Deceiving Her Ears: Ignoring Your Call-Chapter 21: Afraid My Little Uncle Will Catch Us
In the crowd, Jessica’s expression froze, her heart leaping to her throat for a split second, both hands clenching slightly at her sides, a thin layer of sweat seeping from her palms.
Natalie didn’t even lift her eyelids, her voice calm: "The floor was slippery, I slipped and fell in myself."
In that moment, Jessica clearly heard the sound of her own heart settling back into place.
But she didn’t feel grateful that Natalie covered for her; all she thought was that Natalie was a damn good actress.
Isaac looked down at Natalie, clearly not believing her words.
But now wasn’t the time to press the issue.
"Second Master Vaughn, you’re both soaked, go upstairs and get yourselves sorted out."
"Yeah, hurry, don’t catch a cold."
*
"I only brought an extra one of these. You’ll have to make do."
Natalie took the dress the woman handed over, thanking her.
She took off her wet clothes and changed into the dress.
The zipper was at the back, a little hard to pull up.
She reached awkwardly behind her to zip it up when someone opened the door and walked in.
Natalie was startled, immediately spinning around to see Isaac Vaughn walk in.
He was wearing someone else’s clothes—surprisingly, a pink shirt.
That color was pretty hard to pull off; one wrong vibe and you’d look ridiculous. But on him, it looked especially good.
Seeing her with her arms awkwardly twisted behind her, Isaac instantly understood what she was trying to do.
"Come here."
Natalie hesitated for two seconds, then walked toward him.
He pulled her into his arms, reached behind her, pinched the zipper between two fingers, and effortlessly zipped it up for her.
But after he finished, he didn’t let her go, still holding her in that enclosure against his chest.
His hand slipped through her hair, softly rubbing her scalp.
Natalie shivered lightly, her skin prickling with tiny goosebumps.
"How do you know sign language?"
"Take a guess."
Isaac pressed his palm against the back of her head, locking eyes with her, his voice deep: "You really not going to tell me what happened just now?"
Natalie looked away. "I just slipped."
"Slipped? What are you, a fox?"
*
Jason Grant opened the door, only to have the online influencer girl cling to him again as he stepped out.
"But I’m not done yet..."
"Little vixen, you want to suck me dry?"
"Mmm~ BB, you’re so strong, how could I ever suck you dry."
Jason was amused, pinning her against the door and kissing her messily.
"Jason?"
Suddenly someone called his name. Jason let go of the influencer and shielded her behind his back, "Wha–what is it?"
"Just now—your fiancée fell into the pool. Aren’t you going to check on her?"
"What?"
Jason found the room where Natalie was changing, just about to open the door, when Natalie happened to come out.
Seeing him outside, Natalie stepped out and shut the door behind her.
From within, Isaac: "..."
She was wearing a dress borrowed from someone else.
The size wasn’t right—too small.
Because it was too clingy, it outlined her curves even more.
Jason’s eyes flashed with surprise, staring at her chest and the faint cleavage, gulping.
Natalie noticed his gaze and coolly raised a hand to cover her chest.
Jason awkwardly cleared his throat.
"You—you fell into the pool just now?"
"You’re a real handful, you know that?" he grumbled, turning around. "Come on, let’s go home."
Natalie instinctively glanced back at the closed door behind her, but in the end still stepped after Jason.
——
After returning home in the middle of the night, Natalie started running a fever.
Her mind was foggy, and she couldn’t summon a shred of strength.
She barely managed to drag herself out of her room to find some fever medicine, but had no energy to get water, so she forced the pills down dry and curled up on the sofa, falling asleep there.
Half-awake, she felt her body go light, as if she were floating on a cloud.
Her pajamas were being taken off, someone gently wiping her body with a warm towel.
She shivered, tears streaming down her face, her voice hoarse from fever, mouthing something.
Isaac put the towel back in the basin and leaned down, putting his ear close to her lips.
Her breath was scalding, hot air caressing his ear.
He could hear her calling:
"Mom... Mom..."
Isaac’s eyes darkened slightly, and as he straightened up, he looked right into her misty, damp eyes.
She seemed awake, but maybe not—just staring straight at him.
Isaac took her hand, gently squeezing her fingertips.
"Can you hear me?"
Natalie was a bit sluggish, but after a few seconds, she blinked in response.
"Next time you feel this bad and need to call someone, call the person who’s here with you."
Natalie gazed at him, confusion swirling in her eyes.
Isaac explained, "Just now, while you were delirious with fever, you were calling for your mom."
Natalie’s pupils contracted sharply; in that moment, Isaac clearly saw a flash of pain in her eyes.
He squeezed her fingers a little tighter, bringing back her attention, then leaned in closer.
Their faces were close, so close he could see the fine, downy hairs on her flushed cheeks.
"So, next time you’re upset, don’t call for your mom—call for me."
At his words, Natalie’s breath went thin, her eyes quietly locked onto his.
Isaac tipped his chin upward. "Say it."
He didn’t rush her—just waited patiently.
After about a minute or two, Natalie finally parted her lips and called his name.
"Isaac... Vaughn."
Isaac’s thin lips curled up. One hand still holding hers, the other came down to gently cover her eyes.
"Mhm. I’m here. Sleep, you’ll feel better when you wake up."
*
When Natalie opened her eyes again, the fever had subsided, but she still felt weak all over.
She turned her face to the side, spotting Isaac sitting by the bed.
He looked just like a kid when he slept, eyelashes longer and thicker than most girls’.
Only a few seconds passed.
Isaac must have sensed something and opened his eyes too.
Their eyes met.
He leaned close, pressing his lips to her forehead to check her temperature.
"Mmm, not hot anymore."
Suddenly—
Natalie realized something.
This was her place.
How did he get in here?
"What are you doing here? How did you even get in?"
Isaac sat up, reaching for the glass on the nightstand.
"It’s cold by now. I’ll go get you some warm water."
He said, stepping out the door.
Natalie pushed herself up, about to call him.
But before she could open her mouth, Isaac had already left the room.
Natalie threw back the covers to get out of bed, and noticed then that her pajamas weren’t the ones she had put on before sleeping last night.
No need to ask who’d changed her clothes.
She gently ruffled her hair, put on her slippers, and stepped out.
Isaac was coming back with water in hand just as she came out.
Natalie glanced at the guest room door.
No idea if Jason was awake yet.
She walked over to Isaac, speaking softly, "You should go home now."
Isaac raised an eyebrow, just reaching out to hand her the glass in his hand.
Natalie had no choice but to accept, but couldn’t help glancing at the guest room again.
Before she could turn back, she felt Isaac lean down, voice low and intimate near her ear, "What? Afraid your little uncle will see us?"
Natalie frowned and turned to face him.
Just then, a door opened in the guest room.
Immediately after—
Jason’s voice sounded: "Isaac?"
In that instant, Natalie’s eyes went wide, her body going rigid.
And right in front of her, Isaac was still bent toward her, holding that near embrace.
In her eyes, she caught the devilish, unrestrained smile playing at his lips.
