Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 224 Natalia had been standing there in a daze until Scarlett called out to her.

"Daydreaming again?" Natalia snapped back to reality and shook her head.

"No, nothing." With that, she tried to gather her scattered thoughts and headed towards the ward.

The news she had just heard had indeed thrown her into a bit of a panic.

For a moment, she even considered going straight to Patrick to ask about it.

But reason told her that it wasn't wise to confront him in such a bustling hospital environment. It could cause a scene, and regardless of whether she was Patrick's biological daughter or not, Tatiana's reputation could be completely tarnished! Her mother had just started to recover.

She wanted her to live a clean and peaceful life from now on.

Natalia glanced at Scarlett.

"Scarlett, do you know any place that does DNA paternity tests?" Scarlett was taken aback. "A paternity test? Who's it for?" Natalia glanced at the sleeping Tatiana and quietly shared what she had overheard with Scarlett.

Scarlett was stunned for a moment.

"You're not Patrick's daughter?" Natalia nodded.

Probably.

Otherwise, who else could those people be talking about when they mentioned a 'bastard child'? "No, why didn't Patrick tell your mom that the child she was carrying wasn't his? Is he out of his mind? Carrying the label of a deadbeat dad for all these years." A flash of coldness passed through Natalia's eyes.

"If my mom knew she wasn't carrying Patrick's child, would she have given him all those valuable jewels she had?" "Damn!" Scarlett cursed, teeth clenched. "Patrick, that despicable lowlife!" Then, her tone suddenly changed, "But maybe it's for the best, you can finally cut ties with those people. I always said, someone as wonderful as you couldn't possibly have a scumbag for a dad!" Natalia couldn't help but laugh, "Yes, now I can really cut ties!" "What are you planning to do?" Scarlett inquired.

Natalia's lips tightened.

After a moment, she spoke, "Nothing. I never really had a relationship with Patrick, to begin with." They had cut ties over a decade ago.

"Do you want to find your biological father?" Natalia looked at Tatiana, peacefully sleeping on the bed.

Biological father.

It would be a lie to say she wasn't curious.

But finding him would be easier said than done.

For all these years, that man had never appeared before her and Tatiana. Maybe he had long forgotten about their existence. "Let's just see how things go. I think I'll wait until my mom gets better and then bring it up, see if she can remember anything." Scarlett nodded.

She moved fast, and by the next day, the results of the paternity test were out.

Holding the report, Natalia couldn't quite describe how she felt.

She had always detested Patrick.

But when she first found out Patrick was her father, she had hoped to receive fatherly love from him.

Unfortunately, what she got was always mistreatment and difficulties.

Natalia took a deep breath and fed the paternity report into the shredder.

Tess walked in, eyes brimming with gossip.

"Boss, did you hear Eveleen has gone abroad again?" Natalia was taken aback, gripping her pen a bit tighter.

Was she sent away that quickly? She had thought, under any circumstance, the Schafer family would have tried to delay it for Eveleen a bit longer.

She even wondered if Patrick would clooking for her.

But it seems Hamilton really didn't give the Schafer family any tto react this time.

She pressed her lips together before asking, "When?" "Just today," Tess said, rolling her eyes. "You should've seen it, Eveleen's delusional fans crying at the airport, it's ridiculous. What kind of people fan over Eveleen? A nutjob and she still has fans!" Natalia chuckled, "Who knows, maybe that's just their thing." Tess's gaze flickered.

"Boss, if you went public, you could totally crush Eveleen!" Natalia laughed it off, "Stop joking, go double-check the opening ceremony's agenda and the guest list with the PR and marketing department." Tess nodded quickly and rushed off.

Once she left, Natalia's gaze turned contemplative.

Although she always said she didn't care, hearing about Eveleen being sent away stirred something in her.

She hesitated for a moment but eventually opened Twitter.

The news of Eveleen going abroad for treatment was trending.

The photos showed a lively scene.

Eveleen, tears streaming down her face, looked pitiful.

Her fans were also in tears.

Natalia, Eveleen was sent away.

Alden sent her a message right after.

Natalia stared at the message on her phone for a long tbefore replying to Alden.

Hmm.

My brother's away on a business trip, Natalia. He truly wants to make things right with you. When he's back, you two should talk. He was wrong before, but he's trying to make amends. Don't write him off just yet, okay? Natalia, please give him a chance. Staring at the message, Natalia's grip tightened, unsure of how to respond. The Ron Group's opening ceremony was set for early April.

Under the bright spring sun, Natalia, dressed in a stunning gown, captivated everyone's attention as she appeared at the opening ceremony.

Mason introduced her to Ron Group's partners, and those familiar with Mason couldn't help but tease.

"Is Mason grooming Ms. Jenkins to be his successor or his daughter-in-law?" Mason just smiled, not responding.

Everyone laughed knowingly.

It seemed she was indeed being groomed as the daughter-in-law.

Ronin watched Natalia from the side, his affection almost spilling over.

Mason's family saw potential in Natalia as a future daughter-in-law, ready to welcher into their fold with open arms. After the ribbon-cutting ceremony cthe grand opening dinner.

Mason had booked a lavish five-star hotel for the occasion.

Natalia, dressed to the nines, stepped out of the car to find Ronin waiting for her at the curb.

"Thanks for coming, Mr. Joyner," she said.

Ronin gave a chuckle, taking her hand and placing it on his arm.

"Natalia, did you hear? Everyone's buzzing about how Mason is grooming you to be his daughter-in-law." Natalia laughed, "Oh, con, you know what's going on, don't you?" Ronin gritted his teeth.

"So, you really have no feelings forwhatsoever?" "None." They whispered to each other as they made their way inside.

"And what about Hamilton?" Ronin prodded.

Natalia paused for a moment.

After a brief silence, she responded, "Can we please not talk about Hamilton all the time?" Ronin clicked his tongue, "Pathetic. If you truly didn't care, you'd treat him like a stranger." Natalia's lips tightened.

She had to admit, Hamilton was indeed special to her.

That man had occupied too much of her time.

Even after parting ways, she couldn't treat him like a stranger.

Avoiding Ronin's gaze, she said, "If you don't want to be my dance m partner tonight, can easily find someone else." "Natalia!" Ronin was visibly upset.

With a slight smile, Natalia greeted the guests one by one.

Ronin huffed but followed her.

"So, you're saying you'd rather dance with someone else tonight than\me?" he said a hint of challenge in his tone. Natalia didn't reply, simply continuing her pleasantries with the guests.

Suddenly, a commotion from outside caught everyone's attention. Turning around, Natalia's gaze fell upon Hamilton, making his way inside.