Deceiving Her Ears: Ignoring Your Call-Chapter 8: Hot Breath Against Her Ear

The Grant and Beckett families both thought the engagement was just a formality; they’d hold a grand wedding later.

So the engagement banquet was held at the Grant residence, with only family and close friends invited.

Natalie wore the qipao Matthew had picked for her, pale moon-blue, the vertical folds accentuating her waist and making her look even more graceful.

Her hair was half up, cleverly covering the hearing aid on her ear.

As soon as Jason saw her, his eyes flashed with open astonishment.

"My dad was just talking about you."

Under the pretext of taking her to see Old Mr. Grant, his hand clung to the slender curve of her waist.

Natalie’s brows drew together slightly, a look of disgust flashing in her eyes.

But she didn’t shake him off, and followed him over.

Today was supposed to be a good day.

Old Mr. Grant wore a deep burgundy Tang suit and looked sharp and energetic.

When he smiled, he was kindly and gentle, making people forget he’d once been decisive and ruthless, dominating the business world.

The old man took Natalie’s hand, concerned and loving: "Kendall, are your studies wearing you out? You look thinner. Have you been eating well?"

"I have."

"You’re a good kid. If Jason ever does anything you don’t like, you come tell me—I’ll put him in his place." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Natalie nodded.

Jason stood to the side, lips curled in sarcastic amusement.

When Old Mr. Grant turned to greet his guests, Jason leaned in close to Natalie’s ear: "You’re quite the actress. My dad still thinks you’re sweet as sugar."

Natalie turned to look at him, her gaze icy.

Jason shrugged. "Few days ago at Solara in Seaharbor, I saw you. Thought you only lived in the library, never figured you’d show up at a bar."

"Fine by me, I party, you party, we mind our own business. If you get lonely and want a man, I won’t care. But don’t go getting knocked up—I’m not raising someone else’s kid."

As soon as Jason finished, a woman’s shrill cry came from the doorway.

"Let me in!"

"I’m carrying a Grant baby! Touch me and see what happens!"

"Jason! Jason Grant!"

When Jason heard his name shouted, his face changed instantly.

"What’s going on?"

On the other side, Old Mr. Grant heard the commotion, brows furrowing and his eyes locking on Jason, sharp as a blade: "Ungrateful brat! What trouble have you made now?"

"I, I..." Jason was already sweating all over.

He rushed toward the main entrance.

Two maids held back a young woman with a big wavy perm, caked-on makeup, and draped in designer brands at the foot of the steps.

A few paces away, a Bentley pulled up.

The car door opened; a man stepped out in a black suit, with sharp eyebrows and striking features.

Julian walked over, glanced at the woman, and asked Jason, "Jason, what’s this about?"

"Julian, I..." Jason yanked at his hair, face grim.

He’d sent people to drag the woman off for an abortion—those idiots couldn’t even watch a single woman!

The woman saw him and immediately wailed louder: "Jason! I’m pregnant with your child! You can’t be so cruel to your own flesh and blood!"

Hearing that, Julian’s face darkened.

He glanced at Jason, voice calm: "Today’s a big day, we can’t have random people making a scene."

Jason’s eyes lit up at that, relief flooding his face.

Julian was Natalie’s actual brother; Jason had thought he’d come down hard about this.

Luckily Julian’s attitude was that the engagement must go on, and nothing could disturb it.

"Yes, yes, Julian—she’s just a crazy woman. I’ll have her thrown out right now!"

The woman stared blankly for a moment at his words.

Then her eyes hardened—she was done holding back.

Before anyone could stop her, she bolted straight for the Grant house.

Jason was terrified, chasing after her at once.

"Stop right there!"

"Ah! Somebody help!"

The woman ran ahead, Jason in hot pursuit. Together, they burst into the engagement party, causing instant chaos.

"What’s all this!" Old Mr. Grant roared.

Jason and the woman froze in their tracks, cowed.

