Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 185 Hamilton's words were filled with sincerity, but Natalia found them utterly laughable. Protect her? He had made that promise before. How did that turn out? "Hamilton, can you please stop hounding me?" she implored.

Hamilton stiffened, a bitter expression crossing his face as he looked at her. "Do you really think all this mess is because I've been hounding you?" Natalia harbored resentment towards him. She had to admit that Ryan's family was a hurdle she was never going to clear. Even if not today, eventually, she would have had to face them. But if it hadn't been for Hamilton's relentless interference, she wouldn't be humiliated by those embarrassing photos.

Her eyes, red with unshed tears, bore into him. "At least those photos are your fault!" Hamilton was seething inside. "Natalia, can't you see? You and Ryan... it was never going to work out." She didn't want to hear it, glaring at him instead. "Are you leaving, or am I?" After uttering those words, she made to get out of the car.

Hamilton caught her arm. "Where will you go?" "I'll take a cab back!" With a choked laugh, Hamilton finally said, "Natalia, you're something else, you know that? Always so fierce with me!" She glared back. "Get lost, Hamilton!" Frowning, he reluctantly exited the car. Watching Natalia's car pull away, he headed for his own vehicle. On his way, he dialed Ryan's number.

"Ryan, if Natalia suffers one more slight, I swear I'll tear down the Holzer family mansion brick by brick!" As Natalia drove off, her tears finally broke free. Ryan's calls kept coming, but she didn't answer. She was too emotionally unstable to have a proper conversation.

Upon returning home, Scarlett was already there, concerned at the sight of Natalia's red eyes. "What's wrong? Ryan called me, sounded worried. Natalia, what happened?" Shaking her head, Natalia just said, "Nothing, I need a shower." Scarlett persisted, sensing there was more. "Who's been messing with you? Was it Hamilton again, that jerk? Or Eveleen, that witch?" Fresh tears threatened to spill from Natalia's eyes. She shook her head again. "I'll tell you after I'm out." Post-shower, Natalia felt a bit calmer and rang Ryan back. His voice was anxious as the call connected. "Natalia, are you okay?" She offered a wry smile. "I'm fine." "I'm sorry for the trouble at home, but don't worry. I'll handle it," Ryan assured her.

After a pause, Natalia spoke up. "Honestly, Ryan, I've always worried whether your family could accept me. I won't deny my past isn't pretty, but I wanted to give myself a chance, to fight for it. But now, it seems unlikely." Today's encounter with Mavis, Ryan's aunt, while not representative of the Holzer family's stance, was telling. If she could confront Natalia like that, the family must be aware.

"So Ryan, maybe we should just drop it." "No way," Ryan's voice turned steely. "You can't give up just like that. Leave the Holzer family to me. I'll sort it out. Wait for my word, okay?" The call ended, and Natalia was left staring at the disconnected line. She had a feeling she knew the outcome. The Holzer family's disapproval was hard fact, one compounded by today's ugly incident with the aunt. But she knew, without a chance, Ryan would not be content.

At the table, lost in her thoughts, Scarlett couldn't hold back any longer. "So, Ryan's family disapproves?" Natalia nodded. "His aunt showed up today." Scarlett slammed her hand on the table in anger. "Damn, they stooped to taking sneaky photos of you! Are they insane? Do they think Ryan is God's gift to women? He was the one chasing you, for heaven's sake! And Hamilton, that bastard, can't he take a hint and move on!" She took a big swig of water to calm down. "I thought Ryan was decent, especially since you and Hamilton were done. You deserved a fresh start. But this is just a mess. I was wrong about him," Scarlett said, looking at Natalia with eyes full of sympathy. "What will you do?" "I'll wait for his answer," Natalia said with a smile.

Scarlett frowned. "Can this even be sorted out?" She had her doubts, especially considering the high-profile nature of Ryan's family.

"It doesn't matter if it works out or not. I'm ready for whatever comes." Natalia's calmness took Scarlett by surprise. It dawned on her that Natalia had never truly fallen for Ryan. Perhaps she had tried, had wanted to start anew, but matters of the heart can be so unreasonable.

"Let's not think about it anymore. How about we have a drink?" she suggested, pulling out a bottle of red wine. "I swiped it from my dad's collection." Natalia chuckled and nodded in agreement. "Thanks, Scarlett." Scarlett gave her a look. "Don't be formal with me, for crying out loud!" She pushed a glass towards Natalia and raised her own for a toast. "Natalia, from now on, we don't settle for less." Natalia's emotions, which had been tranquil for the most part, suddenly began to churn within her once more. A faint sourness tinged the tip of her nose, and it took her a moment before she could muster a smile and nod. "Yeah, I'll never settle for less." New Year's Eve was right around the corner. Fireworks sporadically burst in the sky outside, painting splashes of color that somehow underscored her solitude. Natalia, with a glass of wine in her hand, moved towards the window. The magnificent fireworks made her feel a touch more alone.

"How about I stay and spend New Year's with you?" Scarlett couldn't help but offer. When Ryan had first started dating Natalia he had m promised to spend New Year's Eve with her, setting off fireworks. Now, it seemed that those plans would go unfulfilled. Natalia chuckled, "No need. I've spent New Year's alone for so many years, there's nothing special about this one." "Then, why not cand spend it with my family?" Again, Natalia laughed, "I'm planning to spend it at the hospital with my mom." Scarlett nodded in understanding after a moment's thought.

Natalia had braced herself for a sleepless night, yet perhaps it was the wine, she drifted off sooner than expected. But in the middle of of the night, her sleep was shattered by the jarring ring of her cellphone. Blearily, she saw it was Ryan calling. Sitting up, she stared at the screen flashing 'Ryan' for a few seconds before answering. "Ryan." "Natalia, cdownstairs." She paused, "You're in Silkwood City?" "Yeah." "Okay, wait for me."

As she reached the ground floor, she saw Ryan standing where Hamilton often did, his face bearing a hint of injury. In almost an instant Natalia realized that she and Ryan had likely reached the end of the road. Still, she asked, "Ryan, did you have a falling out with your family?" Ryan didn't answer. Instead, he stepped forward and took Natalia's hand in his. "Natalia, I'd give up anything for you. What about you?"