Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 157

Natalia didn't want to provoke the man before her. Thus,

She remained silent.

Hamilton let out a snort of disdain and then asked, "Enjoying your breakfast?"

Natalia pursed her lips before responding, "It's quite good. Have you eaten, Mr. Fowler?"

Hamilton's face darkened considerably.

He hadn't eaten, and he had no appetite.

His heart wasn't as big as hers seemed to be.

She had just ended a relationship of over three years, and here she was, able to have a cheerful breakfast with another man.

"You're so easily pleased, huh? A simple breakfast, and you're all smiles?" The sourness in Hamilton's voice was unmistakable.

Natalia found it hard to ignore.

She couldn't be bothered to indulge in this pointless exchange with him anymore and instead greeted the secretary from the collaborating firm with a nod.

Hamilton, feeling thoroughly ignored, looked even more displeased.

The secretary approached Natalia with a friendly smile.

"Ms. Jenkins, was that your boyfriend who brought you breakfast?"

Natalia chuckled and shook her head.

"No, not my boyfriend, just a friend."

The secretary gave her a knowing grin, "Not yet, maybe, but I bet it won't be long. I saw that little hair ruffle - quite the flirtatious move! And he's so handsome, you two would make a picture-perfect couple." Hamilton couldn't help but huff at that.

Perfect couple? As if.

Ryan was nothing like Natalia's type.

At least, that was what he liked to think. But as he stewed over it, his brows furrowed involuntarily.

What was Natalia's type anyway? Clearly not someone like him, or why would she have left so decisively?

Ryan was exactly her

thought about it,

his scoff loud and

a look that wasn't entirely friendly and turned back to the secretary to

"Oh, I

winked at Natalia, who didn't bother correcting her again, sensing that it might just

opened, Natalia stepped

the weight of the word 'boyfriend.' Not so long ago, he had claimed to be her boyfriend in front of Ryan. And now, the term had seemingly shifted to Ryan. Hamilton never imagined a day when Natalia would openly introduce someone else as her boyfriend. The thought had never even crossed his mind.

was pressing down on his chest, making it

out, "Mr. Fowler, aren't you coming?" Hamilton finally tore

cast a pall

meeting ended around noon, and thankfully, they had made some progress, reaching a tentative

was headed by a Mr.

turned to Hamilton with a smile, "Mr. Fowler, care to join us for

wasn't in the mood, but he glanced at Natalia. If

up when the secretary called

is here to pick you

outside, seeing Ryan standing at the door,

resigned smile, Natalia didn't bother to correct her. She simply apologized to Mr. Bran, "Sorry, Mr. Bran, I have other plans. I can't

flickered with curiosity as he glanced at Hamilton. Though others might not know the dynamics between the

and asking him to play along all for Ms. Jenkins, it

this city, who

but inwardly, he scoffed. Ryan was becoming quite

to keep

Jenkins, lunch is a matter

at Hamilton. His expression seemed genuinely nonchalant, not

Bran was clearly interested in the unfolding drama, showing

a moment's hesitation, Natalia finally said, "I apologize, Mr. Bran, but I have a

eyes slightly.

was

had not expected the man coming for Natalia to be

Boria City, but that didn't mean

gilded in prestige and a rising star in

fair share of clout in the city's business circles, but even he knew there were levels of elite he could

one such echelon, well beyond his

the intricacies of the Holzer

the Fowlers' reputation preceded