Misunderstanding

Chapter 3(Chase POV)

As soon as I stepped into the building, my housekeeper strolled over, beaming. Mrs. Smith, a middle-aged woman with a kind smile, greeted me with genuine warmth. Her eyes widened with delight as she noticed my companion. "Oh, Sir Chase, you're back! Where's Madame? Oh, and I see you brought a guest! I'll go prepare some fruits-" Her words trailed off as I interrupted her, my expression hardening, "No, Mrs. Smith, that won't be necessary." I squeezed the girl's wrist tighter. 

"Of course it's necessary! This is the first time you've brought a woman home!" Mrs. Smith exclaimed. I felt the petite girl stiffen beside me. "I suppose Madame is still enjoying the beautiful weather out there?"

"Call the police," I growled. Mrs. Smith's eyes widened in shock and concern.

"Pardon?"

I bellowed, "I said, call the cops!" The room seemed to tremble under the weight of my emotions as I flung the girl across the room, her body crashing into the wall with a gasp of pain. Mrs. Smith's gaze shifted from me to the girl, her shock turning into empathy as she witnessed the girl's tears and her curled-up form, clutching her injured leg.  Pain, huh? Had she thought about the pain Mum experienced? Suffocating, unable to swim, thoughts circling in her head when she saw me... knowing that her life has reached the end...

I slammed my fist on the coffee table, my heart pounding inside of me. "Mrs. Smith, did you not hear me?! Call the cops! I'm going to have this... this... beast arrested!" My voice cracked with a mixture of despair and anger, and Mrs. Smith hesitated for a moment, her eyes filled with concern. "Sir Chase! As an elder, I advise you to choose your words properly-"

"She killed my mother!" I crumpled onto the sofa, burying my face in trembling hands. Mrs. Smith's gaze shifted from me to the girl, her expression a mix of confusion and disbelief. The girl, still whimpering, desperately shook her head.

"W-what had happened?" Mrs. Smith asked with a quivering voice. 

"She..." I balled my trembling hands into fists, struggling to gather myself, my hands clenched in trembling fists. "...pushed Mum... ocean..." 

Mrs. Smith was quiet for a long moment, before pouncing on the girl. She was a woman in her forties, always cheery and hopeful. I had never seen her like this. Mrs. Smith was grabbing the horrified girl by the shoulders, shaking her. "How could you?! Madame was a such a kind-hearted, innocent woman!" Her voice was hoarse as tears poured down her cheeks.

 The room held its breath as the girl, frozen in horror, ceased her frantic motions, as Mrs. Smith pointed a knife towards the girl's neck. 

"Mrs. Smith, no!" 

"I must avenge Madame!" Mrs. Smith's voice cracked with grief and fury. 

"Mrs. Smith! If you kill her, you'll get arrested! Don't be so foolish!" I pleaded, knowing the consequences of such an act. 

But a sudden realization washed over me - if the police were called, Mrs. Smith would face arrest as well. Panic coursed through my veins as I desperately tried to find a solution. 

"No, we can't do that... I can't let you get arrested, Mrs. Smith! You're innocent, you were just unconscious of your actions!" My words held a glimmer of hope, even as doubt lingered in the back of my mind. I knew the police wouldn't easily believe my version of events. 

My gaze shifted towards the girl, her innocent appearance angering me further.

Her words hung heavily in the air, overshadowed by the weight of the situation. Frustration surged through my veins, causing me to clench my fists tightly, desperately searching for a way out. 

"I'll tell everyone she fell herself and drowned..."

"You think the Police won't investigate?"

"I'll pay them not to." I glanced over at the murderer of my mother and made my way towards her. "You can stop pretending," I declared, my grip on her chin growing forceful. A fierce demand spilled from my lips, "What's your name?" In response, she nervously twirled her fingers and made subtle movements with her arms.

"Look, I don't understand your rubbish sign language! Talk! I know you can talk!" I erupted with anger, gripping her hair harshly as tears welled up in her eyes. She remained silent.

A warning flashed in my eyes. "I'm giving you a chance." 

She moved a palm-back "A"-handshape backwards to her lips. Releasing a weary sigh, I said, "Mrs. Smith, bring a paper and pin!"

Without hesitation, Mrs. Smith hurriedly left the room, rushing back with a piece of lined paper and a pen in hand. As the girl's trembling fingers hovered above the paper's surface, she began to write, revealing her name to be Nathalie.