Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 144 Ronin's jab carried a hint of deliberate provocation.

After all, Hamilton had burned his bridges in Boria City pretty badly, hadn't he? With his hands casually tucked in his jeans pockets, Hamilton gave Ronin a cool look.

It was a while before he let out a scoff, "Since when did you and Ms. Jenkins get so chummy, Mr. Joyner? And if memory serves, I believe I made it quite clear that you should keep your hands off another man's lady." Natalia's brows furrowed sharply, ready to interject, but Ronin had already beaten her to the punch.

"Oh? Is Ms. Jenkins still your woman, Mr. Fowler? Because the last I heard, you two were done. And Ms. Jenkins is about to ink a deal with us at Ron Group. Soon, she won't be working for Ivy Gemstone; she'll join the Ron Group." Ronin's demeanor was the polar opposite of Hamilton's.

Hamilton was deep and reserved.

But Ronin? He was all sunshine, inside and out.

Even when he was just stating facts, he managed to make it sound like a boast.

Natalia pursed her lips in response.

Hamilton's face darkened instantly, turning his gaze to Natalia.

"You're signing with Ron Group?" Natalia met his gaze unflinchingly.

"Mr. Fowler, you are well aware that I'm in need of money. Ron Group madea very generous offer. I see no reason to refuse." Hamilton's eyes grew colder.

He smirked, then shifted his gaze to Ronin.

"Perhaps you aren't aware that Ms. Jenkins has a special clause in her contract with Ivy Gemstone, Mr. Joyner. Leaving us might not be so easy." Natalia's frown deepened.

"Are you going back on your word now, Mr. Fowler?" Hamilton's smile didn't reach his eyes. "What do you mean, going back on my word? I never agreed to anything in the first place." Turning to Ronin, he added, "Unless you are willing to cover Ms. Jenkins' penalty for breaking her contract, Mr. Joyner." Ronin clicked his tongue, "So Ivy Gemstone keeps its talent with these kinds of tactics, huh?" His tone lightened, "Ron Group operates differently. If we're going to entice Ms. Jenkins to join us, then consider the breakup fee a small token of our sincerity." After saying this, he raised his eyebrows at Hamilton. "Is that satisfactory, Mr. Fowler?" A spark flared in Hamilton's eyes as the tension between the two men thickened.

Alden quickly stepped forward, placing himself between them.

"Ms. Jenkins, Mr. Joyner, if you've got business to attend to, please go ahead." Without hesitation, Natalia took Ronin's arm and they headed out.

Ronin couldn't resist throwing a parting shot over his shoulder with a grin, "See you around, Mr. Fowler." Hamilton's expression could sour milk.

Alden eyed Hamilton for a moment before speaking up, "Bro, didn't you have an appointment with the plastic surgeon for Eveleen? We're going to be late." With a grimace, Hamilton headed outside, only to see Ronin opening the car door for Natalia.

She smiled at him before gracefully sliding into the passenger seat.

Hamilton's temples throbbed.

She had once told him she disliked riding in other men's cars.

Yet there she was, having been in Caspian's and now Ronin's car.

It seemed all those sweet nothings were just that-nothing.

Hamilton bit back a scoff, doubting whether anything Natalia had ever told him was true.

A wave of unidentifiable irritation washed over him as he tossed the car keys to Alden.

"You drive." Without argument, Alden caught the keys and got behind the wheel.

However, as they pulled away, Alden's brow twitched.

Their car was heading in the sdirection as Ronin's.

Surely, they weren't going to the splace, were they? Meanwhile, in Ronin's car.

Natalia's mood was far from bright.

Although Ronin had said the breakup fee was a gesture of Ron Group's goodwill, it was no small sum.

In truth, if she let Ron Group pay it off, she would be indebted to them.

Natalia let out a bitter laugh.

Hamilton always knew how to back her into a corner! She massaged her temples, which throbbed with pain.

Ronin, oblivious to her discomfort, chuckled, "What's wrong? Still hung up on him?" Natalia bit her lip and said, "No." But Ronin didn't mince words, "You're clearly still into him." Her mouth tightened, and she stayed silent.

