Deceiving Her Ears: Ignoring Your Call-Chapter 30: Heart-Pounding Tension

As Isaac Vaughn appeared with Natalie Kendall, all eyes turned towards them from all directions.

Natalie felt like an animal in a zoo, stiff and awkward with her limbs.

Isaac seemed calm and unperturbed, as if he wasn’t worried about being discovered at all.

He held Natalie as they sat on the sofa, skillfully handling conversations with various relatives who approached.

A distant aunt scrutinized Natalie, asking why she wore sunglasses indoors.

Isaac casually replied, "She just had her eyelids done."

Natalie: "..."

The distant aunt said nothing, but turned to gossip with someone else: "Definitely more than eyelids; that nose is too perky, most likely worked on. And the chest, probably augmented too."

Soon, Vanessa Grant walked over: "Baby, come here, Grandpa’s calling you."

Isaac stood up, feeling his clothes tugged.

He looked down at Natalie, who was pulling at his shirt hem, "I’ll be back soon."

Another distant aunt teased: "They’re clearly a smitten couple, like sticky candy, inseparable even for a moment."

As requested by Vanessa, outwardly saying it’s girlfriend, not mentioning marriage.

Isaac followed Vanessa towards the study.

Vanessa complained: "I don’t like her."

Isaac casually replied, "It’s okay as long as I do."

Vanessa got angry: "Baby, can’t you find someone a bit more obedient? Like Jessica... or even Nat."

Isaac thought: If I really did, you wouldn’t be happy either.

Natalie didn’t sit long on the sofa before being pulled to the dining room by two girls.

"Sis, your hair color seems a bit fake. Which beauty salon did you dye it at? Tell us so we can avoid it."

"Sis, I want to see your double eyelid surgery. My mom promised that after I graduate high school, she’ll take me to get one too."

The girl spoke and reached out to remove Natalie’s sunglasses.

Natalie panicked, quickly covering her glasses as she stepped back.

The girl didn’t manage to touch Natalie, her arm was grasped by someone.

Turning her head, she met a pair of cold eyes, frightening her.

Being young, the two girls grabbed each other’s hands and ran away.

But Natalie couldn’t relax, her heart felt like it was stuck in her throat.

Standing before her wasn’t someone random, but her older brother.

Julian Beckett.

Today at The Vaughn Residence is a family gathering, Julian was only there to deliver his gift before leaving.

Wearing a silver-grey suit, fully embodying the elite style.

His eyes were sharp like a falcon’s, fixed on Natalie.

Sweat broke out on Natalie’s palms, she turned to leave.

But as she stepped away, she heard her brother calling her: "Nat."

She had been recognized!

Natalie’s back stiffened, her whole body felt magically frozen in place.

They went out to the garden.

Julian asked seriously what she had in her mind.

Natalie’s throat felt blocked, unable to speak.

Julian saw through it and said: "Isaac’s idea? Dressing you up like this? Even bringing you to The Vaughn Residence?"

Natalie abruptly lifted her head to look at her brother.

Her brother indeed knew everything.

Julian was usually very busy and had complicated feelings towards Natalie, his half-sister.

So there were things he’d prefer not to see.

But she was, after all, his sister.

He couldn’t truly abandon her.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have saved her years ago from his mother.

"Do you know what you’re doing? What’s Isaac’s relationship with Jason Grant? And what’s your relationship with Jason Grant? I’ve always thought you were quite clever, how could you make such a foolish move? Besides, how much genuine concern do you think Isaac has for you? He can play, can you?"

Natalie couldn’t help but retort: "Why can’t I?"

But deep down she knew she couldn’t.

"Isaac’s not a good person, is Jason Grant any better?"

Suddenly feeling a twinge in her nose, she lowered her head, after a while, softly said: "Brother, I’m sorry."

*

When Isaac came looking, Natalie was alone in the garden, her mood a bit off, slightly wilted.

"Feeling tired? You can lie down in my room for a bit, still some time before dinner."

Isaac took her to the room and then left again.

Even though it was all relatives today, one couldn’t neglect to host.

Natalie touched the bedsheets, then bent down to smell them.

A faint lemon scent, the smell of laundry detergent.

Apparently, Isaac hadn’t used this room in a while; it carried no scent of him.

Eventually she really felt sleepy, curling up in a small spot at the foot of the bed and fell asleep.

In a daze, she felt someone touching her leg.

Suddenly awakened, she instinctively reached to push down.

The little girl she pushed fell to the ground, blinking big confused eyes at her.

Natalie hadn’t expected it to be a little girl touching her.

"Who, who are you?"

The little girl just looked at her without speaking.

Meanwhile, the door opened quietly.

Hearing the sound, Natalie turned to look.

Isaac walked in.

The little girl on the ground got up and rushed towards him.

Isaac bent to hug the little girl, his expression doting.

Then Natalie saw Isaac gesturing in sign language with the little girl.

She was quite surprised.

Isaac led the little girl over to Natalie, "Her name is Kiki, my aunt’s daughter."

Paused for a moment, then said: "She can’t hear and can’t speak."

Natalie looked at Isaac, then at Kiki.

Suddenly realizing why he knew sign language.

Isaac gestured in sign language to Kiki: She’s called Little Ear.

Kiki used sign language to call Natalie: Sister.

Isaac corrected her: Nope, you call me brother; she’s brother’s wife, so you should call her sister-in-law.

Kiki was shy and afraid of people, at The Vaughn Residence, besides her mother she only got close to Isaac.

But she quite liked Natalie.

Perhaps because they were alike in some ways.

——

After celebrating Isaac’s grandfather’s birthday, Natalie had to return to Seaharbor.

In the past two days, Jason Grant had called her many times, questioning if she was out having too much fun, commanding her to come back and take care of him.

Isaac pinned Natalie down, his movements quick and forceful.

"He has a nurse, with a narrow waist, long legs, perky bottom, why would he need you?"

Whether needed or not, she had to go back. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Hearing this from her, Isaac immediately turned sour, said "Suit yourself," and retreated for a shower.

Natalie booked a train for the afternoon, but Isaac had been missing since early morning, not saying he’d see her off.

She sent him her train ticket information, then went to the mall.

A teacher once mentioned really liking pastries from Janton; now she was here, planning to take some back for the teacher.

Having bought the pastries, Natalie swiped through her phone.

Isaac still hadn’t responded to her.

With a sigh, she headed towards the elevator.

With the sound of "ding," the elevator doors opened.

Kiki saw Natalie and immediately rushed out to hug her.

Natalie was startled but upon recognizing Kiki, she expressed her astonishment.

"Kiki!"

Sylvia Vaughn stepped out of the elevator a moment later, pulling her daughter away from Natalie, she gestured in sign language: Kiki, you can’t do that, you might scare your sister.

Then she apologized to Natalie.

Natalie quickly said it was okay.

Kiki gestured to her mom in sign language: Not sister, it’s sister-in-law, it’s brother’s wife.

"What?" Sylvia was stunned.

Understanding Kiki’s sign language, Natalie’s heart instantly raced.