Misunderstanding

Chapter 28(Nancy POV)

"Nancy, put that down!" Father roared, impatience and anger flashing in his eyes. "This isn't the time for your childish behavior!" 

Childish behavior? Trembling, my sweaty hands tightened around the knife, inadvertently slicing the skin of my neck. Blood trickled down.  The sight caused Mother to gasp in shock, her hand clutching her chest before her eyes rolled back as she fainted. 

"Madame!" In an instant, Lisa rushed to catch her.

The irritation in Father's eyes transformed into deep concern. He reached out his hands, pleading, "Please, baby, put that thing down. It's dangerous!"

When I was younger, even the slightest paper cut would send my parents into a frenzy. They would shriek and call the doctor, making sure it wasn't infected, before applying expensive medicine and carefully bandaging it up. 

So, naturally, when I pointed a knife against my throat, their worry was understandable. However, I wasn't satisfied with my father's current reaction. "I said, it's either me or her!" I pointed vehemently at Nathalie, whose expression remained emotionless. 

Normally, my father would have impulsively chosen me, chasing Nathalie out of our opulent mansion. But today was not a normal day. 

Father hesitated. For the first time, doubt flickered across his face.

 "Well?!" I shouted, tears brimming in my eyes once again. 

How dare that woman attempt to steal my parents and my lover? I dug the blade deeper into my throat, blood now trickling down. The stinging pain was almost unbearable. 

"Nancy, no, don't harm yourself! I... I... Your mother is unconscious, how about you put the knife down and we talk about it? We can communicat-"

"No! You have to choose now! It's either the girl you raised or some sudden thief who appeared out of nowhere!" 

"Can't you accept your sister?! She's not a thief! She was supposed to grow up alongside you, receiving the same treatment! Honestly, I am ashamed to think that I have raised a spoiled girl like you!" 

My heart shattered into a thousand pieces. "No! No! I will be an only child! No! I want her to leave!" 

Initially, when I grabbed the knife, I was certain that my parents would choose me, and I had no intention of committing suicide. But now, I wanted to die just to make them feel guilty! 

"I'll die right in front of you then!" 

"Nancy, don't you dare!" 

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Nathalie glance at me expressionlessly before turning and disappearing down the corridor. Had she left? Would she return again? Anthony chased after her. Well, with Anthony by her side, I didn't have to worry about her returning. 

 Mother was unconscious in Lisa's arms, and Father and Chase were too distracted to notice her departure, so... Chase suddenly ripped the knife out of my hands. It clattered on the floor, making a deafening noise. He knelt down, picked it up, and placed it back on the tray. 

"Nancy, do you understand how dangerous that was?!" He shouted.

 I suddenly noticed Father's realization of Nathalie's absence; he glanced around worriedly. "Nathalie! Nathalie! Quick, search the mansion!"

"No!" I stomped my feet and brought my father's attention back to me. 

His face flushed with anger, and he marched over to me, delivering a hard slap across my cheek.  I stood there, glued to the floor, blood filling my mouth and my ears ringing.

"I can't believe how cruel you are! Are you really my daughter?! Nathalie is your biological sister! How could you use your life to threaten us to make her leave?! Do you see how kind she is?! She left for you!"

I clutched my stinging cheek, tasting blood in my mouth for the first time.

"Lisa, take Nancy to her bedroom, and she is not allowed to leave without my permission!" 

"Y-yes, sir!" 

Finally snapping back to reality, I found myself locked inside my bedroom with Lisa, while two imposing bodyguards stood vigil outside my door. I burst into tears immediately as Lisa pressed ice against my throbbing cheek. 

I bawled my eyes out, pushing Lisa away as I collapsed onto the floor, shrieking and cursing. Usually, Mother and Father would have rushed in, smothering me in kisses and hugs, offering comfort. 

In the distance, I could hear Father bellowing at the servants to find Nathalie. I seized a flower vase from the table and hurled it across the room. The glass shattered against the wall, causing Lisa to flinch.

"She left the mansion?!" Father's voice thundered.

"Y-yes..."

"Find her! I will do anything, just find my daughter!"

My daughter. My teeth sank into my bottom lip, my hands balling into fists.

Twenty minutes later...

Suddenly, the door flung open, and Father stepped in. I knew he was here to apologize, so I turned my head away, refusing to look at him. He had to be here to apologize, right?

"Nancy, your mother is at the hospital, suffering from a heart attack and your sister is missing all because of you! What do you have to say?!"

"I-I have to say that Mother's body is too weak and Nathalie deserves to die out there!"

"You...!" Father's chest moved up and down intensely. "You want to make me die of anger, don't you?! Why am I cursed with a child like you?! What did your Mother and I deserve to have a daughter like you?! We must have been blind to spoil you all these years!"

This was the first time Father had ever spat out such harsh words to me. My mouth hung open as I stared at him. 

"How could you say that?!" I grabbed a book and attempted to hurl it at him, but Lisa grabbed my arm. "Let go of me you stupid maid!"

"I've never heard of a child hitting their own father!"

"Well you have now!" 

Lisa snatched the book from my hand. "L-Lady, your crossing a line!"

Father paused to catch his breath, his face beet red. "Don't you understand?! Your mother is in the emergency room and-"

"Shut up and scram! If your not here to apologize, then scram!"

Father froze, shocked. "Wow... Nancy... I'm so disappointed in you..." I didn't know if I had imagined it, but Father seemed to have grown a few more strands of gray hair. "James! Connor! Bring the Lady to the storage room. That will be her new bedroom. Lisa, pack some clothes for her!"

Wait, what?!

"Yes, Nancy, until Nathalie is found and your mother is safe, you are forbidden to leave the storage room!"

"Keeping me confined in the filthy storage room is the same as killing me!"

 Two men appeared by my side, each gripping my arm firmly. "Lady, please come with us."

 "Father! I'll never speak to you again if you do this to me!" I screeched. Father ignored me and coldly left.

"Father! FATHER!"

"Lady, please come with us."

"Don't touch me!"