Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chatper 114

Natalia’s smile stiffened for a moment. She hadn’t mentioned tonight's affair to Hamilton. Had she done so, she likely wouldn't have made it this evening.

Hamilton didn’t care about her, but his need to control her was exceptionally strong.

To this day. Natalia couldn’t figure out what that man was thinking. Just like she couldn't understand why he cared so much about Eveleen yet insisted on keeping her close.

The thought of Hamilton and Eveleen still cast a shadow over Natalia’s heart. Even though she tried not to let it bother her, it still hurt.

Caspian noticed the fleeting cloud over Natalia’s expression, and his brows knitted slightly. “Argued?” Natalia snapped back to reality, shaking her head. “No.”

Caspian didn’t press her, merely nodding. “Listen, if you need a hand with anything, just holler. I’m the kind of guy who helps a friend out, family or not.”

Natalia smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.

It wasn’t long before Ryan returned.

Caspian looked at Natalia. “We'll catch up after the gathering.” *Sure,” Natalia agreed.

She followed Ryan toward the interpreter’s booth.NôvelDrama.Org holds text © rights.

“Nervous?” Ryan's eyes still twinkled with delight.

Natalia chuckled. “It'd be a lie to say I’m not.’

It had been three years since she last did simultaneous interpretation, and to jump back in at such a large-scale conference, she feared making a mistake.

But Ryan just smiled. “I believe in you.” Natalia glanced at him and said no more. Having agreed to the task, she wasn’t one to bail at the last minute.

Inside the booth, several interpreters were already engaged in hushed discussions about the conference content. Upon Ryan and Natalia’s arrival, all eyes turned toward them.

Most high-end interpreters were familiar faces at various conferences, but Natalia was a new face to them. The head of the translation department, Collin, couldn’t help but frown.

“Ryan, is this the Italian interpreter you spoke of? Has she done this sort of work before?”

Natalia quickly responded. “I shadowed a few sessions in school.”

Collin’s expression soured.

Ryan reassured, “Mr. Collin, don’t worry. If anything goes wrong, I'll take the fall.”

Given Ryan’s standing, no one dared question his assurance. But that didn’t mean there wouldn’t be problems. Should anything go awry, even with Ryan taking responsibility, Collin would still face criticism.

With the conference about to start, finding a replacement was out of the question. Collin gave Natalia a stern look. Her clean, pretty face betrayed no sign of nervousness.

As Natalia took her place with the materials, anxiety was palpable. Yet, there was an odd sense of calm, as if something long dormant within her had suddenly sprung to life.

Her heart surged with a passion she thought she had lost forever.

When the conference kicked off and flawless, fluid Italian flowed from the headphones, Collin was stunned. He stared at the figure in the interpreter booth in amazement. Now, he finally realized he might have seen this girl before.

Perhaps it was the passage of time that clouded his memory.

When the meeting finally ended, Natalia emerged from the booth to find Ryan waiting. “How did it feel?” he asked with a smile.

Natalia nodded vigorously.

Collin quickly joined them, scrutinizing Natalia, “You are?”

“Mr. Collin, hello, I’m Natalia.”

His face lit up with recognition. “Natalia? The polyglot fluent in ten languages? I’ve seen your profile among the distinguished alumni at Boria University. | wanted to recruit you for our department, but | heard you left translation. Interested in coming back?”

*If there’s an opportunity, | would,” Natalia replied.

Collin nodded approvingly. “Then, perhaps we'll work together more in the future?”

“Absolutely!” Natalia’s eyes sparkled.

After a brief chat, she left with Ryan.

Ryan was visibly moved. “You should have come back sooner.”

Natalia just smiled softly. She wanted to return, but it wouldn’t be easy. Just facing Hamilton would be a challenge. Stepping outside, they ran into Caspian.

Caspian had packed up and was now standing at the entrance of the convention center.

13.61

“Ms. Jenkins, may | give you a lift?” he offered.

Ryan frowned slightly: he had intended to offer the same.

Caspian seemed to have read his thoughts. “You must have a lot on your plate, right?”

Ryan chuckled ruefully. Indeed, his duties remained, with the conference over but foreign guests still requiring his attention. But he wasn’t in a hurry. Now that he’d reconnected with Natalia, he was determined not to lose her again. Turning to Natalia, he said, “We'll be in touch.”

After bidding Ryan farewell, Natalia joined Caspian.

Once outside, she inquired, “Mr. Spiegel, did you want to discuss something?”

He nodded. “Last time you mentioned your mother was in a coma. How is she now? Any improvement?”

For some reason, Caspian couldn’t shake his concerns since Natalia mentioned her mother’s accident and coma. At times, he found his own preoccupation amusing. Surely, her mother couldn’t be his sister, yet he couldn’t help but wonder.

Mentioning Tatiana brought a wave of sadness over Natalia. “It’s the same, but the doctors say there’s still a chance she'll wake up.”

Caspian nodded understandingly. Once again, he said, “If there’s anything you need help with down the road, just tell me.”

Natalia nodded with a smile. They chatted all the way to the parking lot, but at the entrance, they spotted the all-too-familiar Rolls Royce Cullinan.

Hamilton, clad in a black overcoat, blended into the chilly night yet somehow seemed even colder than the winter air itself. He was leaning against the car, a cigarette dangling from his fingers.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up, his gaze landing directly on Natalia.

She hesitated for a brief moment.

Caspian clicked his tongue. “He’s keeping a pretty tight leash, isn’t he?”

After a beat, he turned to Natalia. “Guess | won’t send you then.”

She nodded her agreement.

Caspian went over, exchanged a brisk nod with Hamilton, and left.

Hamilton remained leaning against the car, his eyes heavily fixed on Natalia. With her lips pressed tightly together, she finally called out to him. “Mr. Fowler.”

12:51

Hamilton flicked the ash from his cigarette and let out a cold laugh. “You still remember! exist?” Natalia kept her eyes downcast, not responding,

After a long, heavy gaze, Hamilton said, “Come here.”

Natalia took a deep breath and approached. As she drew near, Hamilton spun around and pinned her against the car. “Ms. Jenkins, don’t you have anything to explain?”

Looking at the man before her, Natalia asked, “What is it that you want me to say?”

Hamilton’s expression darkened. He opened the car door and shoved her inside.

They sped all the way home.

Once home, Hamilton finally asked, “So, what’s the deal between you and Ryan?”

Natalia was silent for a moment before answering, “College classmate.”

Hamilton scoffed. “Just classmates?”

“What do you think our relationship is?” Natalia asked, her eyes filled with bitterness. Hamilton’s face grew even more displeased: “Natalia.”

“Hamilton.” She cut him off before he could finish, “What am | to you, really? A tool for your desires? A toy for when you're bored? Don’t | deserve to have my own dreams and social life?”

Hamilton’s brow furrowed deeply, and then he smirked coldly. “Oh? You're questioning me?”

Natalia let out a faint laugh, “I’m not. | shouldn’t have taken that side job without telling you today. But Hamilton, I’ve never betrayed you, not once. In whatever this is between us, my conscience is clear.”

Hamilton’s eyes narrowed slightly as he finally noticed something off in Natalia’s demeanor. After a long pause, he said, “Natalia, what are you trying to say?”

Facing Hamilton, she spoke with unnerving calm. “Hamilton, | want to move out.”