Chapter 196: Mysterious Girl

Words : 2057 Updated : Oct 6th, 2025

Chapter 196: Mysterious Girl "Boyfriend, huh?" Jax asked from behind Mari the moment she dropped the call, and Mari turned, startled. "Were you listening the whole time?" She asked, and he raised a brow. "Did you expect me not to listen?" He asked as he slowly walked over to join her on the couch. "You said you were going to your room," she said with a scowl. "No. I said I will leave you to talk to them. Which I did," he corrected with a shrug. "And then you headed in the direction of your room giving me the impression you were leaving," she countered. "I didn’t give you any impression. You only assumed so. Why would I leave my phone alone with you?" He asked, and before she could respond he interrupted, "and why are we even arguing about this when you haven’t answered my question?" "What question?" She asked even though she knew what he was asking. "Mari," he drawled as he sat down, facing her. "Jax," she called back in the same tone. Deciding not to waste his breath repeating his question, he stretched out his hand for his phone, "Your friends sound cool," he said, and she smiled. "They are cool. Jamal is wonderful. He’s really sweet. We recently found out his first love has a son for him. That’s one very crazy story. And Emily? Em is an angel," Mari said, and Jax nodded. "It’s amazing how opposites attract even in friendship," he said as he picked up the remote. Mari laughed, "I’m not going to ask what you mean by that." Jax’s lips twitched, "I’m sure you don’t need to ask. You got exactly what I meant." "So, if I’m not an angel what am I? A demon? A witch?" She asked laughing since she honestly preferred to be called a witch than an angel anyway. "I have a feeling you’d consider being called a witch more of a compliment than being called an angel," Jax said, and she giggled. "Did you just read my mind?" She asked with a grin. "You’re very weird," he said, and she laughed. "A witch has more allure than an angel. I don’t want you to think of me as a sweet angel. I want to bewitch you," she said, twitching her fingers like she was casting a spell on him. Jax chuckled, "How many relationships have you been in?" He asked, and she raised a brow as her lips lifted in a smirk. "Someone is becoming curious about me," she said in a singsong voice. "You were giving your girlfriend relationship advice the same way you were giving Diva. I was wondering why you feel qualified to dish out advise that way. You have lots of experience?" He asked, and she laughed. "I don’t need to have experience to give relationship advice. It’s easy to see things from a logical standpoint when you’re not emotionally involved in something. So, I advise them from the standpoint of an observer," she said with a shrug. "Have you ever been in love, Mari?" He asked, and she grinned. "I’m in love with my parents," she said, and Jax chuckled. "Not that type of love. The sort of love that turns you inside out, that makes your heart race when you look at the person. The sort that makes you feel lighthearted and breathless when they look at you?" He asked, and Mari’s heart fluttered at the way he stared at her as he said it. She shook her head, "No. Have you?" Jax nodded. "Yeah. That’s why I think it’s easier to advise people from a logical standpoint because you’re not in their shoes. Your advice was good, don’t get me wrong. I just feel it might not be effective because you really don’t know how she feels." "Is that how you feel about Diva?" Mari asked, feeling jealous at the thought of some other female evoking such feelings from Jax. Jax groaned. "Why are you bringing her up right now?" "Because I’m curious to know if she’s the one that made you feel that way," she said, and Jax shook his head. "No. Not Diva. It’s someone else," he said, watching her with interest. "Who? Where is she? What is she like?" Mari asked, trying not to scowl. Jax chuckled when he sensed her displeasure. "Why are you so curious about her?" "Because I want to know the kind of person that could have made you feel that way," she said flatly. "A witch. A delightful and enchanting witch," he said with a grin. Mari batted her lashes, "Me?" Jax raised a brow, "What makes you think you’re the one?" "Because you said I’m a witch," she reminded him. "No. I didn’t say so. I only said I had a feeling you’d take being called a witch as a compliment," he corrected. "So, it’s not me, and it’s not Diva. Who’s she?" She asked with a scowl. "You’re both not the only females on earth, you know?" he said, enjoying the way he was toying with her. "You’ve been with Diva for three years. When did you meet this person you’re in love with? Wait, are you still in love with her? Was that why you broke up with Diva? Did you use me as an excuse to get Diva out of your life so that you can be with the real love of your life?" She asked, hating the thought of it. "I met her three years ago," He said, and she frowned. "Three years ago? Before or after you started to date Diva? Are you sure Diva isn’t the person you’re talking about?" Mari asked, confused. Seeing the way her brows were furrowed as she tried to figure it out, Jax chuckled, enjoying himself. Eventually she’d know she was the one. There was no need rushing it, Jax thought as he picked up the remote controller and turned on the television. "Let’s see a movie. I found one I think you should like," he said, and she pursed her lips as she watched him. "It’s Diva, isn’t it?" She asked, narrowing her eyes. Jax flicked a finger on her