could respond she raised a finger to her lips asking him not to say a word. "He’s dead. What did you expect? I knocked him down thinking he was a bad guy and I stole his phone to call you to rescue me only to see that you’ve been communicating with him this whole time. Hid blood is on you," Mari said dramatically and Jax chuckled as he listened silently. "I am to believe that you went from sleeping on his bed to murdering him?" her father asked, and Mari gasped in disbelief as she looked at Jax. "You told him that? How could you tell my father that? Jeez! I can’t believe you!" she exclaimed and her father laughed. Jax raised a brow both said nothing, letting her know he had reverted to his usual self. She glared at him. "Why wouldn’t he tell me that? So, if he were a real kidnapper you’d have slept on his bed? Are you that careless, Mari?" Alex asked, and Mari rolled her eyes. "I knew he wasn’t a real kidnapper before sleeping on his bed. And I’m an adult for crying out loud. We are both adults. He didn’t have to tell you that. Did he tell you too that we smooched?" Mari asked, and Jax grimaced. "Babe, who are you talking to?" Mari heard her mother ask before her father could say anything. "Mom! Give Mom the phone!" Mari screeched excitedly. "It’s Mari..." "Mari? You’re talking to my doll and you didn’t let me know?" Andy asked in disbelief as she snatched the phone from her husband. Her voice was breathless and excited as she talked to Mari, "Hey, doll! I’ve missed you so much. Just so you know, I had nothing to do with this whole ploy..." "It was your idea!" Mari heard her father say, and she laughed, knowing very well that he was telling the truth. "My idea? I don’t know what you’re talking about. The only contribution I made to your plan was that if you were going to have my daughter kidnapped then she should be kept by a sweet looking guy like Jax. That way she wouldn’t be so bored. I made the right call, right, doll?" Andy asked, and Mari laughed. "Totally! That’s why you’re the absolute best! He’s sweet looking, isn’t he? That was the first thing I noticed when I saw him," Mari said, blowing a kiss at Jax. Jax shook his head. He couldn’t believe he was the one they were talking about that way. Both Andy and Mari were crazy. Before Andy could say anything Alex spoke again, "How did you get the phone, Mari? Where is Jax?" "Why are you asking her that?" Andy asked confused. "He’s here. I’m holding him at gunpoint," Mari said, and Jax rolled his eyes. "I’m right here. She figured out I was in league with you, and asked that I call you. I didn’t see any need to lie or deny it," Jax explained from where he was seated. "It’s fine. I just wanted to make sure you were okay," Alex said, and Mari rolled her eyes. "Why wouldn’t he be okay when I’m here?" "You’re the exact reason I’m worried about him. Stop giving him a hard time..." "A hard time? I don’t give him a hard time. If there’s anything hard I give him, it would be a hard on..." "MARI!" Her father snapped while her mother roared with laughter. Jax on the other hand rubbed his hand over his face. "Why are you yelling? What did you expect when you put me under the same roof with such a hot looking guy? You should have had a lady kidnap me if you didn’t want this to happen. But I’m sure Mom wanted it to happen. Right, Mom?" She asked her mother who was still tittering with laughter. "Christ! I’ve missed you so much, Mari. I can’t wait for this to be over so we can have our girls time again. And yeah, I thought Jax would be a befitting birthday gift from me to you with love," Andy said, and Mari grinned. "So, I can do as I please, right?" Mari asked, grinning at Jax. Jax sighed deeply. If he didn’t know that Andy knew how he felt about Mari, he would have felt offended, but knowing that this was sort of Andy’s attempt to matchmake, he was more amused than offended. "I’m sorry, Jax. I’m so sorry. I promise I have no hand in this," her father said, sounding half amused and half apologetic. "Why are you sorry? You know what? Just let me talk to Mom. Before that, I need a phone even if it isn’t my phone. I need to be able to talk to Em and Jam and tell them I’m fine. They must be very worried about me..." "You don’t have to worry. Jamal knows the situation. Emily thinks you’re at the Island," her mother said. "Still, I want to talk to them. I miss them and I want to be able to keep in touch with them. And I need my laptop. I’d like to be able to work. I don’t even know where I am because Jax is so tightlipped and won’t say anything. How did you even know him, anyway? And what do you have to do with his father’s death, Dad?" Mari asked, and Jax sighed, feeling the beginning of a headache. "Can you just focus on one thing at a time?" Jax asked, and she scowled at him. "Darling, why don’t we call you back later? We were on our way out before your call came in. We will call you back when we are more settled," her father said. "Or one of you can just talk as you drive," Mari suggested. "I told you about my old friend who was murdered, remember?" Alex asked, reminding her of their conversation. (Chapter 50) "Oh! That was Jax’s father?" She asked with a slight frown when she remembered. She glanced at Jax. He was staring at her with a blank expression. "Yes. So, do me a favor and stop bothering him. Put Jax on," her father said, and she handed the phone to him. "I’m here," Jax said quietly. "You can get her a phone. We will call when we get back. We have to leave now," Alex said, and hung up the call. As Jax set aside the phone, they stared at each other. "Sorry about your Dad," Mari said, and Jax gave her a nod. She rose. "I guess you’re really not interested in me," she said, watching him. Jax raised a brow, "Why?" Mari shrugged. "You told my parents everything. And from the sound of things I seem to have been a nuisance. I’m sorry. I promise to bother you less. I understand that keeping me here is a risk," she said, looking solemn, and Jax scoffed as he rose and dipped his hands in his pocket. "You think I’m going to fall for that? You’ve always known you were a nuisance yet you didn’t stop bothering me. You better keep it up because I’m used to it," he said, and turned to leave. "I’m going to see a movie. You can join me when you snap out of that mood." Mari grinned at that. So, he was used to it? Did that mean he didn’t mind and he wanted her to continue? As he walked past her, she jumped on his back, making him laugh as she slipped her hands around his neck. "You’ve fallen for me, haven’t you?" She asked, kissing his cheek.

Chapter 188: Birthday Gift

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