Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 38

Natalia’s heart ached with a dull throb as she stared at the two words that seemed to mock her. She really wanted to throw the money back at him, then toss a few extra bills his way. telling him to keep it as a fee for “service rendered“. But she didn’t have the courage.

Staring at the message for a long while, she finally replied to Hamilton. [Thanks, Mr. Fowler.] Being pretentious was useless, especially with someone like Hamilton, who didn’t love her.

After sending the message, it wasn’t long before the bedroom door swung open. Hamilton stood at the doorway with a sneer on his face. His first words were a scoff. “Thanks for what?”

Natalia met his gaze. “Thanks for your generosity with your efforts and money.”

Hamilton leaned against the door frame, his eyes filled with scorn. “Ms. Jenkins, you always. see right through the heart of the matter.”

With that, he turned to leave, tossing over his shoulder, “Get up and have something to eat.

Natalia didn’t want to move. She had neither the appetite nor the energy. “I’m not hungry.”

“Don’t make me say it twice.” His voice was lazy, but there was an edge to it that Natalia dared not challenge. She got up, dressed, and left the bedroom.

On the table was a bowl of chowder. Ever since she told him about her stomach upset, Hamilton seemed particularly fond of ordering chowder for her.

She didn’t dare read too much into it, afraid of getting her hopes up over nothing.

After finishing the porridge, Hamilton handed her a document. “Translate this.”

Natalia glanced at it-it was a contract in Frendlish. She took out her laptop and started translating.

Hamilton nonchalantly sat down next to her, arms draped over the back of the couch, his gaze fixed on her profile.

Natalia was beautiful, especially in moments like this, when her inner charm shone through, captivating enough to make it hard for anyone to look away.

Feeling his eyes on her made Natalia uncomfortable, but she dared not make any sudden moves, focusing instead on the document.

“Ms. Jenkins.” Hamilton suddenly broke the silence.

“Mr. Fowler.” Natalia quickly refocused her attention.

“The man you've liked for years. How’s he like?”

Natalia stiffened slightly. She hadn’t expected Hamilton to ask such a question out of the blue.

Hamilton never liked prying into other people's private lives, and he rarely allowed others to delve into his. In the three years they'd been together, he had seldom inquired about her past. perhaps due to his nature, perhaps because he simply didn’t care. But today, he broached the subject unexpectedly.

Natalia paused, her gaze fixed on the laptop screen. “Why the sudden curiosity?”

Hamilton raised an eyebrow at her. “Why? Can’t | ask?”

“It's not that, just... some memories are better left undisturbed.”

A flicker of pain crossed Natalia’s face.

Hamilton’s eyes narrowed, his expression darkening. “Seems you have been deeply wounded.”

Then, his hand gripped her waist with a force that felt as if he could break her in half. “Still can’t forget him?”

“No.” Natalia quickly denied it. “It’s just... a bit uncomfortable when | remember.”

Hamilton's look grew colder. “Ah, Ms. Jenkins, such a hopeless romantic.”

Natalia remained silent, not responding.

After what felt like an eternity, Hamilton finally let go of her. He lounged back on the sofa, looking relaxed yet distant. “Tell me, how’s he like? This person who's had Ms. Jenkins pining for years?”

Natalia hesitated for a moment, then said, “A very nice person.” After a brief pause, she added, “He was very kind to me.” She wasn’t exactly lying. Hamilton, in her childhood, had been very kind to her.

Hamilton snorted. “Kind to you, but not with you? Are you sure he isn’t just leading you on, playing with your feelings?” Natalia turned to look at Hamilton. “He forgot about me.”

Hamilton raised an eyebrow. “Forgot? How? Does he have amnesia? Or did he just not care enough to remember you?” Natalia’s eyes dropped, hiding the surge of sadness. “I’m not sure. When | saw him again, he didn’t remember me.” Hamilton grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up and exposing the sorrow brimming in her

eyes.

His gaze darkened as he scoffed. “You saw him again? When?”

“Three years ago.” Natalia met his eyes as if she was about to confess that he, Hamilton, was the one she had always cared for. But the next second, she looked away.

“Three years ago,” she repeated. “Mr. Fowler, rest assured, | haven't seen him since being with you.”

What was the point of telling him? It wouldn't change how he felt about her. It might even make him despise her more. Hamilton’s eyes narrowed, and he asked, “Do you miss him?”

Natalia composed herself and gave him a light-hearted smile. “No use in missing him. He’s not mine, and that’s the clearest fact | know.”

Hamilton huffed ambiguously. “Ms. Jenkins, if you know he’s not yours, it’s best to move on. Otherwise, you're just setting yourself up for more trouble.”

With that, he released her and picked up his laptop to continue working.

Natalia could sense Hamilton’s displeasure but said nothing more. The whims of Hamilton’s moods were not something she could easily soothe. His current discontent was probably due to his so-called possessiveness.

The contract negotiations went smoothly, and once they were finalized, they left Boria City. At the airport VIP lounge, they had barely stepped in when someone called out. *Hamilton.”

Natalia paused in her tracks as Eveleen approached them.

“Hamilton, you haven’t contacted me in two days.”

Hamilton raised an eyebrow. “Did you contact me?”

“| didn’t, but does that mean you won't either?”

