Deceiving Her Ears: Ignoring Your Call-Chapter 77: Natalie Kendall Gets Hit

Natalie instinctively looked over at Ansel Vaughn and Vanessa Grant on the sofa, then shook her head at Isaac ever so slightly. His parents were here.

In their eyes, she was his uncle’s fiancée. Their relationship was unacceptable in the eyes of the world.

She didn’t want to get too close to him in front of his parents, afraid it would provoke them again.

She wasn’t afraid for herself, only worried it would affect him.

Isaac understood what she meant right away.

But he simply walked straight over to CNA, and under her pipeline of surprise, he took her hand right in front of his own parents.

The moment their hands linked, Ansel Vaughn could no longer contain his anger: "You bastard!"

To Ansel, Isaac’s action was nothing short of a blatant provocation.

"You all know exactly what’s going on between us," Isaac said calmly. "No need for me to act anymore, right?"

Knowing is one thing.

But accepting is another.

Ansel and Vanessa still couldn’t accept it to this day.

"Why did your grandfather send you to Rhovan? For you to gain experience! Not to keep a woman hidden away in a golden cage!"

Isaac’s face was expressionless: "The achievements Grandpa asked from me, I’ll accomplish them. As for other things, that’s my business."

He paused, then looked at his father: "That’s not for you to control."

"I’m your father!"

Ansel was so furious that he stood up and strode straight to Isaac.

"You think I can’t control you?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his hand and swung it toward Isaac’s face.

Isaac’s back stayed straight, his expression mocking, those dark eyes cold and bright, with no intention of dodging at all.

"Smack!"

Ansel didn’t hold back at all with that slap.

He was planning to teach this rebellious son a lesson.

But he never expected the slap wouldn’t land on his own son’s face, but on someone else’s instead.

"Little Ear!" Isaac exclaimed in shock.

Natalie’s head was turned aside, a "buzz" ringing in her ear, her body swaying violently.

If she hadn’t been holding Isaac’s hand, she probably would’ve collapsed right to the floor.

Half her face—and even half her body—went numb. Her face was hot, painful, and itchy all at once.

Isaac pulled her into his arms with one motion, red-eyed, barking at his father: "You can hit me, curse me, do whatever you want—but take it out on me! I’m the one who won’t let go of her. Why the hell would you hit her!"

"I..." Ansel’s face flushed red, his eyes wide, a look of pure frustration on his face.

How could he possibly have hit Natalie?

How could he ever hit Natalie?

It was because she’d tried to protect Isaac, throwing herself forward, so by accident—

Anyone with eyes could see what happened.

Isaac knew it too, of course.

But the obviousness only made his heart ache more.

That fire stuck in his chest, nowhere to vent, so suffocating it was killing him!

"Quick! Get an ice pack now!"

Vanessa hurried over to check on Natalie in Isaac’s arms.

"Baby, hurry and get an ice pack!"

She reached out to steady Natalie, guiding her to sit down on the sofa.

Isaac came back with an ice pack.

Vanessa took it and pressed it gently to Natalie’s face. "Nat, how do you feel?"

Natalie shook her head, holding the ice pack herself. "It’s nothing."

How could it be nothing?

Ansel Vaughn was a grown man, and in a rage at that.

Vanessa looked at Natalie, her feelings deeply conflicted.

What mother wouldn’t be moved, seeing a girl put herself in front of her son like that?

But still—

Why did it have to be that she was once engaged to her brother?

Why did there have to be that connection?

It made it impossible for her to truly accept Natalie.

It was just too hard.

——

Isaac closed the door and walked in.

Natalie turned her head toward him, her eyes clear and calm.

Their eyes met.

And, as if by magic, his restless, angry heart went quiet.

"Where’s the medicine?"

"Already put it on."

Even so, as Natalie spoke, he opened the first aid kit, took out some ointment for swelling and pain, and reapplied it for her, gently.

Seeing his stern expression, she poked his waist with a finger.

Isaac’s hand, rubbing in the medicine, paused.

She said, "It doesn’t hurt anymore. The ointment works great."

Suddenly, Isaac hugged her tight, burying his face in the crook of her neck.

He had no words for the aching, heated pressure in his chest right now.

Natalie raised her arms and hugged him back, gently patting his back.

She’d been the one struck, yet she was the one comforting him afterward.

"Why’d you block it for me? I have thick skin, I can take a slap—hell, it wouldn’t even leave a mark on my face."

Natalie let out a quiet laugh, lifting his face with both hands, blinking at him as she teased, "You’re the pretty boy here."

"Tch." Isaac pinched her slender waist. "Who are you calling pretty boy?"

"I was worried it’d hurt you. Thinking about it now, I’m glad it didn’t land on your face."

Isaac froze.

How did she manage to say something so powerful, enough to stir him to his core, in such a soft tone?

"Little Ear."

His voice was low and gravelly.

The next moment, kisses rained down like a storm.

He pressed her onto the bed, entwining their fingers together.

His kisses trailed downwards, brushing her neck, collarbone, finally lingering on her ear.

He watched as the pale shell of her ear flushed to a delicate pink, growing faintly warm.

He took her earlobe in his mouth, his raspy male voice murmuring against her ear: "Don’t leave me."

Natalie looked at him.

"No matter what anyone says, you can’t."

She didn’t reply, only leaned up to kiss him first.

——

The next day, Isaac drove Natalie to school.

On the way, he said, "Later, I’ll have someone pack up some of your things. Let’s stay somewhere else for a couple of days. We’ll go back after my parents leave."

"That’s really not necessary."

"Not necessary? How is it not?" Isaac turned to look at her. "Or do you really want to see them, day in, day out? Last night you didn’t even dare make a sound. I told you, they can’t hear you."

Natalie’s expression cooled as she turned to look out the window.

But the hint of red on her ears betrayed her.

He knew she wasn’t angry—she was embarrassed.

"I’m the one who doesn’t want to see them. Will you just stay with me a couple days, okay?"

He chuckled quietly, almost pleading with her.

After a long moment, she finally murmured, "Mm."

He dropped her off at school, then Isaac drove to the office.

——

That afternoon, after class, Natalie didn’t see Isaac—who was supposed to pick her up so they could leave together—she saw Vanessa instead.

"Nat, can we talk?"

In fact, Natalie had already sensed Vanessa would seek her out.

She nodded and got into Vanessa’s car.

Vanessa hesitated for a while, trying to find the right words.

"So... how’s your face?"

As she spoke, Vanessa glanced at Natalie’s face, explaining on behalf of her husband: "Isaac’s dad truly didn’t mean for that to happen."

"I know. It’s over now."

Vanessa nodded absentmindedly.

After a pause, she finally spoke again: "Nat, about you and Isaac... the whole thing with your past relationship—everyone in Janton is talking about it. The Vaughn, Beckett, and Grant families have all been affected."

"Under these circumstances, it just isn’t right for you two to be together."

"Isaac’s just too stubborn. Nat, you’re an understanding girl, I know that. I hope you’ll consider leaving him yourself, could you?"