Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 230 The video was silent but spoke volumes.

It lasted only a few seconds, yet Natalia's face was unmistakably clear.

She was struggling, but her feeble attempts appeared entirely different on screen. Combined with the flush on her face, the scene took on an ambiguous tone.

Natalia's face turned pale as she watched.

The comments below were downright vile.

"Damn, this lady's wild." "That face, that body, freaking irresistible." "Gotall worked up, babe, wanna hang out?" "I'd die happy if you'd lethave one night with you." The filth was overwhelming.

Soon, someone shifted the conversation.

"Isn't that the hot translator that went viral a while back? She was with a different guy then." "Man, she made it into the Foreign Affairs Department? She's totally tarnishing their reputation." "Maybe she's got a sugar daddy in the department." "I heard shigher-ups there are taking 'special care' of her." "Really? Climbing the ladder with her looks?" The comments quickly descended into chaos.

Then, someone brought up her past with Eveleen and Hamilton, reigniting old flames. Eveleen's fans, still seeking an outlet for their frustration, latched onto Natalia with fervor.

Seeing Natalia's distress, Scarlett quickly took back her phone.

"Natalia, stop looking." Natalia was visibly shaken.

She thought she was over this, but the hurtful words cut deep.

Her heart ached, unable to fathom who could be so relentless.

Taking a deep breath, she tried to compose herself.

"I need to make a call." She reached for Scarlett's phone, intending to call Ronin.

But before she could dial, Scarlett's phone rang.

Seeing the caller ID, Natalia's grip tightened.

"It's Hamilton, isn't it?" Scarlett asked, noting Natalia's reaction.

After a moment's hesitation, Natalia nodded.

"If you don't want to answer, I can," Scarlett offered.

Natalia shook her head and answered the call, knowing Hamilton was likely calling about the video.

"Hamilton." His voice was slightly hoarse.

"Don't worry, I'm handling it. All the nonsense online will be gone soon. I've already spoken to Minister Dawson; you don't need to worry." Natalia bit her lip, finally asking, "Was it Victor who released the video?" At the mention of Victor, Hamilton scoffed, "No, he couldn't even if he wanted to now." "What do you mean?" Hamilton didn't elaborate, instead asking softly, "Feeling better?" Natalia replied quietly, "I'm fine." "Yeah." Hamilton paused before adding, "Still angry?" Natalia remained silent, her feelings obvious.

How could she not be angry? She had trusted Hamilton, believed he would respect her.

Yet he had taken advantage of her.

"Hamilton, let's not discuss this now!" Hamilton chuckled, "Natalia, you were the one who clung to me. I'm only human, and I couldn't resist, especially since I missed you so much." Natalia was appalled by his audacity, "Have you no shame, Hamilton?" Hamilton changed his tone, laughing softly, "Natalia, since it's already happened, why don't we make up? I'll take responsibility, okay?" His offer of responsibility sent a shiver through her, but she quickly recovered.

Was this his tactic? And what did he mean by responsibility? Marriage? A title? If she recalled correctly, Hamilton never believed in love or marriage. To him, they were the least reliable things in the world.

So, what responsibility was he talking about? Compensation with money, after making up? Natalia lowered her gaze, hiding her turmoil.

"It's not like it's the first time." With that, she hung up.

Hamilton stared at the disconnected call, silent for a moment before setting his phone aside.

Alden couldn't help asking, "Bro, is Natalia okay?" Hamilton didn't answer directly, instead inquiring, "How's the investigation going? What did Ronin find?" Alden felt a surge of anger.

"It's not Ronin's fault. Killian was with him during the check, but who would have thought that among the ty items Victor brought, there would be a hidden camera? They didn't even look at those items, just threw them in the trash. I checked the surveillance; the cleaners did take the garbage away. Whoever posted the video claimed to have just found it." "Do you really think someone would pick that up?" Hamilton asked with a cold laugh, his eyes turning icy.

Alden was at a loss for words. He certainly wouldn't touch such things.

"Why not buy new if you need them? Picking up used ones, aren't you afraid of diseases?" Hamilton's gaze grew colder, "Check if he had any connections with the Schafer family or the Henkel family, especially the Schafer family." Given Victor's close relationship with Eveleen, Hamilton wondered if she was involved.

Holding his phone, a chill flickered through Hamilton's eyes.

Alden hastily agreed, then he couldn't help but ask, "Bro, why didn't you tell Natalia about your fever and getting hurt? And about ivy Gemstone being En. ambushed by the Henkel family and a few other clans recently, why didn't you mention that either?" Hamilton's gaze was dark and profound. She's already stressed out because of what's happening online. Telling her might just add to her worries.

"There's nothing to say. You go ahead and handle the situation." Alden sighed somewhat helplessly.

Natalia, just like his brother, was stubborn in her ways.

Sometimes, when he tried to mediate between them, it felt like an impossible task.

After hanging up the phone, Natalia handed her smartphone to Scarlett.

Scarlett had been browsing the web, and suddenly, she exclaimed.

"Natalia, those videos are gone." "Natalia, look, the hotel has issued an apology to you. They didn't just apologize, they also released the entire video sequence."

"From the moment you were carried out of the restroom to the elevator, and then how you were taken to that scumbag Victor's room, the whole sequence is out there. Even though the videos are blurry, it's clear you were passed out." "And you were in there for less than five minutes before Hamilton charged in with his crew." Natalia was also scrolling through her tablet, so she saw all these updates as well.

Her expression was somewhat complex.

Being taken to Victor's room had left her feeling fearful and desperate, so she had thought she was in there for quite stime.

But it turned out to be less than five minutes.

Five minutes.

She wondered how Hamilton had found her.

She pushed aside her jumbled thoughts and continued browsing through the posts online.

It wasn't long before the web exposed Victor for drugging her, detailing the entire process.

Even the waiter who handed her the drink cforward with a video apology.

The woman who had taken Natalia to Victor's room laid out the entire process clearly. The online community was in uproar.

Drugging a woman, a despicable act that was unforgivable anywhere.

Those who had been attacking Natalia online suddenly changed their tune, cursing Victor.

Then, someone even posted the transaction details of Victor purchasing the drug online. Scarlett, her face a mask of shock, stared at the post for a long while before turning to Natalia. "Natalia, the drug you were spiked with that night, it was this?"