Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 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.

“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?”

Chapter 114

“I shadowed a few sessions

Collin’s expression soured.

reassured, “Mr. Collin, don’t worry. If anything goes wrong,

that didn’t mean there wouldn’t be problems. Should anything go awry, even with Ryan taking responsibility, Collin

conference about to start, finding a replacement was out of the question.

clean, pretty face betrayed no sign of

anxiety was palpable. Yet, there was an odd sense of calm, as if something long dormant within her had suddenly sprung

heart surged with a passion she thought she had

from the headphones, Collin was stunned. He stared at the figure in the interpreter booth in amazement. Now,

it was the passage of

meeting finally ended, Natalia emerged from the booth to find

did it feel?” he asked

Natalia nodded vigorously.

them, scrutinizing Natalia, “You are?”

hello,

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

I would,”

perhaps we’ll work together more in the

eyes sparkled.

a brief chat, she left with Ryan.

“You should have come back

smiled softly. She wanted to return, but it wouldn’t be easy. Just facing Hamilton would be a challenge.

they ran into

up and was now standing at the entrance of

13.61

Chapter 114

may I give you a lift?” he

slightly: he had intended to offer the

“You must have a lot on your

chuckled ruefully. Indeed, his duties remained, with the conference over but foreign guests still requiring

hurry. Now that he’d reconnected with Natalia, he was determined not to lose her again.

to Natalia, he said, “We’ll be in

farewell,

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

“Last time you mentioned your mother was in a

At times, he found his own preoccupation amusing. Surely, her mother

sadness over Natalia. “It’s the same, but the doctors say there’s still a chance she’ll wake up.”

Caspian nodded understandingly.

he said, “If there’s anything you need help with down the road, just

They chatted all the way to the parking lot, but at the

chilly night yet somehow seemed even colder than