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.