Chapter 2 Speechless

• Interrupting the moment, a maid entered with two kids, about nine years old, standing beside her.
• "The twins, sir," she announced.
• Lena's heart skipped a beat as soon as she saw them. She managed to wear a friendly smile.
• She knew very well that her trial had begun.
• She needed to earn the kids' trust and friendship as soon as possible.
• Her mind raced with ideas of childish activities they might enjoy.
• The first twin, a boy with dark hair and icy blue eyes, looked exactly like Mr. King if he were a child.
• He stood stiffly, studying Lena as if she were an alien.
• Beside him stood the second twin, a girl with long black hair and blue eyes, just like her brother's.
• Unlike her brother, who was able to make eye contact, her gaze stayed down, and her hand clung to the maid's sleeve as if she were nervous.
• To Lena, they were both beautiful and almost identical, but their behaviors and genders set them apart.
• "This is Ms. Lena Smith, your new nanny, if she passes her final test," Mr. King introduced.
• "Ms. Lena, these are my twin kids, Nathan and Natalie."
• Lena opened her mouth to force out a word simple hello, but nothing came out.
• "She doesn't talk? Speech problem?" Nathan asked with an irritated look.
• Lena swallowed tightly.
• She hadn't expected that at all. An ordinary person might simply assume she was nervous or too anxious to speak.
• But this little genius had already figured her out.
• Mr. King pressed the bridge of his nose, inwardly regretting even considering this mistake in the first place.
• "Yes, she is mute, so she can't communicate verbally," he replied.
• Natalie frowned.
• "How will she then communicate with us?"
• Lena lifted her notepad and wrote:
• "I can write very good."
• Then, with a small smile, she added:
• "Or show you differently. Sign language, I can teach you."
• Natalie's lips twitched, intrigued. She loved learning new things and could pick them up quickly and easily.
• Nathan, however, wasn't impressed. He narrowed his eyes as his gaze swept Lena up and down.
• Then, he turned to his father.
• "Really, Dad? This idea defies all reason and logic. She needs help more than we do."
• Mr. King exhaled and ran a hand through his hair.
• "Well, you are right. This is exactly why I said this is a bad idea. But Harris here thinks she's a good candidate for the position."
• Harris shifted uncomfortably and stole a glance at Lena. He felt pity for her; he truly wanted to help her, but this part was in her hands.
• Mr. King's voice came dryly.
• "I guess that's it. The twins' reactions are obviously not welcoming, so..."
• He paused as Natalie suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Lena's hand.
• "Are you scared?"
• Lena blinked, surprised, then shook her head with a smile.
• But inwardly, she wondered if the girl was able to read her thoughts- just like her twin brother.
• Natalie tilted her head and made eye contact with her.
• "Then why do you look sad? Also, you seem like you live in constant pain and sorrow."
• Lena froze.
• How on earth was she able to get all that information from just eye contact?
• Mr. King's eyes landed on her. He noticed she was uncomfortable with the question, then cleared his throat.
• "Sweetheart, let's not make her uncomfortable with questions about her private issues, okay? Talk about yourselves- what you expect from her- her- and if she can't handle you two for the next hour, then she's failed, and we will need another applicant."
• Lena stiffened.
• An hour wasn't long, but she had no choice but to do her best.
• So she nodded in agreement.
• "What now?" Nathan asked no one in particular.
• Lena smiled softly and pulled out her notepad.
• "Let's start with, what do you like to do?" she wrote.
• Nathan rolled his eyes, always in a foul mood.
• "The typical question."
• His sister, Natalie, slowly replied, "I like reading, I like maths and calculations, I like learning new things too."
• Nathan scoffed.
• "You like everything."
• Natalie ignored him and turned to Lena.
• "Can you say something with your hands? Like sign language?"
• Lena smiled softly and nodded.
• Natalie's eyes lit up.
• Lena began forming gestures. Not quite sign language, but a simple form of storytelling with hand movements. She felt like it was a good start rather than going straight into the main sign language.
• She would make a demonstration with her hand, and Natalie would try and guess what it was.
• "Oh, that means drinking coffee. No? Then it's hot chocolate."
• Mr. King watched in silence and with unusual interest.
• For months, no nanny had been able to keep the twins' attention. They had driven away nannies, home teachers, therapists, and caretakers.
• Yet here they were, watching her. Engaged. Impressed. They were hardly impressed by anything, so it was a new development.
• "That's not even real sign language, it's just a normal demonstration." Nathan interrupted.
• Lena paused after that statement.
• Then she wrote with a soft smile.
• "You are right, Nathan, that wasn't sign language. I really admire you for that. You're so smart."
• Nathan's lips twitched, forming a smirk of satisfaction, but he quickly hid it.
• "I know that, and everyone says that. What else do you have to say?" he replied.
• Lena thought for a second before writing again.
• "I know you and your sister get overwhelmed easily. You're misunderstood and labeled spoiled and rude sometimes."
• Nathan stiffened, and Natalie shifted on her feet uncomfortably.
• The two exchanged uneasy glances.
• Lena continued writing.
• "I know people don't always listen because you can be bluntly honest, and they become offended. I know that it makes you upset with yourself and frustrated, so you lose it and try to express yourself more, but that doesn't work either."
• Mr. King turned to the maid.
• "You may leave now."
• The maid bowed and gave Lena a look before leaving. That wasn't a friendly, welcoming look at all.
• As soon as she was gone, Natalie spoke slowly.
• "You really do understand us?"
• Lena nodded with a soft smile.
• Then she wrote:
• "I won't get mad if you're blunt with me. You two are very smart kids, and I would like to learn from you. We can share some cool knowledge and ideas. I love learning."
• Natalie smiled, then looked back at her daddy and winked as if to say, Yep, she's the one.
• Mr. King winked back at her.
• They had a father-daughter special bond.
• Meanwhile, Nathan arched his brows in annoyance. He hated being so exposed and vulnerable.
• "I don't like you," Nathan replied.
• "That's fine. I love you. It's enough for both of us." Lena replied with her note.
• Nathan's cheeks burned, and he scoffed.
• "Love is just a biochemical trick, an illusion of attachment for survival. Humans don't love others, they just love how others make them feel."
• Lena blinked, confused for a minute at his level of intellect.
• Then she wrote again.
• "I hope to change your mind, Nathan. Give me a chance."
• Nathan read it as his cheeks got redder.
• "Who's blushing? Who's blushing?" his sister teased.
• "Shut up, talking duck!" Nathan snapped back with a flushed face.
• Harris gave Lena a proud smile, then looked at Mr. King to see his reaction.