Deceiving Her Ears: Ignoring Your Call-Chapter 99: The Male Protagonist Competition On Site
Cynthia Kendall put the things down and walked out. As she brushed past Julian Beckett, he called out to her.
"Mom."
Cynthia turned to glance at him, then closed the door and left.
Julian frowned, walked over, and locked the items in the drawer.
——
The Vaughn Residence.
When Ansel Vaughn heard that Isaac Vaughn was going to Beckett Group as a vice president, he was furious.
"What? Is there no place for you in the Vaughn Group? You make a big scene moving to Beckett Group—how do you think outsiders will see our family?"
"Are you a live-in son-in-law?!"
Isaac ignored his father’s frantic anger and said to Philip Vaughn, "Grandpa, I’ve mostly wrapped things up in Rhovan now."
Philip glanced at his raging son, then at his calm, collected grandson, and sighed.
"Isaac, you’ve been in Rhovan for a few months. It’s time to come home. As for whether you go to Beckett or the Vaughn Group, that’s your choice."
Before Isaac could say anything, Ansel cut him off sternly: "Choice? What choice! You’re coming back to the Vaughn Group! Quit at Beckett right now!"
Isaac looked at his father, the meaning clear in his eyes: "Forget it. If I go to the Vaughn Group, I’m afraid someone won’t be happy about it."
"Who wouldn’t be happy?" Ansel glared. "You’re just making excuses! You must want everyone saying you’re a kept man—does that make you feel good?"
"Baby." Vanessa Grant immediately grabbed Isaac’s arm. "Just listen to your dad. Isn’t it good to come back to your family company?"
"But what will people say about you?"
The trending topic about the car accident had already left Vanessa exhausted, and now, this talk of being a kept man added insult to injury.
She didn’t want her son’s reputation to get even worse.
"Let them say whatever they want," Isaac replied coolly, utterly unconcerned.
This meant he was determined to go to Beckett Group, not the Vaughn Group.
Ansel’s face darkened, nearly black, as he strode over to pull Vanessa away.
Vanessa was swept into his arms as he walked out. She wanted to say more to her son but didn’t get the chance.
Seeing this, Philip said he was tired and went to rest in his room.
For a moment, only Isaac and Ethan were left in the living room.
"Didn’t think you were so whipped, Isaac. But, Dad’s right—if you really go to Beckett, there’ll be plenty of gossip."
"Then I just won’t go. I’ll come to Vaughn Group," Isaac replied with clear interest.
At his words, the fake smile on Ethan’s face froze instantly.
Isaac shot him a mocking sneer and turned to leave.
Ethan stared at his back, fingers clutching his cane tightly, malice flaring in his eyes.
——
Beckett Group.
Natalie Kendall returned from outside and caught sight of a familiar figure.
The other person saw her, too.
Their eyes met.
But since Natalie was surrounded by a group of people, the other person didn’t come over, just gave her a small wave.
She thought that would be the end of it.
Unexpectedly, after saying a couple of words to those beside her, Natalie walked straight over.
Nina Abbott watched in surprise as she stopped in front of her.
"Long time no see."
"Y-yeah, long time no see." After Nina said this, she couldn’t help but reach out and grab Natalie’s hand. "Nat, I’m really so glad you’re okay! You don’t know how worried I was!"
In Natalie’s memory, she and Nina were classmates but not particularly close.
Yet judging from Nina’s attitude, they seemed not just familiar, but actually friends.
Clearly, there were many things in those memories she’d lost.
"Nina, I have something to do later. Are you free tomorrow night?"
"I am."
"Then let’s have dinner together tomorrow, okay?"
"Absolutely."
"It’s a date, then."
Natalie smiled and made plans with Nina.
——
Meanwhile, upstairs.
Hearing the door open, Isaac turned to look over, a smile on his lips. "You’re back."
But when he met the gaze of the person holding the doorknob, both of their eyes flashed with surprise.
Tristan Jordan looked at Isaac, his expression cold and indifferent.
Isaac looked back, icy hostility in his brows.
As Natalie Kendall’s assistant, Tristan was always at her side; there were even rumors about their relationship—a fact that annoyed Isaac greatly.
"Something you need?"
Tristan Jordan stepped inside. "I’m here to get a document."
He hadn’t expected Natalie to let Isaac take a job at Beckett Group. It was like letting the wolf inside.
But ever since he sounded Natalie out about recovering her memories, he realized it couldn’t be rushed.
Isaac was very displeased with how Tristan entered Natalie’s office as if it belonged to him.
He said coldly, "What document do you need? I’ll get it."
"No need." Tristan found exactly what he’d come for in the stack of files on the desk.
He held it up to show Isaac. "Found it."
Isaac’s face darkened.
As Tristan turned to leave, Isaac suddenly spoke. "Ever thought of finding a new job?"
Tristan turned back slowly, looking at Isaac with a half-smile. "What was that?"
"This job isn’t for you. Quit."
Tristan rubbed the document between his hands. "Sorry, I have no intention of resigning."
After a pause, he added, "Not now, not ever."
Isaac’s face was stony. "If you won’t resign, then I’ll just have to fire you myself."
"Fire me? You?" Tristan sounded as if he’d heard a joke. "And why? I’m Miss Kendall’s assistant. Even if you’re vice president, you’re in no position to fire her assistant."
Isaac stepped forward, eyes fixed on Tristan, dark gaze full of oppressive force. "You’ll know if I’m in position when you receive the termination letter."
"You can fool others, but not me. What’re your intentions toward Natalie?"
Tristan’s eyes flickered, his voice cold. "She’s my patient."
"Is that so?" Isaac sneered. "You want to be a doctor, be anyone’s doctor—it’s none of my business. But Natalie? She’s my wife."
"Even if she really needs a doctor, she doesn’t need one with ulterior motives like you."
"You can get out."
Pierced where it hurt most, Tristan’s face stiffened awkwardly for a moment.
But he quickly looked at Isaac with sharp sarcasm. "And you? Isaac? Are your intentions all that pure?"
"Should I remind you why you approached her in the first place—what exactly are you after?"
Isaac’s face grew thunderous.
"And when she learns what you’ve been scheming, do you think she’ll keep trusting and relying on you like she does now?"
"What do you mean!" Isaac grabbed Tristan by the collar, gritting his teeth. "What did you say to her!"
Tristan looked back at him, expressionless.
It was almost as if he tacitly admitted he’d said something to Natalie.
Isaac’s first thought was the safe in the Mount Corvix study.
——
Night.
Alone, Isaac drove to Mount Corvix.
Not long ago, he’d come here with Natalie.
He hurried upstairs to the study.
Pushing the door open, his eyes instantly fell on the safe embedded in the bookshelf.
He strode over.
Standing before the safe, he took a deep breath and entered the code.
With a beep, the door opened.
But to his surprise—
The inside was completely empty.
Nothing at all.
How could that be?
The agreement between him and Old Mr. Beckett was supposed to be here.
Just then, Natalie’s voice suddenly sounded at the study door.
"What are you looking for?"
Isaac whirled around, stunned at the sight of her in the doorway.
"Little Ear, how...why are you here?"
"What about you?" Natalie shot back. "Why are you here? Looking for something? Looking for—this?"
As she spoke, she raised the document in her hand.
When Isaac saw it, his whole body jolted, his voice trembling uncontrollably. "Little Ear..."
