Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 82

Natalia thought she could shrug off the rumors like a light dusting of snow from her shoulders. But the whispers and stores that followed her through the office comidors all afternoon were enough to chill her bones. It was uncomfortable, to say the least.

Hamilton paused mid–stride, arching an eyebrow at her.

“Giselle’s getting the boot.” He promised.

A laugh escaped Natalia’s lips, “Good.”

That must be the biggest concession Hamilton was willing to make. He wouldn’t step forward to squash the rumors himself. After all, by doing so, he’d practically be confirming their relationship to the world.

Of course, that would also mean admitting that the real homewrecker was Eveleen all this long.

And when it came to Eveleen, Hamilton would never act against her.

So, firing Giselle seemed like the best solution; it would shatter the gossip without exposing their relationship.

Just perfect.

By the next morning, word of Giselle’s dismissal spread through the company like wildfire. The tongues that had wagged about Natalia now lay still.

Yet some things, once rooted in the heart, were hard to uproot. Especially for this kind of salacious rumor

Natalia knew that all too well. Though the chatter had ceased, she could still feel the weight of weird glances from her colleagues. But it seemed all she could do was pretend not to

notice.

After the morning meeting, as Natalia was gathering her reports to update Hamilton on their progress, Tess burst in.

“Boss, Giselle’s been canned!” She cried with excitement.

Natalia nodded in acknowledgment, “Yeah, I heard.”

“Now let’s see who dares spread lies about you,” Tess was puffing up with a triumphant air.

“Pfft, Eveleen’s cousin or not, she still got the axe. Boss, I’ve gotta say that Mr. Fowler’s a decent man.”

Natalia couldn’t help but chuckle, “Decent? Remember when he almost fired you?”

Fowler himself, kicked right out the door and dragged off by

15. 15.

as shocked, they humed pate is ghosts. Boss, how can Mr.

yet be a rubines when he needs for teen couldn’t help

Her eile Inded as she contemplated the turn

work, yet she wouldn’t have ques and

know that Hamiliars

an outsider, he was the epitome of courtesy and grace. But those who knew him

could someone who took over the Fowler empire at nineteen be anything but truly kind? Natalia’s mind suddenly wandered to Hamilton as a child. Back then,

have hardened such a sweet boy into the man he was now? It was a puzzle beyond her solving

from these thoughts, choosing not to dwell

picked up the reports from her desk and headed to the CEO’s

front of Harnilton,

them back to Natalia, he looked up

offered a polite, detached smile, “Much

health?” he probed

paused for a moment and continued, “Fine

“Don’t overdo it. Delegate

do.” She hesitated before asking, “Anything else,

“Are you in such

got work to attend

he finally asked, “The class reunion is this weekend, right?”

was surprised he remembered.

Then, after a moment, she added, “If you’re busy, Mr. Fowler,

come.”

Chapter 82

offered to accompany her to the reunion, she had felt a

away. What was the point of bringing him as her boyfriend? After all, that

lingered on her, which was inscrutable. And he finally said, “Since I

looked at Hamilton, “Are you worried I’ll meet someone at the reunion? Don’t worry. He won’t be

tightened, “Do I really need a solid reason to go? Or do you have something to hide,

replied with a touch of exasperated feeling.

perfectly normal to bring a boyfriend to a class reunion,

strained at the corners as a pang of sadness gripped her heart. She had never imagined that one day, these terms of endearment would become the

a smile, “Alright. Then, Mr. Fowler, please

on time.”