Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 110

Hamilton’s gaze was heavy as he looked at her. Natalia’s clean and pretty face still wore a smile. He had once said he liked her smile. But now, that smile was painfully irksome.

He let out a mocking laugh. “So you can’t wait to leave me, huh?”

Natalia simply looked at him, offering no response. But the answer couldn’t have been clearer. Hamilton's grip on her chin suddenly tightened.

“Natalia, I’ve told you before, without my say—so, you're not going anywhere. | hope you never forget that!” With that, he released Natalia and strode out of the room.

Natalia let out a wry laugh and went to freshen up before heading to bed.

The next day.

Scarlett, worried about Natalia’s mood, had taken a day off, especially to keep her company. Natalia felt okay, really, but she didn’t want to brush off Scarlett’s kind gesture.

They headed out early for a day of shopping. Though they called it shopping, Scarlett spent most of the time observing Natalia’s expressions.

Aware of her friend's concern, Natalia laughed it off gently. “I’m fine, Scarlett. You don’t need to keep looking at me like that.”

Scarlett pouted. “That jerk, Hamilton, is blind as a bat. Otherwise, he wouldn’t take a gem like you for granted and go chasing after Eveleen, the so-called innocent flower.”

Natalia chuckled. “Scarlett, our arrangement was clear from the start. | have nothing to complain about. | can’t control falling for him, but as long as | remember what our relationship truly is, I’m okay. Whether he’s engaged or married to Eveleen, | don’t care..

If this conversation had happened before, Scarlett would have believed her words. But ever since she learned how long Natalia had harbored feelings for Hamilton, she found those words hard to trust.

How could she not care? It was just a facade of indifference. In reality, Natalia must be hurting like hell. “Just wait, he’ll regret this.”

Natalia didn’t respond to that. She just smiled. “Scarlett, sooner or later, I'll leave Hamilton.” She knew all too well that the man didn’t love her. So, even though her feelings were strong, she

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had no intention of wasting her life on him.

Scarlett’s mouth hung open for a moment.

Natalia laughed again. “Besides, | have my own dreams to chase.” Scarlett’s brow furrowed, wondering what she meant.

“| want to get back into translation work. During this time, a former colleague has been in touch. inviting me to interpret at high— profile conferences. I’ve been declining because of Hamilton, but I’m not going to anymore.”

Scarlett’s eyes lit up. “Back to the Foreign Affairs Department?”

Natalia smiled wryly. “Scarlett, the Foreign Affairs Department isn’t my family business. It’s not like | can just walk back in whenever | want. But | will set it as my goal”

Scarlett felt a twinge of emotion. “That’s the spirit. Forget about that lousy man. We'll do better on our own.”

Natalia nodded, her smile unwavering. But she knew Hamilton would still try to stop her. Regardless, she wasn’t going to back down this time.

Reassured that Natalia was indeed okay, Scarlett finally let her head home.

Once home, Natalia felt a bit lost.

Every year around this time, she would cook a feast for Hamilton and bake him a cake, waiting for him to return home from his gatherings. This year, it seemed none of that would be

necessary. Natalia laughed bitterly to herself and booted up her laptop to work on some freelance jobs, but her phone suddenly rang. “Ms. Jenkins, where are you?” Alden’s voice came through on the other end.

“At home. What’s up, Alden?” She paused, then cautiously added, “Is there any news about the

child’s situation?”

“No, it’s not that. | need to see you. I’m on my way over.”

Alden hung up before she could inquire further.

Puzzled, Natalia didn’t ask any questions.

Before long, someone was knocking on her apartment door.

Alden walked in and immediately said, “Ms. Jenkins, get dolled up. I’m taking you out.”

Natalia was taken aback. “Where to?”

Alden just smiled. “Nowhere specific. Just out for some fun.”

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Natalia frowned, immediately guessing where Alden planned to take her. “Alden, | don’t want to go.”Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

Alden explained, “Ms. Jenkins, I’m really not taking you to the party. I’m only taking you to have some fun at the Royal Club.” Natalia was unsure what he was up to, but she wasn’t particularly interested or in the mood.

Seeing her hesitation, Alden grew anxious. “Ms. Jenkins, I’m not out to harm you. Just trust me this once, okay?” Confronted with Alden’s earnestness, Natalia relented. After all, he had always been the one who took good care of her.

She applied light makeup and slipped into a dress. Although it was a simple outfit, Alden was visibly impressed. He couldn't help but click his tongue in appreciation.

With a woman like Ms. Jenkins by his side, he couldn’t understand how his brother could still be distracted by Eveleen. Wasn't Natalia far more attractive?

“Let's go,” he urged. Natalia took a deep breath and followed.

Alden did indeed take her to the Royal Club. But as she pushed open the door to the private room, Natalia froze.

The very people who should have been at the banquet were all there in the room.

Hamilton, along with his entourage of fair-weather friends. He sat slouched on the sofa, a cigarette dangling from his fingers, his mood seemingly sour.

Especially as his eyes fell on Natalia, a cold smirk spread across his face.

“Ms. Jenkins, what brings you here?” The man’s voice was chilly, laden with undisguised scorn. And Eveleen, perched beside him like the lady of the house, seemed to turn even sourer at the sight of Natalia.

Alden leaned in close to Natalia’s ear. “Ms. Jenkins, I’m so sorry, but I’m at my wit’s end here. My brother went off the rails last night. Out of the blue, he called off his birthday bash, and he’s been in a foul mood all day. | thought maybe if | could get him out for a bit of fun, he’d lighten up, but no dice. Ms. Jenkins, I’m at a loss, and when my brother’s in a sour mood, we all catch the backdraft.”

Natalia stood rigid at the threshold, her frame taut with tension. After a moment, she managed a wry smile. “Times like these call for Ms. Schafer’s touch, not mine, Alden. You've barked up the wrong tree.”

“What's this ‘Ms. Schafer‘ talk, Ms. Jenkins? You're the one | wanted to bring,” Alden whispered insistently, “You're the one | see as my brother’s lady.”

Chapter 110 With that, he ushered Natalia into the private room.

Her emotions churned with complexity. She hadn’t expected Hamilton to cancel his birthday party, and she certainly hadn’t expected Alden to bring her here. But now that she was here, she gritted her teeth and followed him in.

The room, previously abuzz with chatter, fell to a hush as Natalia entered. On any other day. having Natalia join them wouldn't have been an issue. But today, of all days, Eveleen was there

too.

An ex-flame and a current crush under one roof-it was a recipe for awkwardness.

Victor chuckled before quipping, “Alden, why'd you bring her along? You think she fits in with today’s vibe?”

Alden snorted dismissively. “Why wouldn’t she? It’s my brother’s birthday; shouldn’t his girl be here?”

Victor's voice dripped with disdain. “His girl? Alden, don’t you think you're giving her too much credit? She’s just a plaything.”

“Victor, show some respect!” Alden’s expression darkened considerably. He hadn’t realized Victor's opinion of Natalia had soured to this extent.

Victor scoffed. “Hamilton didn’t even want her here. Isn’t that proof enough?” Natalia, rooted to the spot, was a cocktail of embarrassment and discomfort.

She glanced at Hamilton. He was as impassive as ever, not showing the slightest inclination to defuse the situation. Suddenly, Natalia felt like the butt of some cruel joke.

She chuckled mirthlessly. “Such a grand affair, | really shouldn't have come. Enjoy your evening.” With that, she turned to leave. But then she heard the voice of the man behind her.

“Stop right there.”