Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 445: Candace’s Apology

Jamal stood outside the kitchen for a moment after Dawn spoke, wondering if this was about what happened with Mila or something else.

Then he glanced towards the dining table again.

His mother was still seated there quietly.

Her fingers rested loosely around the glass in front of her, but she wasn’t drinking from it.

She looked nervous.

Jamal exhaled softly before finally walking back towards the dining area.

The moment Candace noticed him approaching, she straightened slightly in her seat.

Jamal pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down. "Dawn says you want to talk to me?"

She nodded.

For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.

Then Jamal smiled faintly, deciding to lighten the atmosphere. "Should I be worried?"

Candace blinked slightly. "Worried about what?"

"You and Dawn had a secret meeting earlier. Then both of you ambushed me with dinner, and now you are looking all serious, wanting to talk." He narrowed his eyes teasingly. "That usually means women are plotting something dangerous."

Candace laughed softly despite herself.

Jamal smiled, seeing her laugh. She looked a little less tense now.

Candace shook her head lightly. "You know, you always joke when you’re uncomfortable."

Jamal leaned back slightly in his chair. "You always avoid answering direct questions when you’re uncomfortable. And I’m joking now only because you look uncomfortable."

That made Candace laugh again.

Then silence settled briefly once more. None of them said a word until Dawn stepped out of the kitchen.

"I’ll be in the room. Goodnight, Candace," she said softly.

They both smiled at her and nodded before she walked away.

Candace looked down at her hands for a second before speaking quietly. "I owe you an apology, Jam."

Jamal’s expression softened immediately.

"Mum, if it’s about what happened with Mira—"

"No," she cut in gently. "Please let me speak first."

Jamal stayed quiet.

Candace inhaled slowly.

"Since the incident with Mira, I’ve been thinking a lot lately," she admitted quietly. "About you. About the kind of mother I was to you."

Jamal’s brows pulled together slightly.

Candace smiled sadly. "And honestly? I don’t think I was a very good one."

Jamal immediately shook his head. "That’s not true."

Candace laughed softly. "See?" she whispered. "That’s exactly the problem."

Jamal frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"

Candace looked at him properly now. "You make it very easy for people to think they didn’t hurt you."

Something about her words made Jamal go still quietly.

Candace continued softly, "You hardly ever complained growing up. Even when I was absent. Even when I was busy. You just... adjusted."

"Because I understood," he murmured.

Candace’s chest tightened painfully at his words.

"You matured too early, Jamal," she admitted quietly. "And instead of realising that something was wrong, I praised you for being mature. For being understanding."

Jamal exhaled softly through his nose. "Mum..."

"No. Let me finish," she said gently again.

Her eyes were already beginning to shine with emotion now.

"I thought because you weren’t acting out or demanding attention that you were fine," she admitted. "I thought because you smiled and supported me that everything was okay."

"Everything was okay, and I was fine," he said firmly.

Candace shook her head slowly. "But now I look back and realise you were just learning to need less from me."

That hit him harder than he expected. His chest tightened, and he swallowed quietly.

Candace laughed shakily. "And the worst part is... you still defend me and love me so much despite it all."

Jamal stared at her quietly.

Candace’s eyes filled slowly.

"When Mila and Presley started complaining about my absence, I became defensive at first," she admitted. "I kept thinking they were being unfair because I was doing my best for all of you."

She paused briefly. "Then I started thinking about you."

Jamal stayed silent.

Candace rubbed lightly at her fingers.

"You never complained," she whispered. "Not once."

A small, sad smile touched Jamal’s lips.

"I complained in my head sometimes," he admitted quietly. "But I understood."

Candace shut her eyes briefly, as if that hurt her.

"I know," she whispered.

Silence settled between them again.

Then Jamal sighed quietly and leaned back slightly. "Mum... I’m really okay."

Candace looked at him immediately.

"I mean it," he continued gently. "I never felt unloved growing up."

Her lips parted slightly.

Jamal smiled faintly. "You were busy a lot. Yeah." He shrugged lightly. "But I also saw how hard you worked. I saw what you sacrificed to build your career."

Candace’s eyes grew wetter.

"You and Aunt Andy raised me the best way you could," Jamal continued softly. "And honestly? I’m proud of you."

Candace looked like she might cry at any second now.

Jamal smiled softly. "You’re one of the strongest women I know, Mum. And you did a great job raising me. Not all kids can afford to be childish. We didn’t have that luxury. Thank God you found your family when you did, but this wouldn’t even be a conversation between us if you hadn’t."

Candace looked away quickly as tears finally slipped down her face.

Jamal’s chest tightened at the sight. Immediately, he stood up and moved toward her.

"Mum..."

Candace laughed shakily while wiping quickly at her tears.

"This isn’t how this conversation is supposed to go."

Jamal smiled softly before crouching beside her chair. "This is exactly how it will go, Mum. Take it from me, you did a great job. I’m the Jamal I am today because you gave me the right foundation to build on."

Candace looked at him again.

"I’m sorry," she whispered brokenly. "For every moment I missed."

Jamal’s expression softened deeply. "You didn’t miss anything, Mom. You were there all the way. Maybe not the way you are now for Mila and Presley, but that’s because the circumstances between us are different. And I really never felt resentful about it. I’ve had so much love, Mom. From grandpa and grandma, aunt Andy and Uncle Alex, Tom and Lucy, Uncle Harry and Jade. From the entire clan. Not once have I felt lonely and unloved."

A soft sob escaped her before she bent slightly and hugged him tightly.

Jamal hugged her back. "I never needed perfection from you," he whispered. "I just needed you. And you were always there when I needed my mother."

Upstairs in the hallway, Dawn stood hidden from view, with her hand over her mouth as she wept quietly.

She’d tried her best not to let her curiosity get the best of her, but she couldn’t resist spying on them.

Her chest tightened softly as she watched them embrace and tears rolled down her cheeks as she wondered if she’d ever have gotten an apology like this from her mother had she been alive.

She wished her mother were alive.