Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 99

Natalia only realized what was happening when his lips crashed against hers.

“Hamilton!”

They were at the entrance of a restaurant’s parking lot, for Pete’s sake. People were bustling all around them.

But Hamilton, he didn’t seem to care, not one lota, leaving her no room to push back. His kiss was fierce as if charged with a certain fury.

Natalia knew she had probably ticked him off tonight, but the last thing she wanted was to get hot and heavy in such a public place.

Her reluctance was palpable, and her struggle inevitable. “Natalia, try fighting me one more time, just try!” Hamilton’s voice, tinged with anger, was a hiss in her ear. She tensed up completely. “Not here,” she pleaded in a whisper.

Hamilton hadn’t really planned to take things any further. Once he was sure Ronin had seen them and had left, he scooped Natalia up and headed straight for the car.

It was only after they were in the car that Natalia allowed herself to breathe a sigh of relief. Hamilton loosened his tie and started the engine.

Back at the hotel, he pinned her against the door the moment they were inside. His kisses came down like a torrent, more intense than ever.

Natalia felt as though she might suffocate, but she didn’t resist him, not anymore. It was futile with him; resistance only made things worse.

She wrapped her arms around Hamilton’s neck and, standing on tiptoes, met his fervor. Hamilton’s movements hesitated for a fraction of a second before he doubled down, invading with even more intensity.

Clothes tore, and the air was thick with unspoken desires.

He ripped off her dress with effortless ease.

Feeling a chill, Natalia pressed closer to his body.

Hamilton chuckled. “What’s the hurry? Can’t wait?”

“lm cold.”

Without any tenderness, Hamilton lifted her into his arms, his lips trailing down to her collarbone with a mischievous bite.

“Don't worry, Ms. Jenkins, I'll warm you up soon enough.”

He tossed her onto the bed without any gentleness, and before she could protest, his lips were on hers again. His fiery trail continued downward, his hands stirring forbidden waters.

In moments, Natalia was lost in a haze.

Hamilton reached for the nightstand and found it empty, pausing momentarily.

He nibbled on Natalia’s ear. “Just finished your cycle; safe day?”

Natalia stiffened.

“Can't we wait until tomorrow? Get some protection first?”

Hamilton’s eyes narrowed slightly. He could see the reluctance in her eyes, clear as day.

He knew all too well that “safe days” weren't foolproof, and he was also aware of Natalia’s allergy to birth control pills. But he couldn’t stand that look of unwillingness in her eyes.

“So, Ms. Jenkins, you’re really not up for this? Didn’t you say you couldn't get pregnant anymore?”

Natalia froze, a pang of suffocating pain hitting her heart. She had no idea how Hamilton had found out, but hearing those words just intensified her discomfort.

“Hamilton, there’s always a chance, right? Last time | took the pill, | wasn’t supposed to get pregnant, and yet | did!”

Hamilton’s gaze was piercing as he looked at her. No longer dazed, her eyes were clear and rational. It reminded him of her words in the bathroom.

“I'm in it for the money, dear. As for status or not- you think | care?”

Usually, he’d praise Natalia for her smarts. Getting emotionally involved in a relationship like theirs was the epitome of foolishness.

But those words had irked him. What exactly was irking him, he couldn’t quite say.

Hamilton scoffed. “What are you afraid of? Isn't it all just about the money for you? If you get pregnant, we'll deal with it. Maybe I'll even give you a little extra for your troubles!”

“Hamilton!” Natalia’s eyes instantly brimmed with tears. “You bastard!”

She grabbed a pillow and hurled it at him.

Hamilton caught her wrist, pinning her down with a force that brooked no argument.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

“Did | say something wrong? Aren’t you with me just for the money?”

Natalia glared at him, fighting back tears. She pushed him off, grabbed a sheet to wrap around herself, and sat up. “Where are you going?” Hamilton’s grip was firm on her arm.

12

“To shower!” Natalia snapped back, shaking off his hand and retreating to the bathroom.

Once inside, the tears she had been holding back fell freely. She had been doing her best not to think about that child. The more she clung to the memory, the more it hurt.

She was trying to let go. But tonight, the old wound had been brutally reopened, causing unbearable pain.

The hot shower poured over her as she huddled on the floor, arms wrapped around her legs as if it were the only way to soothe the ache in her heart.

Tears kept falling, but she made no sound. It was a silent suffering, much like her love for Hamilton.

From the initial intensity and passion, willing to do anything for him, to a love that seemed to be quietly fading away, day after day, year after year.

Eventually, Natalia calmed down. She wrapped herself in a towel and stepped out of the bathroom, only to find Hamilton standing by the window, smoking a cigarette.

He was silent for a moment when he saw her, then turned and walked into the bathroom. He returned shortly with a hairdryer. “Come here.”

Natalia stood still.

Hamilton’s frown deepened. “Come here, don’t you hear me?”

Natalia walked over and reached for the hairdryer. “I can dry it myself.”

But Hamilton didn’t let go. Instead, he guided her to sit in front of him.

The warm air brushed past her ear as Hamilton’s hands worked through her damp hair.

Once her hair was dry, Hamilton finally spoke.

“Natalia, don’t ever say that again. | don’t like hearing it.”

Natalia scoffed. “Isn’t what | said the truth? Or do you want me to be after something else?”

Hamilton gave her a look. “So what | said wasn’t the truth?”

Natalia’s lips quivered, but she held her tongue. Another argument seemed pointless. She was tired of the cycle. Hamilton’s face was a study of concentration as he scooped her up and nestled her into the cozy quilt.

Natalia was the picture of serenity as she asked, “You still want it? | can go grab some protection right now if you want.” Hamilton lapsed into a heavy silence before finally mumbling, “Let’s just sleep.”

12:00

It didn’t take long for Natalia to drift off into slumber. Her dreams took her back to that quaint little fishing village.

As a child, Hamilton might have had angelic features, but he was anything but easygoing. Every time Natalia sought him out, he would dismiss her. Still, she never ceased to look for him.

She felt he was the only one who was truly like her. They were both outsiders in that village. She had lived there for two years, yet the local kids always kept her at arm’s length. She had no friends until Hamilton came along.

At first, he ignored her, too. But then, one day, when the village bullies were giving her a hard time, he suddenly stepped in and gave them a thrashing.

Natalia could still picture him, a lollipop she had given him dangling from his mouth, fixing her tousled hair as he said, “I'll protect you from now on.”

The night air was cool and refreshing, her dreams a tapestry of youthful memories. Natalia stirred from her half-sleep to find the bed empty beside her. Hamilton had vanished without a trace.

In truth, she couldn’t really blame Hamilton for tonight's awkwardness. In this arrangement, their roles were predefined—Patron and paramour.

Even if he was reluctant to use protection, she was in no position to protest. Their relationship was inherently imbalanced.

Natalia tossed and turned on the bed, her thirst prompting her to get up for a drink. As she rose, the sound of the door caught her attention.

Hamilton returned, and in his hand was a box of condoms. “What are you up for?” Hamilton asked.

“Just getting some water,” she replied.

He tossed the box aside and fetched her a glass of water. Natalia drank it down and lay back again.

“You still sleepy?” he inquired, gazing at her.

Natalia wasn’t really tired anymore, but she didn’t respond. She had an inkling of what Hamilton wanted, or he wouldn’t have ventured out for condoms so late at night.

Acomplex emotion flickered in Hamilton’s eyes, but he didn’t wait for her answer before leaning in to kiss her.