Misunderstanding

Chapter 21(Nancy POV)

I glanced at the crystal-clear water of the river, marveling its reflective surface that perfectly mirrored my appearance. As I admired my captivating brown gemstone eyes and the way my honey-brown locks gracefully cascaded into a bun atop my head, I couldn't help but appreciate the soft bangs that framed my visage. Adorned with an opulent necklace and donning a resplendent pink gown adorned with a lace front and puff sleeves, I was the epitome of elegance. I could envision Mother seated on the sofa, mumbling about my irresponsibility and naive actions. Could envision Father beside her, rubbing her shoulders while Lisa and the other servants searched for me.

Feeling a sense of calm, I inspected my meticulously manicured nails, each one adorned with delicate butterfly speckles. In just a few short moments, Lisa would come into view, pleading and begging for me to return home with her. Mother and Father would undoubtedly apologize profusely and agree to fulfill my every order, just as they had done countless times before when I ran away.

Within the confines of my opulent existence, I was Mother and Father's treasured and cherished daughter, treated delicately as though I might shatter from my own fragility at any given moment. Lost in my thoughts, I suddenly felt a hand gently resting on my shoulder.

The corner of my lips curved upwards. Finally, Lisa is here. Took her a bit longer than usual, but I'll forgive her as long as she-

The hand shoved me into the river. A scream escaped my lips as I plunged into the unforgiving waters, the water closing above my head. Frantically, I flailed my arms, feeling my meticulously crafted high heels slipping off my feet and sinking into the depths of the river below. "My heels! They were custom-designed! Worth seventeen million... diamonds!" I cried, my voice drowned by the chaos around me. Just as panic threatened to consume me, the hand that had forcefully pushed me into the water now yanked me back to the surface, pulling me onto the grassy bank.

The person knelt down to my height and grabbed my chin, forcing me to look up.

"Lisa, I'm going to have you-" My words were cut off when I realized it wasn't Lisa, but a man. His face was smeared in mud, his lips chapped and I noticed that his left leg was bandaged.

His hand fell from my chin and to my neck, mercilessly squeezing it. "Since when could you talk?!"

I clawed at his hand, my scratches meaningless. One of my meticulously manicured nails snapped, causing a sharp gasp to escape my lips. My precious nail, ruined!

"You've been lying all this time! You've been pretending to be mute!" Rage seeped through his voice.

"W-what are you talking about?!" I choked out.

Releasing his grip on my throat, I lay sprawled on the grass, gasping for breath like a wounded animal. "Who are you? How dare you attempt to murder me and push me into that..." I pointed a trembling finger toward the river."Do you know who I am?!"

"Pfft," he scoffed, dusting off his hands. "You think just because you stole some clothes and began speaking, I won't be able to recognize you?"

I rubbed my now-raw throat, the skin red and tender from his merciless grip. "I am the daughter of Liam Adams!" Finding my confidence again, I rose to my feet, glaring at the man in front of me.

"Ha! Liam Adams? Who the hell is that guy?"

The expression on my face froze. He doesn't know who Liam Adams is? Who doesn't know who Liam Adams' is?!

"Listen up, my name is Nancy Vanessa Adams and I will have my father-"

He grabbed me with a firm grip on my elbow, his fingers digging into my flesh, sending a shiver down my spine. "Nathalie, that's enough acting," he hissed in my ear.

Nathalie? When Chase talked to me for the first time, he accused me of being a girl named Nathalie too. I had fallen in love with Chase when I saw him on TV when I was seven. He was handsome, with a serious and determined attitude.

"You've mistaken me for someone else!" I glanced around for help, but it was only the two of us at the riverbank.

My hair dripped with water, my gown feeling heavy. 

"Kill Chase and everything will be alright, Nathalie."

Kill Chase?

The very notion sent a chilling shock through my veins, freezing me in disbelief. "Kill Chase and I'll forgive you for stabbing that dagger into my leg." I instinctively glanced down at his bandaged leg, which was soaked in dried blood. What was even going on? But I knew he had a weakness now.

Summoning a surge of courage, I swiftly raised my leg, aiming a forceful kick towards his injured knee. The impact resonated with a sickening howl of pain, as he crumbled and fell backward.

Using this opportunity, I ran.

"Nathalie!" He roared.

But before I could get far, his hand once again ensnared my elbow, halting my escape. Spinning me around, his wrathful presence loomed before me, his flaring nostrils and beet-red face reflecting a man consumed by rage.

I took a glimpse of his leg; his pant leg and bandage were soaked in blood. My heart pounded in fear. What was he going to do to me?

"No, please, I'm sorry-"

He raised his fist and knocked me out.