Echoes of a Forsaken Heart (Natalia and Hamilton)

Ryan didn't linger for a chat; he simply confirmed the meeting agenda with her before he left.

Once Ryan was gone, Delilah appeared at Natalia's side.

"Ms. Jenkins and the young Holzer seem as close as ever. Does Hamilton know?"

Natalia spared her a glance. "Delilah, healed from your fall?"

Delilah's wounds were far from healed.

The gash on her face might even leave a scar.

Mentioning this felt like a punch to Delilah's gut.

She couldn't believe that Hamilton would actually stand up for Natalia against her.

Although the Powells had reached out to the Fowlers on her behalf, and Westley had promised some form of justice, the fact that Hamilton valued Natalia so highly was a bitter pill to swallow. Delilah chuckled mockingly, "Natalia, what's there to be so smug about? You think just because Hamilton keeps you close, you have him? Please."

Natalia just looked down at her notes, blatantly ignoring her.

But Delilah was relentless.

"After all, I'm the one the Fowlers acknowledge, and Eveleen is the one in his heart. You don't stand a chance, either officially or in his heart. You're nothing more than a fling!"

Finally, Natalia looked up, "Delilah, you're in the wrong profession. You should be running workshops on manipulation, not translating!"

With that, she picked up her notes, ready to leave.

Delilah called out from behind, "You probably don't know yet? Hamilton's been looking for doctors for Eveleen, trying everything to help her."

Natalia paused for a moment but then continued walking.

Returning to her desk, she realized her notes were crumpled from her tight grip.

She smoothed them out slowly.

As she did, she tried to calm the turmoil inside her.

She should trust Hamilton, not let Delilah's words get to her.

Despite knowing Delilah's penchant for stirring trouble, she shouldn't fall for it.

But as she looked at her notes, her mind wandered again.

It wasn't until someone called her name that she snapped back to reality.

The meeting was about to start, so she adjusted her mindset and focused on her work.

The press conference lasted three hours.

When Natalia left the venue, she saw Delia and Dawson standing not far away, alongside two foreign guests.

Delia waved at Natalia, who walked over with a smile.

"Ms. Delia, Minister Dawson. Great job today."

Delia didn't skimp on her praise.

Natalia blushed slightly, "Thank you for the compliment, Ms. Delia."

Delia looked at her fondly, "My praise means you truly stand out. I rarely compliment people. Isn't that right, Dawson?"

Dawson chuckled, "True, Ms. Delia is sparing with her praise. You're one of the few she consistently admires."

Delia laughed, "Look who's talking. Weren't you the same?"

Turning to Natalia, Delia continued, "You might not know, but during your last artifact repatriation project, Dawson watched those videos and kept saying how lucky the Foreign Affairs Department was to have recruited you. It would have been a big loss otherwise." Natalia, feeling a bit shy from all the praise, promised, "I'll strive to do even better."

Delia nodded, "I hear you're officially joining the Foreign Affairs Department, taking over Collin's position?"

Natalia confirmed.

Dawson smiled, "Natalia, would you be interested in an international assignment?"

Natalia was taken aback.

Such assignments were usually indicators of being highly valued by the Foreign Affairs Department, yet she hadn't officially joined yet.

Delia reassured her, "Don't be surprised. I was sent abroad as soon as I joined the department. It's a chance for real growth. That's what I wanted to discuss with you last time."

Natalia looked between Delia and Dawson, overwhelmed.

Dawson then introduced the two foreign guests.

"Do you recognize these distinguished individuals?"

Natalia greeted them in fluent English, impressing the president and his wife of Landeia.

Dawson pointed to the lady, "And do you remember this woman?"

Natalia did, recognizing her as the woman she had helped in the restroom during a previous ceremony.

The woman, overjoyed, hugged Natalia tightly, "Ms. Jenkins, I'm so grateful. We came all this way just to thank you."

Natalia humbly downplayed her actions, but the woman insisted, "To you, it was a small gesture, but to me, it was life-saving."

Her husband also expressed his gratitude, with Dawson smiling at the heartwarming scene.

"They want you to be the Goodwill Ambassador for Landeia, and Ms. Delia and I were actually thinking of sending you abroad too. What do you think, Natalia? It's a golden opportunity." en FindNovel

Natalia bit her lip, unsure of how to respond.

She knew it was an incredible chance.

But she and Hamilton had just made up, and accepting this would mean being apart again.

She had been in Boria City for two days, and even that was hard for Hamilton to swallow, let alone three years.

"Minister Dawson, Ms. Delia, I... I might need some time to think about it."

Delia and Dawson exchanged glances before Dawson spoke, "Take your time, but we do hope you'll seize this opportunity." Natalia offered a tight-lipped smile.

"I'll give it some serious thought."

After discussing other matters, Natalia chatted with the President and his wife for a while before leaving.

From the sidelines, Delilah watched Natalia's retreating figure, her fingers clenched so tightly they

nearly pierced her skin

W?

She had overheard their entire conversation.

Last time in the restroom, Natalia had actually saved Landeia's First Lady?

Despite Delilah's plan to delay Natalia by luring her into the

save such a high-profile fige

restroom, Natalia had managed to

The thought made Delilah grind her teeth in frustration.

Why did Natalia always have such good luck!

If she had known, she would never have bothered with that damn interview!

Had she been the one in the restroom, this opportunity would have been hers!

With a glint in her eye, Delilah turned and headed towards the President and his wife.

However, before she could get close, a bodyguard stopped her in her tracks.

Leaving the Foreign Affairs Department, Natalia found the sky had darkened.

She was about to hail a cab back to her hotel when suddenly, someone emerged from the shadows and wrapped her in a hug.

Natalia stiffened, but then she caught the familiar scent.

A smile involuntarily played on her lips.

Hamilton guided her towards a car parked by the roadside.

Once inside, before she could even speak, Hamilton's kiss overwhelmed her.

It was as if he was trying to consume her, filled with the longing of their days apart.

And with it, an undercurrent of unspoken emotions.

Killian quietly raised the partition and drove off.

They stopped at the hotel, and Hamilton finally released her, then carried her into the hotel.

"What are you doing here?" Natalia whispered.

Hamilton looked deep into her eyes without answering. As soon as they entered the room, he pinned her to the bed.

Natalia sensed his mood was off.

Wrapping her arms around Hamilton's neck, she kissed him softly before asking, "What's wrong?"

But Hamilton didn't reply, instead, placing her hand on his shirt collar.

"Unbutton it for me, Natalia."

Natalia wanted to ask more, but Hamilton kissed her again.

He held Natalia tightly, tearing off her dress in his fervor.

As she unbuttoned his shirt, she suggested, "Let's take a shower first."

Hamilton lifted her into the bathroom, then turned on the shower and entered her without hesitation.

Natalia was unprepared and winced in pain.

Hamilton, from behind, gripped her waist and bit her neck, his voice rough and husky.

"Say you love me, Natalia."

Natalia's legs trembled under his intensity.

Tilting her head back, she breathed out, "Hamilton, be gentle."

But Hamilton only grew more forceful.

"Say you love me, Natalia."

Biting her lip, it took her a moment, but she finally said it.

"I love you, Hamilton. I love you."

So much.