Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 147 Natalia cto an abrupt halt.

Hamilton's words dripped with sarcasm.

She looked down, dabbing at her hands with a napkin, wiping away the moisture.

It took a moment before she lifted her gaze to meet Hamilton's. "Maybe in your eyes, Mr. Fowler, I'm nothing more than a body, but to others, I might shine in my own right. Hamilton, don't measure everyone by your filthy standards." With that, she strode toward the private dining room.

Hamilton's face darkened as he reached out and grabbed Natalia's hand. "What else can it be if not a sugar daddy situation? If it was just business, would he pay millions for breach of contract? Do you think I'm a fool, Natalia?" Her lips pressed into a thin line as she looked at him, taking a while before responding. "So what? How does that concern you, Hamilton? Or do you think I can't escape your grasp and that I should be toyed with at your whim?" Fury blazed in Natalia's eyes.

She just couldn't understand what this man wanted.

He clearly didn't care for her, yet he acted as if he was the lovelorn one.

They had agreed he would let her go, yet here he was, closing in again! Hamilton's brows knitted together at the sight of Natalia's anger. "That's not what I meant." She laughed sarcastically. "Oh, is that so? Then you and Eveleen are quite the pair, speaking in ways so easily misunderstood." His expression soured.

"Natalia!" Hamilton frowned, unable to articulate the words to make her stay.

He had said those words once; one rejection was enough to silence him forever.

After a tense silence, he chuckled dryly. "So you'd really prefer to be with Ronin over me? What's so great about that kid compared to me?" Natalia took his question seriously. "Ronin is young, handsome, and has a great personality, and oh, he respects me." "Am I not handsome? Is my personality that bad? Don't I respect you?" She stared at him intently.

After a long pause, she finally spoke. "Hamilton, have you ever seenas a person? In your eyes, have I ever been anything more than a canary?" Hamilton's lips twitched. He wanted to object, but suddenly realized he had no comeback.

All this time, he had indeed seen Natalia as nothing more than a canary.

She chuckled. "Oh, and I forgot to mention, I had a chance for a pure business relationship with Ron Group, but thanks to you, I'm now bound to them. Are you satisfied, Mr. Fowler?" Without waiting for a response, she left.

Hamilton stood there, his face a picture of displeasure.

He knew exactly what she meant.

Had he terminated their contract amicably, she would've simply partnered with Ron Group.

But if he insisted on the breach of contract, she'd rather be indebted to Ron Group than stay.

Hamilton's forehead throbbed with frustration. That woman was as heartless as ever.

Back in the private room, Ronin immediately asked Natalia, "You alright?" Natalia nodded. "I'm fine, thanks, Mr. Joyner." Ronin slid a glass of milk toward her. "Here's what you asked for. If your stomach's upset, skip the booze. We're all friends here." Natalia thanked him with a smile.

Hamilton returned to witness this cozy scene, his heart tightening with discomfort.

Still, he said nothing more.

Instead, he kept serving Natalia dishes throughout the meal.

Natalia pushed the cashew shrimp she was served to the side of her plate.

Hamilton noticed but didn't give it much thought, assuming she just didn't like it and served her other dishes instead.

Natalia was annoyed but refrained from making a scene in front of Mason.

She let Hamilton serve her, but she didn't eat a bite.

Mason observed everything quietly without comment.

Natalia had braced herself for being replaced, especially after Hamilton's scene, assuming that Ron Group wouldn't want to offend Hamilton by choosing her for their Silkwood City expansion. She was, after all, replaceable.

Yet, to her surprise, after a few rounds of drinks, Mason began discussing the contract with her.

Hamilton watched darkly before finally chuckling, "President Joyner, you sure spoil your son." Mason responded with a smile, pretending to miss the undertone in Hamilton's voice. "Mr. Fowler, we'll be counting on your support in the future." Hamilton's gaze was heavy; he didn't reply.

As the evening wore on, Hamilton left the room with a grim expression.

Mason instructed Ronin to escort Natalia home.

Hamilton's eyes lingered on Natalia. "No need, Mr. Joyner. I'll take Ms. Jenkins home." Natalia glanced at him. "Perhaps you should take care of your sweetheart first." Only then did Hamilton notice Eveleen approaching from the other end of the corridor.

He frowned slightly, b ut Natalia had already left with Ronin.

Eveleen passed by Natalia and Ronin, sneering so only they could hear, "Mr. Joyner really isn't picky, picking up someone else's leftovers." Natalia stopped dead in her tracks, but Ronin chuckled lightly.

"Ms. Schafer seems confused about who ended it, and who, even as leftovers, wouldn't give you a chance." Eveleen's face alternated between shades of red and white. She had hoped to embarrass Natalia with a sly dig, but she didn't expect Ronin's response to be so brutally insulting. His words twisted the knife, suggesting that if there were leftovers, Hamilton would be the one discarded.

And Eveleen? She was the one not even worth the scraps.

Fury coursed through her, teeth clenched so tight her jaw ached.

A man like Ronin could have any woman he desired.

Why on earth was he so fixated on Natalia?

With a strained effort, Eveleen forced a smile, "Mr. Joyner, I'm just giving you a friendly reminder not to let a pretty face cloud your judgment. And not to go chasing after just any girl."

Ronin's gaze was piercing. "I don't just want any woman. For instance, Ms. Schafer, you're definitely not my e type. Also, doa favor and keep out of my sight. That scar on your forehead is quite unsightly." Eveleen's face flushed with humiliation. This Ronin must be out of his mind! Was Natalia, that wretched woman, really worth his protection? The injustice stung Eveleen to her core.

She turned to Hamilton for support,

but Hamilton's attention was solely on Natalia. He lit a cigarette, hism brooding presence making the air around him seem even more impenetrable. Did Natalia truly believe that Ronin's few words in her defense meant he cared for her, respected her? Naïve, to say the least! In this world, no one showers another with favors without an ulterior motive.

Ronin's intentions with Natalia were as clear as day.

Only Natalia, the foolish girl, would interpret his advances as kindness.

Hamilton took a drag of his cigarette and strode forward, pulling Natalia away from Ronin's side.

Without waiting for anyone to react, he gripped her wrist and ushered her into the elevator, swiftly closing the doors behind them.

Natalia, too slow to react, was left fuming with a flushed face.

"Hamilton! What the hell are you doing?" Hamilton looked down at her, his eyes shadowed.

"Natalia, do you have any idea what kind of man Ronin is? And yet, you let him drive you home!"