Deceiving Her Ears: Ignoring Your Call-Chapter 78: Decision to Separate

After listening attentively to Vanessa Grant, Natalie’s eyes were filled with shock. Had her relationship with Isaac Vaughn already become the talk of Janton?

It seemed she really had forgotten many things.

"Nat, can you promise me something?"

Before she could respond, her phone rang.

It was Isaac calling.

He was at the gate of Rhovan University, and at this time she should have finished her classes. He asked why he didn’t see her coming out.

"I was asking a teacher a question," Natalie replied, not mentioning she was in Vanessa Grant’s car.

Vanessa let out a gentle sigh of relief.

If her son found out she was meeting Natalie privately, he’d certainly be upset.

"Alright, I’ll wait for you. Take your time with your questions."

"Okay."

After hanging up, Natalie said to Vanessa, "I will think carefully about your words."

Vanessa looked pleasantly surprised and wanted to seize the opportunity to discuss more about the pros and cons of the situation, but was afraid of pushing her too hard and causing the opposite reaction, so she nodded and let her out of the car.

——

Isaac had booked a suite in the hotel.

Natalie’s belongings were packed in a white suitcase, standing by the sofa.

He pulled her to sit on the bed and took out some ointment to apply to her face.

Natalie obediently let him fuss over her, her small palm-sized face clean and pretty.

After applying the ointment, Isaac kissed her other cheek.

"My parents are just having a hard time understanding. Don’t worry about what people in Janton are saying now, they’ll forget with time."

As he spoke, he held Natalie’s hand, "Remember what you promised me?"

Natalie looked down at their intertwined hands, playing with his fingers.

Isaac let her play for a while before asking, "Are you hungry? Should we go out to eat? What do you want to eat?"

"Pasta."

"There’s no kitchen here. I’ll make it for you when we get back home in a couple of days. How about something else?"

Natalie thought for a moment, then shook her head.

Isaac lifted his hand to pinch her nose, his tone indulgent, "Why are you so difficult? It’s all because you’re spoiled."

He took her to the hotel’s back kitchen, borrowed the space, and made pasta for her.

Afterwards, he brought it back to the room.

Once they finished eating, he worked while she did her homework.

Each busy with their own tasks, yet a simple glance away from seeing one another.

Before bed, Isaac held Natalie and kissed her ear.

"Little Ear, want to talk?"

"About what?"

"I have a feeling something’s on your mind tonight. Am I wrong?"

After a while, Natalie sat up from his embrace.

Isaac followed.

He didn’t pressure her, patiently waiting.

A long time passed.

She looked at him and said, "Tomorrow, let’s tell your parents that we’re going to follow their wishes and decide to separate, okay?"

Isaac’s expression turned cold instantly, silently watching her.

Seeing this, Natalie reached to grasp his hand, but he dodged her touch.

"So you’re not taking what I say seriously?" Isaac’s tone was frosty.

Natalie sighed.

"It’s not like that."

"We can secretly be together."

Isaac was so angry he laughed.

"What do you mean by secretly together?" He pinched her chin, mocking, "You want to have an underground romance with me?"

He didn’t expect her to nod.

That’s exactly what she meant.

Isaac’s chest tightened with rage.

Staring at her, it was a while before he spoke, "You’re really... smart. Saying one thing to my face and doing another behind my back."

Upon hearing this, Natalie’s brow furrowed.

Isaac stopped speaking, got out of bed, and tossed a pillow onto the sofa, lying down with his back to her.

The room fell silent, only their breathing could be heard.

One deep, one shallow.

One heavy, one light.

After a moment, Natalie got off the bed, walked over to the sofa, and crouched down.

Poked at his lower back with her finger.

Isaac kept his eyes closed, resisting the urge to respond.

She climbed up and snuggled into his arms.

Isaac squinted, gazing at the head nestled against his chest, knowing he couldn’t give in.

Suddenly, he got up, picked her up, and placed her back on the bed, tucking her under the covers.

Then returned to the sofa to sleep.

This time, Natalie didn’t come looking for him again.

——

The next afternoon.

Natalie emerged from the school and immediately spotted Isaac’s car by the roadside.

She walked over, opened the passenger side door, but didn’t get in.

Isaac turned his head to look at her, expressionless and cool.

Natalie asked, "Did you come to pick me up?"

Isaac laughed angrily.

"No. I’ve got a little date thing on the side here, I’m picking her up."

Natalie frowned slightly.

Seeing her expression, Isaac’s hard demeanor softened instantly.

Through gritted teeth, he said, "Aren’t you going to get in? Who else would I be picking up if not you? Even if you drive me crazy, I’m still here to pick you up."

Natalie got in.

As soon as the door closed, two red booklets were tossed onto her knee.

Isaac, one hand on the steering wheel, raised his chin slightly, "See for yourself."

Natalie picked up the red booklets and opened them, stunned.

They were her and Isaac’s marriage certificates.

They were already married.

"You’ve forgotten quite a bit," Isaac said, reaching over to reclaim the booklets and stuffing them back into his pocket.

"Now, do you still want to have some underground romance with me?"

"Can I see them again?"

"See what?" Isaac started the car, "What if they get damaged?"

"..."

*

In the hallway, they shared a very short but deep kiss.

Isaac carried her in.

Natalie explored his body, managing to ignite him completely.

Finally, she got hold of the red booklets and eagerly pulled them out, only to be pushed face down onto the bed by him.

The booklets slipped from her grasp, but as she reached for them, he pinned her wrists, guiding them around his neck.

"Focus."

He kissed her ear, his other hand entwined with hers.

Natalie suddenly remembered something.

"Where’s the ring?"

"What?"

Isaac lingered on her collarbone.

"What ring?"

"The wedding ring. Isn’t there one?"

"You didn’t give me one when you proposed."

Natalie was taken aback, "I proposed?"

A flicker of amusement crossed Isaac’s eyes, "Of course. You liked me so much, begged me twice, and I agreed."

Natalie met his gaze.

Isaac raised his eyebrows, "Don’t believe me?"

She shook her head, feeling his ring finger, and earnestly said, "I’ll make it up to you."

Isaac’s spur-of-the-moment fib, she believed it.

Isaac’s expression darkened.

Noticing the change, Natalie asked, "What’s wrong?"

Isaac: "Do you believe everything I say?"

Natalie blinked, "Did you lie to me?"

He couldn’t respond, so he leaned in to kiss her lips.

"Isaac, even though I don’t remember a lot, I know I must have liked you a lot to marry you."

"And I believe you wouldn’t lie to me because I don’t really have anything worth deceiving."

Isaac felt a sharp pang in his heart, his gaze complex and obscure.

Afraid she would notice, he once again used kisses to cover it up.

As the passion between them surged, ready to advance to the next stage—

Isaac’s phone rang.

He reached for the phone, initially intending to hang up, but when he saw the caller ID, he withdrew from Natalie.

This was a call he had to take.

"Be good, wait for me." He kissed Natalie’s forehead before rolling off the bed to answer the phone.

He answered while heading out.

Whatever was said on the other end made him pause suddenly.

Natalie pulled the covers over herself, watching him stop dead in his tracks, her eyes filled with confusion.

Isaac slowly turned back to look at her, his face serious.

Natalie gestured in sign language asking: What’s going on?

Isaac put down his phone and walked back to her.

"We have to return to Janton immediately, you—"