Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Hamilton stood there with a frosty expression, "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

Killian seemed a bit down, "I had to make sure if she was just seeing off the Joyner kid or if she was leaving too."

"She left with Ronin?"

"Yeah."

Hamilton's face turned sour in an instant.

He ended the call, about to turn away when Scarlett suddenly called out to him.

"Hamilton, can we talk?"

Hamilton looked at Scarlett, his gaze heavy. After a long pause, he nodded.

"Go ahead."

Scarlett paused before speaking, "I guess you've figured it out. I'm just trying to tell you to keep your distance from Natalia. I know you probably don't want to hear this, but have you thought about the dangers you're bringing her?" Hamilton let out a bitter laugh.

"Dr. Scarlett, I admit I was at fault before with Natalia, but this time, I'm all in. I'll do everything in my power to protect them."

Scarlett scoffed.

"And how exactly are you planning to 'all in'? You always talk a good game. Don't think just because Natalia has feelings for you that you" "Even if it costs me my life, I won't let her get hurt again."

After saying that, he turned and walked away.

Scarlett stared at his retreating figure, wanting to scold him but suddenly found herself at a loss for words.

The way Hamilton spoke, it was as if he truly would die for Natalia.

After a moment, Scarlett muttered to herself, "Why now? If you had been this determined earlier, you two might have already tied the knot."

At the airport, Natalia received a call from Scarlett just before boarding.

"That jerk Hamilton probably went looking for you again."

Natalia's gaze fell, and she hummed in response, glancing at Killian pretending to be on a call not too far away.

It was only a matter of time before Hamilton would find out.

"Natalia, if Hamilton"

Scarlett wanted to say, if Hamilton really could handle the Fowler family's mess, then perhaps there was no need to reconsider.

But she stopped herself, thinking it was a futile thought.

The Fowler family wasn't going to be an easy fix.

"It's okay, I mean, take care of yourself over there, make sure to take your prenatal vitamins on time, and remember to come back for your check-up." Natalia smiled, "Got it. I'll be back next month for your birthday, just in time for the check-up."

After a brief chat, they hung up.

Ronin, standing beside her, was glaring at Killian from a distance.

"Hamilton must be dying to put a tracker on you, huh?"

Natalia glanced at Killian, then looked down, "Don't worry about him."

Ronin couldn't help but smirk, "Imagine Hamilton's face when he finds out you've left. He might just tear the airport apart."

Natalia didn't respond, focusing instead on the documents in her hand.

They were here for an international cultural exchange conference initiated by UNESCO.

It was a multi-round event, and Natalia had been busy preparing for the past few days.

Ronin was browsing his phone when suddenly he gasped.

"Isn't that Giselle? The one who framed you before?"

Natalia froze, then looked at his phone.

Just a glance, and she was stunned.

Giselle had been in a car accident.

And it looked bad.

Natalia's grip on the documents tightened.

Was this Hamilton's doing?

She immediately opened a web page on her phone.

The page revealed that Giselle had crashed into a tree while driving drunk.

Her injuries seemed severe but not life-threatening.

Natalia stared blankly at the page.

Ronin nudged her.

"What's on your mind? You should be happy the person who wronged you is suffering, right?"

Natalia snapped back to reality, managing a small, distracted smile.

Hamilton had mentioned dealing with Giselle, but she had assumed it would be a warning or a lesson, at most a way to get back at the Lynd family.

She hadn't expected him to go this far.

Natalia sighed, trying to calm the turmoil inside her, "Let's go, it's time to board."

Ronin nodded, then threw one last look at Killian before following Natalia to the boarding gate.

"How's your father doing?"

Natalia asked casually.

"Ugh, Mason Seems ready to give up

on the company. He's all about minimizing losses from pulling out investments. No matter how we withdraw, the board's criticism s inevitable," Ronin expressed his frustration.

Coming to Silkwood City, he had hoped to make a significant impact.

Natalia's brows furrowed slightly.

"Then why did your father decide to come to Silkwood City in the first place?"

Despite the setback, Ronin's

youthful vigor was evident, "Well, coming to Silkwood City makes sense. It's become the country's most famous hub for international trade With the government's major policy support here, seizing the opportunity in Silkwood City is only logical, right?"

Natalia nodded, though Ronin's reasoning made sense to her, she still felt there was something off about Mason's intentions.

Coming to Silkwood City was one thing, but insisting on her staying was another mystery.

Yet, she didn't press further.

Ronin seemed clueless about his father's deeper motives.

Sometimes, she marveled at how well Mason had sheltered Ronin from these realities.

Hamilton had arranged a private jet, arriving just half an hour after Natalia's flight.

When Natalia disembarked, Ryan was already waiting outside.

"If I were you, I'd definitely choose Mr. Holzer," Ronin joked, a light-hearted end to their intense journey.

Natalia remained silent, her relationship with Ryan now purely platonic.

She felt a twinge of relief that she and Ryan had parted ways early. Otherwise, they might have ended up like one of those dramatic episodes from "Hamilton."

"You really have too much time on your hands," Ronin remarked as he approached Ryan.

"I was actually thinking of surprising

her with a gift during this break," Ryan retorted with a glance, "But Mrs. Joyner herself has come to drag you back, and you're still thinking of gifts?"

Ronin's face paled instantly.

"My mom's here?" he blurted out before attempting to make a run for it, only to be blocked by two bodyguards.

Ronin's face turned the color of sour milk.

He looked over to see a distinguished-looking lady not far from them.

Dressed impeccably, she made her way over as soon as she saw Ronin being stopped.

"Where do you think you're going?" she asked.

Ronin forced a smile. "Who said I was running?"

Mrs. Joyner reached him and lightly tapped his head.

"You would have bolted if they were two seconds slower!"Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Ronin clicked his tongue. "Can't you save my face in front of my friends?"

Mrs. Joyner chuckled, then turned her attention to Natalia.

Her gaze lingered on Natalia for a moment before she spoke.

"May I know your name, miss?"

Natalia offered a polite smile. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Joyner. You can just call me Natalia."

Mrs. Joyner frowned slightly at Natalia.

"The Natalia from the Ron Group's branch office?"