Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 107

Natalia felt a flush of pink tint the corners of her eyes. Even the pristine whiteness of her forehead betrayed her, with veins subtly standing out in stark relief. She understood all too well the meaning behind Hamilton’s words.

It was a reminder to remember her place, the anger at her audacity to consider reneging, mockery, and scorn, Mocking her for not knowing when to quit, for not understanding her station. Laughing at her for making a scene, all in an attempt to squeeze out more money.

Her eyes stung with suppressed tears, but she swallowed them down.

Lifting her gaze, her lips curved into a faint smile, and with a slight parting of her red lips, she said, “What's the matter, Mr. Fowler? Your child Is only worth a couple of villas to you? That really is quite cheap.”

“Natalia!” Hamilton’s eyes suddenly flared with a tinge of red. “Don’t think | can put up with you forever!”

Natalia let out a laugh and, without waiting for Hamilton to react, suddenly hooked her arms around his neck and kissed him, even boldly prying his lips apart.

Hamilton was taken aback for a moment, but then his hands gripped the back of her neck and deepened the kiss.

But at that moment, Natalia suddenly let him go. “Is this what you wanted, Mr. Fowler?”

Her voice was cool and collected as she spoke.

“I'll give it,” she said. “After all, you're paying me. I’m very clear about my status. If you want me, then | must hand myself to you.”

Then, she laughed again. “Mr. Fowler, | apologize for my capricious behavior before. From now on, | will definitely not discuss anything beyond money with you! After all, what we have is just a transaction, isn’t it?”

Hamilton looked at the woman before him, his eyes narrowing sharply.

Although everything Natalia said was true—between them, it was indeed just a transaction—he was profoundly reluctant to hear those words from her.

He ran his finger over the pink blush at the corner of her eye. Then, he let out a cold laugh and bent down to fiercely bite her lip without a hint of compassion, forcing the tears she had held back to escape.

But Natalia did not struggle; she was almost cooperative. She was docile and submissive, letting him bite, letting him kiss.

Seeing her compliant actions, Hamilton suddenly felt a surge of anger. He didn’t like this perfunctory compliance. In it, he saw not a trace of joy from her. She was compliant only because of her status.

10:41

Looking at her cold, passionless eyes, all his desire vanished in an instant. He pulled away and lit a cigarette beside her. The smoke rose slowly as if to dilute the silence in the room.

Natalia straightened her nightgown, still trembling slightly. The chill from the glass still made her feel a cold sting on her back. Hamilton stood a step away, cigarette in one hand, the other pocketed casually.

He watched her tidy up her disheveled appearance as if observing a joke, not missing a single change in her expression. After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke. “Natalia, is this your attitude?”

Natalia wrapped herself in the bed sheet, silent, not quite sure how to respond. Even now, she didn’t know what would satisfy this man.

Wasn't this the outcome he desired? She had complied; wasn’t that enough? “What kind of attitude would you like then, Mr. Fowler?”

Natalia looked at the man before her, bitterness in her voice. “One where I’m in love with you? Or do | need to be dying for you to be satisfied?”

Hamilton's gaze was heavy. He suddenly gripped her waist and once again pressed her harshly against the windowsill. What followed was an unmerciful invasion.

Natalia felt a sharp pain in her back. “Hamilton, it hurts!” She yelled at him.

But Hamilton simply pinched her waist, increasing his force.

Suddenly, Natalia bit down on his shoulder with reddening eyes.

Hamilton let out a low grunt, his only response a terse “Harder.”

Natalia bit down harder.

The two seemed to be in a contest of wills.

The storm ended as quietly as it had begun.

Hamilton finally returned Natalia to the bed. He remained impeccably dressed, his collar not even out of place. He leaned against the window, lighting a cigarette, and after a long drag, he finally spoke.

“| will find out the truth about the child. You want the truth; I'll give you the truth. But Natalia, | still won’t help you with Eveleen.” Natalia lay on the bed and gave a bitter laugh. She wasn’t surprised.

10-11

She wrapped herself tighter in the blanket, calming the turmoil inside her caused by this man. But her heart felt like it was encased in ice.

She bit her lip tightly. In the end, she couldn’t hold back and pulled the covers over her head. As the year’s end approached, Hamilton suddenly became busier. Meetings were incessant.

Natalia never questioned him again about the child, nor did she argue with him. Since he had said he would give her the truth, she would wait for his so-called truth. But she wasn’t going to wait idly. There were things she wanted to figure out for herself.

She tried to contact the fan’s family and sought clues from the fan groups. Alas, to no avail.

In the end, out of frustration, she could only arrange to meet Alden. Although she wasn’t sure if Alden would be willing to help her, he was the only person she could think of, and the only one she believed she could meet without causing herself more trouble.

The time to meet Alden was approaching. Natalia glanced at her phone, informed Tess with a word, and headed downstairs. Reaching the ground floor, the elevator doors opened, and there stood Eveleen. Unlike their last encounter, Eveleen truly looked radiant.

Though Hamilton had been busy, Eveleen had been frequenting the company with even greater zeal. It seemed the two of them had been getting along quite splendidly.

But Natalia had no desire for idle chatter; seeing Eveleen only reminded her of the child. She didn’t want any more conflict with her until the truth was uncovered.

So, after exchanging a brief glance, she averted her eyes and sidestepped, intending to passConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Eveleen by.

But Eveleen suddenly grabbed her arm. “Natalia, didn’t you see me?”

Natalia pulled her arm free. “I did. | just didn’t want to see you.”

Eveleen chuckled, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Natalia, are you jealous?”

Natalia remained silent. She couldn’t fathom where Eveleen’s so-called accusation of jealousy was coming from. “Ms. Schafer, I’ve got a lot on my plate, not really up for chit-chat. Mind if | take a rain check?”

A fleeting sneer crossed Eveleen’s face.

“Natalia, who are you trying to kid? Haven’t you seen the headlines? Tomorrow's Hamilton’s birthday, and rumor has it Westley Fowler is planning to seal the deal on his engagement at the birthday bash. And guess what? Westley has invited my folks over. Connect the dots, will you?” Natalia felt a moment of disorientation upon hearing this.

Chapter 107 So, he was really getting engaged? But she quickly snapped back to reality.

Looking straight at Eveleen, she said, “Ms. Schafer, Mr. Fowler’s personal life is none of my business. Whatever you have going with him doesn’t concern me. Why come to me with this? It’s not like you need my blessing to get engaged.”

Eveleen glared at Natalia, her face contorting with anger. She had intended to ruffle Natalia’s feathers with this news, but to her surprise, Natalia was cool as a cucumber!

“You don’t care?”

Natalia’s lips curled into a smile. “Why should I?” She paused, then added, “Eveleen, surely you’re not still in the dark about the nature of my relationship with him? It’s purely transactional; haven't you figured that out by now?”