forehead. "Ouch! What was that for?" Mari asked, glaring at him. "You should learn to mind your business," he said, and she eyed him with annoyance. "Whatever! Keep it to yourself," she hissed, annoyed. "I think the storyline is a bit different. You should like this," Jax said as the movie came on the screen. "What do you care? Go and see a movie with the love of your life and leave me alone," Mari muttered under her breath. "Please don’t tell me you’re jealous," Jax said with a chuckle. "Why should be?" She asked with a scowl. Jax grinned but said nothing as he focused on the movie. After he moment he turned to look at her when he noticed she was staring at him. "What?" "What what?" Mari asked, feigning innocence. "Why are you staring at me instead of the television?" He asked, turning now to look at her. "Because you’re more interesting than whatever is on the television," Mari said, and Jax nodded. "So that’s what we are doing. Alright then," Jax said as he picked up the controller and switched off the television. He turned in his seat to give her his full attention, and she grinned. "This is even better. Now I get the whole view and not just the side view." "You’re welcome," Jax said with a nod, staring at her with an unreadable expression. "Soooooooooooo," Mari drawled. "So, what?" Jax asked, and she moved closer to him. "Let’s talk," she said, grinning. "About what?" Jax asked, wondering what she wanted to say this time. Mari scooted closer to him. "So, if it’s not me or Diva, how can you be in love with one person and be having sex with someone else?" "I thought you were upset?" He asked, and she shrugged. "I’m more curious to know how you could have been having sex with Diva for three years and be feeling lightheaded over someone else." Jax paused, "Isn’t that what casual sex is all about? I love with my heart and do what I want with my body?" He asked with a slight frown. "No. I don’t think that’s right. You can indulge in casual sex when your heart doesn’t belong to anyone. You can’t have someone in your heart and head and then lie beside someone else. That’s wrong. It’s cheating," she said, and Jax shrugged. "It’s not if she doesn’t know how I feel about her..." "You see my friend, Jamal? He met a little girl when he was seven and she was three. He liked her and even though they were apart for fifteen years he never stopped loving her and he didn’t cheat on her. He didn’t care that she might not remember him. He was faithful and guess what? The universe rewarded him. What I’m trying to say is that when you love someone it doesn’t matter whether they know or not..." "That’s fairytale stuff, Mari. It doesn’t always happen that way in reality. What if after waiting for so long she didn’t want him? What would your story be about then? Besides, I didn’t really think I was ever going to be with her, so I was content with just loving her and living my normal life," he explained. That had been the reason he had not thought twice about it when Diva offered to be his sex buddy. His feelings for her had changed and it had been easy to just have sex with her without his emotions getting involved. "Why didn’t you think you would be with her?" Mari asked, and he shrugged. "She is way out of my league," Jax said, and Mari’s jaw dropped. "What? No way! That’s not true! No girl can be way out of your league. I mean I have high taste in men, and if I think you’re totally my cup of tea, then trust me, you’re up here," she said, raising her hand high. Jax laughed, "So, if we didn’t meet in here and I hit on you maybe at the gym or a club, would you have agreed?" "Totally! If you so much as winked at me I’d be pregnant with our fourth child," she said, and Jax burst out laughing. "That means you’d fall for me too since we look a like," Chad said with a chuckle as he joined them, and Jax scowled, wondering what it was with his siblings interrupting when he was having a good conversation. "Chad! Please tell me you’re single," Mari said with a grin. "Totally, Sirenita! I have no secret crush or hidden love," he said with a wink. "How long have you been standing there?" Jax asked with a scowl. "Long enough. I was contemplating whether to interrupt your interesting conversation or reveal my presence. But I was too hungry to stay silent for long," Chad said with a grin, looking at Mari. "Why don’t we singles hangout together, Sirenita?" He asked with a wink. "Sirenita? What’s that?" Mari asked, grinning at him. "Little mermaid in Spanish," he said with a wink and she giggled. "It sounds so hot," Mari said, while Jax watched Mari with a scowl wondering what was hot about it. "So the ladies say," he said, holding out a hand to her, and Mari went to meet him, placing her hand in his. "You’re going with him?" Jax asked, surprised. "Yeah," Mari said easily, figuring that she could find out a thing or two about the mysterious girl he loved from Chad. "Why are you wearing my clothes? Did you pretend to be me?" Chad asked, noticing Jax’s clothes. "Didn’t you wear mine?" Jax asked irritably as he rose. "Did you fall for it?" Chad asked Mari and she grinned. "I did. Until Venita came in and exposed him," she said and he raised a brow. "Venita was here? Is that the reason I have so many missed calls from her? I’m hungry. I’ll just call her back later. Come with me, Sirenita, and tell me how Jax played you," he said, leading Mari away, while Jax headed for the stairs, irritated that Mari chose Chad over him.

Chapter 196: Mysterious Girl

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