Ronin seemed unconcerned. "You'll get over him soon enough, Natalia. There are plenty of good men out there." Natalia looked down and asked, "How did you know Hamilton and I were over?" Ronin laughed, "Mr. Spiegel told me. He calledup just to say my chance had come." The car pulled up at the entrance to Harmony Retreat. As Natalia was about to step out, Ronin caught her hand. "Hamilton's right behind us. When you get out, hang on to me." Natalia frowned and glanced back to see Hamilton's car indeed parked behind them.

Ronin walked around to open her door.

He winked at Natalia, "I saw on Twitter that Eveleen's here tonight too, probably on a date with him. You don't want to lose face at an event like this, do you?" Natalia looked at Ronin.

She wanted to say that all this posturing was utterly unnecessary, b ut in the end, she took a deep breath and placed her hand in the crook of Ronin's arm, and they stepped out of the car together.

Hamilton watched the scene unfold from behind, his already sour expression turning positively glacial.

Alden let out a quiet sigh.

He had to admit, Ronin had guts of steel.

He couldn't recall anyone who'd dared to publicly challenge Hamilton like this, b ut Ronin just went ahead and did it.

The pair looked like a match made in heaven, but to Hamilton, it probably looked like a thorn in his side.

Alden cast a cautious glance towards Hamilton and saw him pushing open the car door and stepping out without a word.

When the four of them met again, Ronin was still all politeness.

"Mr. Fowler, good to see you again." Hamilton glanced at Natalia, ignored Ronin, and walked off.

Alden quickly followed.

Outside, Eveleen cup to greet them.

"Hamilton, why are you so late?" she asked, before noticing Natalia and Ronin following behind.

Her eyes lingered on their linked arms for a moment, and she let out a light chuckle.

"Ms. Jenkins, what a nice surprise!" she said, turning to Ronin.

"I was actually worried about Ms. Jenkins' health. But now it seems she must be feeling much better, out here on a date and all." Hamilton's brow furrowed tightly, his face clearly not pleased.

Natalia kept her face neutral, but her grip on Ronin's arm tightened involuntarily.

Ronin certainly felt it.

He chuckled, looking at Eveleen.

"Ms. Schafer, are you jealous that Ms. Jenkins has an admirer? Unlike you, always seeming like you've got to chase after someone." Eveleen's face soured instantly.

She forced a laugh, looking atNatalia. "Ms. Jenkins, I just feel guilty, you know? After all, it was because of that Hamilton left you, and because ofthat you went through all that. I really do feel awful about it." Natalia's lips were tight. Eveleen's repeated mentions of Hamilton abandoning her were like a knife to the heart.

She scoffed, "If you truly feel guilty, why not kneel down and apologize toright It now, Ms. Schafer? That should cheerup, and you won't have to feel guilty anymore." Eveleen was stunned. She hadn't expected Natalia to talk back to her in front of Hamilton.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

"That's not what I meant, Hamilton. Ms. Jenkins is misunderstandingagain." Hamilton's gaze never left Natalia's face, not for a second.

Natalia scoffed again, disregarding him as she continued to confront Eveleen.

"Am I misunderstanding you? I thought you were feeling so guilty that you couldn't sleep without givinga proper apology!" Eveleen looked utterly mortified.

"Hamilton!" Hamilton stood to the side, arms crossed, still silent.

He just watched Natalia with cold eyes.

This woman never really saw him for what he was.

Now that they were apart, she cared even less.

Hamilton's gaze fell on Natalia's hand linked with Ronin's.

Heaven knows it took all his willpower not to stride over and pull Natalia away.

He had never found such a gesture more irritating.

Hamilton's eyes grew colder.

yet he remained silent.

Seeing Hamilton's reaction, Eveleen felt a surge of spiteful irritation.

They were already over, and yet Hamilton still seemed to be siding with this... woman! Knowing it would get her nowhere to continue, she managed a strained smile.

"Ms. Jenkins, you had it all wrong. I didn't mean it like that." Ronin cut in, "We won't interrupt Mr. Fowler and Ms. Schafer's date any longer." He turned to Natalia and said, "Ms. Jenkins, let's go."