Chapter 19

Chase was slowly losing it.

He tried to calm himself down. He was trying to replace every painful event that had happened in his life with beautiful ones instead. He had counted to a thousand by now, taking a chance to calm his nerves.

Chase stared at the white ceiling of his bedroom as the confusing conversation between his mother and Isabella came into his mind for the thousandth time since he had laid his back on the soft sheets.

Mom?

Did Isabella just call Chase's mother "mom"?

Chase started to count again as he took deep breaths, trying to maintain his collected self as he processed everything that he had heard.

That was when he realized it. It was only natural for someone to be calling their lover's mother as if they were their own. Indeed, perhaps, that was the case, Chase thought. He nodded in agreement to his own theory. 

That was it, he thought. Maybe his mother and girlfriend were secretly meeting behind Chase's back so they would be closer to each other for Chase. Yes, for Chase's sake. Chase smiled at the thought. His girlfriend really was so understanding, and she loved Chase so much that she was willing to do everything for Chase, even accompanying Chase's mother and trying to be close to her. 

But then there was the meeting with grandmother…Was it Isabella's? Or Chase's? Chase wasn't sure as well. But if it was Isabella meeting up with his mother secretly, so they'd be closer, then maybe it was Chase's grandmother they were talking about. Ah, how Chase missed his grandma.

At that thought, Chase decided to call his grandmother's home, the one that stood still beside the sea for sixty years by now. Chase remembered how he'd play all day in that house when he was a kid, when life wasn't about getting up early in the morning and drinking coffee, too bitter in an attempt to wake Chase's whole body up. It was funny how when he was a kid, he hated the taste of coffee and instead preferred and loved fresh milk, waffles, and cookies his grandmother would always prepare for him during his stay in the old house of his grandparents. His life was so simple back then. 

"Hello, Dalton Residence speaking," Chase heard a voice of a woman that he assumed to be a maid as soon as he dialed the house's telephone number.

"It's Chase," he said in a gentle tone. He wasn't sure if it was just him or the maid giggled for a second as soon as she heard his name.

"Oh, Sir Chase. Madam is currently with a visitor. Together with your mother too," she said, trying to remain calm and respectful despite the excited giggles she wanted to let out.

Chase raised his eyebrow at the reply and finally it clicked. The grandmother they were talking about in the cafe was Chase's grandmother, now Chase was sure of that. He nodded a few more times, agreeing with the theory he had built up a few minutes ago.

He was about to ask if the visitor she was talking about was named Isabella when he heard voices through the phone. 

"Amy, Amy! Come here, look at Isabella. Isn't she adorable?" Chase heard a familiar voice of a woman from the other line. It was his mother.

"Um, yes, Ma'am. Um, Ma'am, Sir Chase is―"

"Told you so, Bella. Grandma's been waiting for this day, you know. Look, the clothes fit well. You’re so beautiful… Ah, you should thank your grandma for this, she really worked hard making this dress for years just for you!" Then there were sounds of soft laughter that Chase knew too well.

Years? Why would his grandma sew clothes for Isabella in years? Has she seen the future where Chase would be bringing and introducing Isabella to them as his lover?

"Thank you, I wished I'd prepared something for grandma as well." Comes the shy voice of his girlfriend.

"You know your presence is good enough for us, dear. I'm really happy this time has finally come."

"Mom…"

"Isabella baby, you don't know how happy I was when you agreed to this. I know it's not easy, but you tried…and I'm glad, I'm glad you're here, right now. In this house. To be honest, I didn't know we'd meet a―" 

"Ma'am! Sir Chase's on the phone," the maid, Amy, finally said, cutting off his mother’s speech, which had intrigued Chase. It was a little too emotional for Chase's ears, so he confused again but it was quickly forgotten when he heard his lover's voice.

"C-Chase?" Chase heard his name being uttered by Isabella in a weird way, a kind as if she was astonished to have realized what she had done and that she had been caught in the act. Well, technically she was, Chase thought. 

 "Hand her the phone, Amy," he demanded to Amy, finally knowing the name of the assumed new maid of the household.

"So, this is how you act behind my back?" Chase greeted his lover in a very dark tone—one he could barely manage to use for he hadn't used it since his last movie.