Deceiving Her Ears: Ignoring Your Call-Chapter 41: He Held Her Too Tight

A girl with a cool yet very beautiful demeanor.

This inevitably arouses Vivienne Jordan’s caution.

Meanwhile, Natalie is also looking at Vivienne.

Previously, she had only seen photos on Jessica’s phone.

But photos don’t quite have the impact of the real person.

Before Isaac Vaughn could speak, she said, "Hello, I’m his uncle’s fiancée." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Upon hearing this answer, Isaac, who was about to put his hand on her shoulder, retracted his hand, pressed his tongue against his cheek, and smiled.

A hint of coldness flashed in his eyes as he echoed Natalie’s words, "Yes. My uncle’s fiancée."

Strangely, Vivienne felt that every word he said carried an inexplicable anger.

She nodded to Natalie while holding her flowers as a greeting, then looked at Isaac and asked, "Can we talk?"

Isaac smirked, opened his front door, leaned against it, tilted his head, and invited her in: "Of course, why not? Please come in."

Vivienne was overjoyed.

Considering Isaac Vaughn’s attitude on the phone that day, she was prepared for the possibility of being turned away, but unexpectedly, she got a pleasantly surprising result.

Vivienne looked radiant as she entered, holding her flowers.

Isaac looked at Natalie, who was silently opening the door with her back to him, and coldly laughed.

With a "bang," the door closed behind him.

Natalie’s hand paused while she was entering the password, then she completed it in one breath, opened the door, and went inside.

"Sit anywhere," Isaac tossed his jacket casually onto the sofa, "Do you want anything to drink?"

Vivienne said, "Water will do."

She put down the flowers and sat on the sofa, slightly nervous and tense.

Isaac came over with water, and as he put down the cup, his eyes glanced at the bouquet.

Vivienne immediately said, "It’s for you."

Isaac looked somewhat surprised, his tone careless: "Why give me such a thing? I’m a grown man."

Vivienne raised the cup and took a sip of water, steadied herself, and looked up at Isaac: "I wanted to ask you before on the phone. Do you have a girlfriend now?"

"Girlfriend?" Isaac glanced over with a meaningful smile: "No."

But he did have a wife.

Vivienne’s face couldn’t hide her joy; she suddenly stood up and bravely moved closer to Isaac.

She looked into his eyes, pouring all her infatuation into her gaze.

"Isaac Vaughn, I still can’t forget you. I still love you. Can we start over?"

"No."

Vivienne was dumbfounded, not expecting him to refuse so decisively, with no room left.

—

No contact all night.

The next day, Isaac openly opened Natalie’s apartment door.

She wasn’t there.

She must have gone to class.

There was some unfinished breakfast in the dining room.

She even made sandwiches and hot milk for herself.

Quite abundant.

The sleepless, anxious scenario Isaac anticipated simply didn’t happen.

He picked up her half-eaten sandwich and shoved it into his mouth, angrily laughing.

Fine.

Really fine.

The little deaf girl just has no heart!

*

In the evening, Nina Abbott’s crush had a birthday party, and Natalie was dragged along to celebrate.

She drank a few glasses, feeling tipsy, and amidst the cheering, Nina boldly grabbed her crush’s collar and kissed him.

Natalie smiled lightly and clapped along; later, feeling the room was a bit stuffy, she went out for some fresh air.

As she walked along the corridor towards the lobby, she suddenly saw Isaac Vaughn through a glass door, drinking and playing cards with friends.

He held a cigarette, clutching a few cards in his hand, lounging lazily on the sofa with his long legs stretched out casually, looking completely relaxed and carefree.

There were both guys and girls, with two girls constantly watching him.

Suddenly one mustered up the courage to approach him and say something; he glanced at her, nodded, and she sat beside him with a face full of joy.

Natalie calmly withdrew her gaze and turned to walk in another direction.

Her phone received a message from Nina, asking where she had gone.

She replied that she stepped outside to catch some air.

Nina warned her not to wander too far; though this was a formal club, occasionally one might encounter some ill-mannered rich kids.

Natalie found a small terrace where she could see the fountain not far away.

She was thoroughly enjoying how controlling the water pressure created different sprays from the fountain when she suddenly received a message from Isaac Vaughn.

[?]

She didn’t reply.

After a while, he sent another message.

[Where are you?]

She still didn’t reply.

The fountain show ended.

Natalie felt it ended too soon.

Suddenly sensing someone approaching from behind, before she could turn, she was hugged tightly from behind.

He held her so tightly that her waist hurt and she felt short of breath.

When she moved slightly, he warned in her ear: "Don’t move! Or right here, I’ll— have you!"

Natalie frowned.

Once he had hugged her enough, Isaac let her go, lit a cigarette, and leaned against the wall, smoking.

"Was it interesting peeking?"

Natalie looked at him.

Turns out, he had seen her earlier at the glass door.

"I wasn’t peeking."

"Heh." Isaac blew out a smoke ring.

Seeing her lightly wrinkle her brow, he extinguished the cigarette.

"Who are you here with?"

"Friends."

"Tell her you had something and left."

*

This time, in the elevator, Isaac didn’t spare Natalie.

A forceful kiss, domineering and passionate.

The anger that ignited when she told Vivienne she was his uncle’s fiancée hadn’t subsided.

With a "ding," the elevator door opened, they had arrived.

But he held her tightly, kissing her to the point of suffocation.

Until a cold, deep male voice resounded.

"Nat."

Natalie, startled, pushed Isaac away vigorously and looked towards the elevator door.

Julian Beckett’s tall figure stood outside the elevator, an expression of cold anger on his face.

Isaac wanted to follow but was shut outside by Natalie.

Julian surveyed the apartment; it was his first time visiting the place she lived.

"Brother, have some water."

Julian took the cup, his gaze lingering on her swollen lips.

Remembering the scene he had witnessed in the elevator, his face darkened further.

"How are you feeling?"

Natalie lowered her eyes, spoke softly: "I’m alright now."

"Mom..." Julian opened his mouth but didn’t know how to defend their mother.

Every year around the anniversary of his own sister Anne Beckett’s death, their mother’s emotions became particularly sensitive; she would return to The Beckett family’s old residence, shut herself in Annie’s room all day, and then self-harm.

Later, Natalie would go to the old residence during those days to accompany her, to prevent her from self-harming.

After a while, their mother’s behavior shifted from self-harm to hurting Natalie.

Julian and their father were aware, but they chose to turn a blind eye.

Until Isaac barged into The Beckett family.

"In over a month, you’ll be marrying Jason Grant. Before that, cut things off with Isaac Vaughn."

Natalie showed no reaction to these words.

Julian stepped forward, holding her shoulders, "You don’t like Jason Grant. After marriage, I’ll arrange for you to study abroad, continue your schooling overseas. You don’t have to face him."

"Brother." Natalie lightly frowned, looked up at Julian, "I don’t want to go abroad. Isaac and I..."

She hadn’t finished speaking when suddenly there was a noise at the door, and Isaac strode in.