Deceiving Her Ears: Ignoring Your Call-Chapter 25: Slapped Her Across the Face

Natalie turned her head away.

But the same scent of body wash drifting from both Isaac and Jessica still insistently drilled into her nose.

She remembered herself hiding in the bathroom three hours ago, people outside furiously pounding on the door, her hands shaking as she held her phone to call Isaac, but no one answered.

Where was Isaac at that time?

What was he doing?

She realized she couldn’t let herself keep thinking about it.

She was afraid she’d lose control and find something to smash Isaac’s head in.

Isaac noticed her coldness, his brows furrowed slightly. He was about to speak when he saw Vanessa and the doctor approach.

"Mom." He brushed past Natalie and walked up to Vanessa, "What exactly happened?"

Vanessa thanked the doctor, then spoke to her son with resentment, "Your uncle nearly got beaten to death!"

As she spoke, her eyes turned red.

Jason might be a bastard, but he was still Vanessa’s little brother.

"Those damn foreigners are totally lawless! So what if they’re from a big company? I don’t believe it, no matter how strong the dragon, it can’t oppress the local snake. I’ll make sure they pay!"

Isaac couldn’t help but laugh and cry, looking at his mom: "Dragon... is that really how the saying goes?"

Vanessa grew aggrieved, leaning against his arms, "I don’t care, you have to stand up for your uncle!"

"Alright, alright."

"Your grandpa will be here later."

"Even grandpa was alerted?"

"With what’s happened to your uncle, there’s no way to keep it quiet."

As Vanessa said this, she pulled away from her son’s arms and walked up to Natalie.

"Nat, you must be terrified tonight, aren’t you?"

Isaac’s eyes flashed, and he asked, "Why did they attack Uncle? Weren’t they just discussing a partnership?"

Vanessa was fuming: "They’re just a bunch of thugs! That one called Will had wicked intentions towards Nat. Luckily your uncle protected her."

Isaac’s face was stone cold.

At that moment, the police came over, saying they had some things to confirm with Natalie.

After chatting for about ten minutes, the officers finished their notes and were preparing to leave when Isaac asked, "Where are those guys now?"

The policeman saw how cold and dangerous the man’s face was, as if once he knew their location, he’d storm in and slaughter them all.

Police: "They’ve already been taken back to the station. Rest assured, we’ll handle the case impartially and keep you informed."

After the police left, Vanessa let out a yawn.

Normally she’d be asleep by now.

"You should go home and rest. I’ll stay." Natalie said.

Vanessa didn’t refuse, patting Natalie’s hand, "Nat, thank you for handling things tonight."

"It’s only right."

Isaac stepped forward: "I’m staying too, to look after Uncle and..." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

He glanced over at Natalie.

Natalie stared straight ahead, not even glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.

Isaac felt blocked up inside.

"Fine, baby, take care of your uncle and Nat."

"I’ll arrange for someone to drive you home."

"Aunt Vanya." Jessica, whose presence had been minimal, suddenly spoke up: "Let me drive you."

Vanessa finally found the time to talk to Jessica: "Jessica, it’s so late and you came along with Isaac."

As she spoke, she gave her son and Jessica a meaningful, smiling once-over.

"Baby, then Jessica and I will head out."

Isaac glanced at Jessica. Other people might not notice anything in that look, but Jessica caught the warning in it.

Her heart tightened, she bit her lip and left with Vanessa.

After watching Vanessa leave, Natalie turned and entered the hospital room.

Isaac followed her in.

Jason really was beaten badly.

One leg and one arm both broken, wrapped in casts.

His face was bruised and swollen, with a bandage plastered on his forehead.

Natalie sat down in the single sofa chair.

Isaac walked over to stand in front of her, gazing down at her icy, expressionless little face.

"Are you hurt anywhere?"

Natalie said nothing, acting like she didn’t hear.

Isaac sighed and crouched down.

His hands gripping the couch on either side of her body, boxing her in.

Now he was the one looking up at her.

He repeated the question: "Are you hurt?"

After a long while, Natalie finally spat out two words: "No."

"Don’t believe you." he said. "Let me check."

Then, before Natalie could react, he grabbed her wrist and pulled it toward him, tugging up her sleeve.

"What are you doing!" Natalie instinctively glanced over at Jason lying on the nearby hospital bed, panic-stricken. "Don’t go nuts! Let me go!"

Isaac ignored her, finished checking the left arm, then moved on to the right.

After both arms were examined, he reached for her collar.

In desperation, Natalie shoved him hard with both hands.

Isaac was caught off guard and landed squarely on his butt on the floor.

She shot to her feet, glaring down at him, gritting her teeth: "Isaac, quit being a lunatic!"

Isaac pushed off the ground, using one arm to stand up.

The height difference brought a sudden rush of intimidation.

He sneered, sweeping his long arm around and yanking Natalie into his embrace.

She slammed into his rock-hard chest, nose stinging, nearly bursting into tears.

He leaned close, whispering in her ear, "Want to see what me really losing my mind looks like? Doing it here, right in front of my uncle—does that count?"

"Isaac, you fucking..." Natalie blinked away the burning in her nose. "Asshole."

Isaac let out a laugh, finger kneading her earlobe, "Don’t go insane just because you saw me with Jessica."

"I haven’t had enough of you in bed, I’ve got no energy for anyone else."

Natalie kept silent.

She didn’t trust Isaac’s promises.

They’d shared a shower.

He hadn’t slept with her?

Who’d believe that?

Isaac stroked her hair, "Did my uncle really get hurt protecting you today?"

Natalie’s eyes flickered at that.

"Were you moved?"

He pinched her chin, locking eyes with her.

Natalie looked away: "No."

"Tch, cold as ice, aren’t you?"

Isaac teased, but actually felt satisfied with her coldness.

Suddenly, a coughing sound interrupted.

Natalie pushed Isaac away from her immediately, ending the tension between them.

Over on the hospital bed, Jason slowly regained consciousness.

The pain hitting him from every part of his body made him cry out instantly.

"Uncle."

Isaac walked over to the bedside, leaning forward, asking, "How’re you feeling?"

Jason looked at him, "Isaac?"

Then he saw Natalie standing behind Isaac.

"You..."

Natalie stepped forward, forcing Isaac to move aside.

Her face gave nothing away. "Are you alright?" she asked.

Jason’s arm hurt, his leg hurt, his face hurt, his head hurt.

He all right?

Bullshit!

He glared at Natalie, gritting his teeth, "Come here."

Natalie frowned slightly, but still leaned in as Jason requested.

The next second, Jason’s eyes turned cruel.

He raised his unbroken hand and slapped Natalie hard across the face.

"Smack!"

The slap came out of nowhere.

Natalie’s face snapped to the side, her cheek flushing bright red.

Isaac’s expression darkened, grabbing Natalie’s arm and pulling her to his side.

"Bitch!" Jason spat at Natalie furiously.