Their back—and-—forth banter sounded like a couple in the midst of a small lover’s quarrel. Natalia stood there, feeling utterly out of place. Taking a deep breath, she averted her gaze.

“So, Ms. Jenkins is here too?” Eveleen remarked as if she had only just noticed Natalia. Natalia gave a slight nod in Eveleen’s direction. “Hello, Ms. Schafer.”Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

Eveleen flashed a smile. “Ms. Jenkins, you've really gone the extra mile, trekking all this way to accompany Hamilton on his business trip.”

Natalia offered a faint smile. “It’s part of my job, after all. Plus, the fee Mr. Fowler offers is quite

generous.

At the mention of the fee, Hamilton shot Natalia a cryptic look.

Natalia looked away. “I’m going to take a breather over there.”

With that, she turned and walked away. Once Natalia had settled herself, Hamilton turned his attention back to Eveleen. “Why do you always have to give her a hard time?”

Eveleen glared at Hamilton. “Oh, are you feeling protective now, Hamilton?”

He chuckled lightly. “She is, after all, in my inner circle. Can't | speak up for her now and then?”

Eveleen, fuming, spun on her heel and stormed off, though Hamilton didn’t go after her. But in no time, Eveleen was back at his side, still visibly upset.

“Aren't you going to ask me to stay?” she demanded. Hamilton just smiled at her in response. Eveleen shot him a glare before reclaiming her seat beside him.

Natalia watched the exchange, feeling a tightness in her chest that made it hard to breathe. She rose and headed for the restroom.

Emerging from the restroom, she was immediately confronted by Eveleen. “Ms. Schafer.” Natalia took a step back, putting distance between them.

Eveleen let out a cold laugh, her eyes dropping to Natalia’s midsection. “Ms. Jenkins, you're quite the dedicated employee to come on a business trip with Hamilton in your condition.”

Natalia’s mind buzzed. She forced a smile. “I’m not sure | follow, Ms. Schafer.”

She had suspected that Eveleen might be onto her, especially after that time Eveleen had forced her to drink at dinner. But since then, there had been no further signs, so Natalia had pushed the thought aside.

Now, Eveleen was bringing it up again. Trying to appear nonchalant, Natalia replied, “What’s wrong with accompanying Mr. Fowler on a business trip?”

Eveleen smiled thinly. “Weren’t you feeling under the weather? Yet here you are, Ms. Jenkins, traveling despite being sick. Is your company that short-staffed?”

Natalia looked away, saying, “I’ve been feeling a bit better lately. Sorry to have worried you, Ms. Schafer.”

With that, she walked past Eveleen and out of the restroom, exhaling only when she was well clear.

Eveleen, emerging without a hint of her earlier behavior, sidled up to Hamilton with a pout. “Hamilton, | want to sit with you later.”

He raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong with your seat?”

Eveleen feigned anger. “I just want to sit with you. Don’t you want that?”

Hamilton chuckled. “Then you'll have to talk to Ms. Jenkins. The seat you want is hers.” Once again, Hamilton had put Natalia in the spotlight.

14:40

Meeting Eveleen’s gaze, Natalia forced a smile. “Fine, if Ms. Schafer wants to switch, we'll switch.”

Hamilton looked at her, saying nothing.

Eveleen beamed. “Thank you, Ms. Jenkins.”

During the flight, Eveleen took Natalia’s place beside Hamilton, leaving her to sit alone. She was distracted the whole time by Eveleen’s words in the restroom. She wondered if Eveleen truly suspected anything. It seemed she would have to be even more cautious from now on.

Upon disembarking, Hamilton, still on the phone, paused only to ask her one question.

“Why did you switch with her?”

Natalia’s lips tightened, and after a moment, she replied, “Didn't you ask me not to oppose Ms. Schafer?”

Hamilton snorted. “Now you decide to listen.”

Natalia said nothing, and Hamilton opened the car door. “Since you’re so compliant, you'll accompany me to a dinner party tonight.”

“Can | skip it?” Natalia frowned.

Dinner parties always meant drinking, and she couldn’t drink. If she kept refusing to drink, it would only raise suspicions. But Hamilton didn’t give her the chance to refuse.

“No, you can’t! Ms. Jenkins, you need to be obedient.” Natalia was silent. When they arrived home, the executive secretary had already delivered the gown.

It was another one of Hamilton’s choices. A black, off-the-shoulder dress that accentuated Natalia’s already stunning collarbones and her slender waist drew gazes that lingered just a little too long. The diamond necklace Hamilton had given her last time matched the dress perfectly.

“You look absolutely gorgeous, Ms. Jenkins,” the secretary couldn't help but remark.

Natalia glanced at Hamilton, who had changed into his outfit and was now watching her with an amused expression. “It's Mr. Fowler who has good taste, and the dress is beautiful.”

Hamilton walked over, his hand finding her waist. “Ms. Jenkins, your compliments are becoming sweeter by the day.” Natalia’s lips twitched, about to respond when Hamilton suddenly paused, and his eyes fell on her midsection.

1420

“Is it just me, or have you put on a bit of weight around the waist?”

Natalia stiffened. “Maybe? I’ve been less active lately. I'll work out more.”

Hamilton nodded. “A little weight is nice. It feels good to the touch. Ms. Jenkins, you don’t need to worry about dieting too much.”