The woman recovered first, darted up to Old Mr. Grant and dropped to her knees, sobbing: "Sir, you must help me! I’m carrying Jason’s baby! A Grant heir!"

Old Mr. Grant was so stunned he nearly stumbled, lucky Natalie caught his arm just in time.

He turned to steal a glance at Natalie—her face was calm and poised.

He steadied himself, his face as hard as iron. "What nonsense are you spouting!"

"No! I’m not lying!"

At this moment, Julian entered too.

Old Mr. Grant spotted him, thinking quickly—this had to be resolved before Matthew and Cynthia arrived, or both families would be shamed.

"Jason, do you know this woman?"

Jason opened his mouth, his face flushing dark red.

Old Mr. Grant glared: "You mute now? I asked if you know her!"

Meeting his father’s eyes, Jason finally realized what he had to do, and denied it flatly: "No! I don’t even know this crazy woman!"

"What! You—!" The woman’s eyes rolled back, nearly fainting.

Suddenly she turned to Natalie and, without a thought, grabbed Natalie’s hand.

"Miss Beckett, right? I really am carrying Jason’s child! Just pity us and let me have the baby! After I give birth, you can be his mother—he’ll be your child!"

No one could have guessed that at those words, Natalie’s expression instantly changed.

She jerked her hand free, eyes cold with fury: "If you don’t even want to keep him, why give birth to him? Did you ever think about him at all? Do you really believe being someone else’s child is so easy?"

The woman stared, shocked—the gentle-looking girl was terrifying when angry.

Old Mr. Grant hastily signaled for someone to take the woman away, then turned to comfort Natalie, his voice gentle: "Kendall’s not feeling well—go get some rest."

Then he called Jason and Julian into the study.

Jason got a thorough chewing-out.

If it wasn’t his engagement day, and his face needed to look decent, Old Mr. Grant would have swatted him for sure.

"Go apologize to Kendall properly! Don’t go thinking you can bully her just because she’s quiet and sweet! Next time you make trouble and put Kendall through this, see if I don’t break you!"

Old Mr. Grant meant this for Julian’s benefit too—to show the Beckett family the Grant family’s attitude.

Julian said, "Didn’t Jason just say he doesn’t know that woman? Must be some misunderstanding."

Old Mr. Grant eased up a little at that.

He patted Julian’s shoulder. "Julian, Jason’s still young and foolish. From now on, I’ll count on you, brother-in-law, to keep him straight."

"You’re too kind."

Coming out of the study, someone immediately darted into Old Mr. Grant’s arms.

"Dad."

"Oh, you little devil." The old man grinned, holding Vanya’s shoulders affectionately. "Almost gave me a heart attack."

Jason called out, "Sis."

Julian greeted her too, "Vanya."

Vanya nodded.

She was Old Mr. Grant’s beloved daughter—before marriage, treasured at home like a jewel.

Then she married Ansel Vaughn. Even though it was his second marriage, he treated her with utmost affection.

So even now, as wife and mother, she still retained some innocence.

Old Mr. Grant looked around, but only saw his daughter, not his beloved grandson. "Where’s Isaac?"

"No idea where he’s run off to." Vanya pouted. "It’s his uncle’s engagement—before coming, I even told him to be on his best behavior."

Old Mr. Grant patted her hand, his smile full of trust: "Isaac knows what he’s doing. He won’t mess up."

Meanwhile—

In the room furthest down the hall on the second floor.

Thick curtains were drawn, layered and heavy, not a sliver of light getting in.

Natalie lay slumped against the door, the top three buttons of her qipao undone, revealing a sweep of pale collarbone, and lower down, the edges of her chest were barely visible.

Her half-tied hair was a hopeless mess, hairpin fallen at her feet.

The hair that had covered her hearing aid was brushed behind her ear, and a man’s burning breath grazed her skin.

"Natalie Kendall, you’re really something."

"Didn’t even blink before running into this engagement, huh?"

"Quite the celebration. Should I wish you well, hmm?"

"Happy engagement."