Deceiving Her Ears: Ignoring Your Call-Chapter 16: Something in the Palm of One’s Hand
After her 8 AM class, Natalie received a text message.
Recently, some criminals have been using endless methods both online and offline to conduct marriage scams. Many people have fallen victim. Relevant departments are reminding the public to beware of fraud.
She took a screenshot of the message and sent it to Isaac Vaughn, who hadn’t responded, probably still asleep.
The school group chat was also discussing it.
[These days, who in their right mind would rush into marriage?]
[Whoever wants to get married, let them. I’m not getting into that mess. No one’s going to scam me.]
[Bet there’s someone stupid enough to be convinced in a few words.]
Natalie exhaled gently, turned off her phone.
Just as she walked out of the teaching building, Scott Quinn suddenly appeared, blocking her path.
The injuries she inflicted on him hadn’t healed, and he’d gotten another beating from Jason Grant.
New wounds over old ones made Scott’s otherwise handsome face a complete mess.
Holding a cigarette, he deliberately blew smoke rings towards Natalie’s face, his expression cold and sinister, "Shall we talk?"
Natalie’s face was expressionless as she brushed past him, walking forward.
"Does Jason Grant know you slept with his nephew?"
Natalie stopped in her tracks.
Scott gave a sinister smile, knowing he had successfully cornered her.
F***ing b****!
Look at the state she put him in.
If he didn’t teach her a lesson, he wouldn’t be a Quinn!
——
Scott ordered a cold drink but didn’t drink it, choosing instead to crunch on the ice cubes, making a loud crunching sound.
Natalie sat opposite him, still with that icy expression.
Scott hated her attitude, so he spat out the semi-chewed ice into the drink cup, pushed it aside, rested his arm on the table, and leaned towards her.
"I’ve got to hand it to you. Engaged to the uncle, sleeping with the nephew - hitting all the bases. I really didn’t expect you to play such a big game."
Natalie glanced up at Scott, her eyes filled only with disgust, "What do you want?"
Scott leaned back laughing, draping his arm over the back of his chair, crossing his legs, patting his leg, "What do you think the impact would be if I leaked such explosive news to the Grant family and the Vaughn Residence?"
"You and Isaac Vaughn are F***ed!"
Natalie felt a jolt inside but kept a facade of calm.
"But I feel for you, Nat. After all, I chased you for half a year, there’s got to be some feelings."
Saying that, Scott took out a room card from his pocket, placed it on the table, pushing it over with his middle finger.
"Tonight at 8, Zenithar. You know Zenithar well, don’t you? You’re so familiar you go on the 5th of every month, right?"
Scott stood up, throwing out a "I’ll be waiting," and walked away.
Natalie gritted her teeth, stared at the room card on the table, her fingers under the table clenched into a fist, nails nearly digging into her skin.
Suddenly, her phone rang.
Her clenched fingers relaxed, and she answered the call.
Isaac’s lazy voice came through, "Where are you?"
Hearing his voice, the tension in Natalie’s heart eased slightly.
"Coffee shop."
"Come back."
*
As soon as she returned, Isaac dragged Natalie into mischief.
Isaac clutched her wrists together, pressing them above her head, asking:
"What was that message about?" He lifted his head slightly and bit her ear with the hearing aid: "Think I’m scamming you into marriage?"
Natalie accidentally lifted her leg as she struggled.
"Ah!"
Isaac took a sharp breath, his expression changing.
"I didn’t mean it."
Natalie panicked, showing concern, "Are you okay?"
But the next moment she realized she’d been played by Isaac.
By the time the frolicking was over, it was already past 6 PM.
Natalie got up to dress, her legs shook as she tried to put on her pants.
She was furious, her eyes turning red at the corners.
Isaac came over with a smile to help, holding her ankle and slipping it into the pants leg, then hugged her from behind.
"Want me to cook some pasta for you?"
"Not eating."
"Tch."
"Have to go out for a bit."
"What for?"
Natalie said it was something about her thesis, she needed to go to the university.
Isaac stared at her for a few seconds before releasing her.
——
Scott came out of the bathroom, talking on the phone as he headed towards the big bed.
"Quinn, take it easy."
"Screw off! I’m just fine, thanks."
Ending the call, Scott tossed his phone aside and picked up the black whip on the bed, snapped it twice in his palm.
The bed had more than a dozen tools, all meant for use on Natalie shortly.
Finally, the day had come, he was going to have some fun with her.
Suddenly remembering something, he turned to check the miniature camera he had set near the TV cabinet opposite the bed.
Ensured it was powered on.
He planned to record the whole process.
With the video in hand, Natalie would never escape his grasp in the future.
"Ding-dong."
The doorbell rang.
Scott excitedly walked to answer the door.
As soon as he opened it, he saw Natalie standing outside, unable to hide the malice in his gaze, it was on full display.
"Come in."
He turned his side, letting Natalie in.
Natalie looked at him coldly.
The next second, two brawny men suddenly emerged from behind her, pinning Scott to the ground as he reacted slowly, then covered his nose with a handkerchief.
Within seconds, Scott fell unconscious.
"Miss, he’s out."
Natalie stepped inside, closing the door with her hand.
"Alright, let’s start."
"Yes, Ma’am."
——
Around nine, Natalie finally left Zenithar.
While waiting for the car by the roadside, she dialed Isaac’s number.
After a while, he finally answered.
"What’s up?"
"I’m craving pasta, can I have some when I get back?"
Isaac chuckled in exasperation, "Am I your servant?"
"Chef. Can I?"
"Where are you now? Still at the university?"
"You’re coming to pick me up?"
"You’re spoiled. Get back yourself."
Natalie opened her mouth to say something, but the next second she saw Isaac.
The first moment was joy, but the second, joy turned to shock.
Separated by a huge floor-to-ceiling window.
Inside the restaurant, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, with Vanessa Grant grinning ear to ear nearby.
Isaac held the phone in one hand, his other arm being clung to by the girl.
Natalie held her breath, overhearing Vanessa’s voice: "No way, darling, I just love Jessica. I want Jessica as my daughter-in-law."
