Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 154

Natalia was caught off guard by the stinging slap that reddened her cheek.

Rubbing her face, she turned to confront Thalia, who stood by the waiter, fuming with anger.

"You tramp, luring Hamilton wasn't enough? Now you're setting your sights on Ronin? Can't get enough of men, can you?" Thalia spat out, her hand raised to strike again.

But before she could land another blow, Natalia's hand shot up, returning the favor with a sharp slap of her own. The sound echoed through the hallway, and Natalia didn't hold back. The waiter, clearly startled by the scene, stared at Natalia.

"Miss, do you need me to call the police?"

Natalia's lips were a thin line, her gaze fixed on Thalia's face; then she said to the waiter, "Thanks, that would be great. And could you call security while you're at it?"

The waiter nodded quickly and scurried away.

Thalia, still reeling from the unexpected retaliation, let out a shrill scream.

"Natalia, this is the Spiegel family's hotel! You're going to regret crossing me!"

As she finished her threat, she waved to someone off to the side. A burly man entered the hallway, his bulky frame casting a shadow over Natalia, who was wearing only a bathrobe. Feeling his leering gaze, Natalia's face turned a shade paler. She tried to head back to her room, but Thalia grabbed her hair.

"You think you're going anywhere, slut? Since you're so desperate for men, I'll give you your fill!"

In a flash of defiance, Natalia jabbed the fork she was using for her cake into Thalia's arm. Blood spurted out as Thalia shrieked, "You dare to hurt me? You bitch! Beat her up!"

The man swung at Natalia, but before his fist could make contact, his wrist was seized by an iron grip. He howled in pain as he was flung out of the hallway.

Thalia, taken aback, finally noticed Hamilton, his face ablaze with fury. After tossing the man aside, Hamilton faced Thalia.

"Thalia, do you even realize what you're doing?"

Shaking, Thalia hadn't expected Hamilton to burst onto the scene.

"Mr. Fowler, she was the one seducing Ronin! I was just getting back at her," Thalia stammered, her face pale with rage. She produced a stack of photos and thrust them at Hamilton. "Look, she's the one who seduced Ronin!"

at the photos, all of her and Ronin walking to the restaurant that evening. Her expression

she demanded

matter who," Thalia glared back. "You seducing Ronin is a

yourself be used and not even know it. And for

blank, then turned

and eyes still smoldering,

be interested in you! You must have seduced

without his acceptance, and now he was going after

let

long moment before speaking. "Thalia, same

Natalia into the room, slamming the door shut behind

even then, she refused to accept that it was Ronin

you seduced Ronin! This isn't

the room, Hamilton's gaze

was only now that Natalia began to feel fear. She stood there, her fingers trembling. No one knew how panicked she felt when the blood

at her sides, and after what seemed like an eternity, she managed

bathroom to clean the blood from

hurt anywhere?"

shook her head.

eyes still cold. He gripped her chin, forcing her to look at him. "Natalia, do you see the trouble that 'caring' man Ronin brings you? Is he really that innocent? Don't think too highly of him." Natalia met his gaze and, after a moment, pulled away from his hold and walked

face darkened. "Natalia,

with a wry smile. "Hamilton, do you really not understand who's

for Eveleen's scheming, Thalia

in a

it's okay for you to be hanging

Natalia's eyelashes fluttered downward.

wasn't going to get involved with Ronin

her frustration from today's events on Ronin; she simply didn't want to entangle herself in such a complex web of

was the simplest, most uncomplicated

was

I do with Ronin

face, however,