Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 159

Ryan followed Natalia into the elevator and then came clean.

"I saw Hamilton downstairs just now, so I figured I'd come up with you. He's probably here to see you, right?"

Natalia paused for a second.

She hadn't noticed Hamilton.

But whether he came or not didn't really make much difference to her now.

"Does tea keep you up at night?" she asked directly.

It took Ryan a moment to catch on, but then he realized she truly didn't care anymore.

She was letting herself move on.

"Nope." He looked at Natalia and chuckled. "You know your stuff about tea?"

Natalia nodded. "Took a class."

Ryan's eyes twinkled. "Well then, you might be in for some trouble. My granddad's a real tea aficionado. Looks like we'll be calling on your expertise." Natalia laughed, "Alright, I'll have to show him my skills one of these days."

They chatted and laughed as they stepped out of the elevator.

As soon as they did, the elevator next to them opened, too.

Hamilton's gaze landed on their smiling faces, and it felt like a punch to the gut.

Especially Ryan's smile-it just looked so off.

A grown man grinning like that-it was almost like he was selling himself short.

Natalia's stride faltered, and her brows furrowed.

"Mr. Fowler, is there something you need?"

Hamilton looked at Natalia, suddenly at a loss for words.

Need something?

Of course, he did.

He was there to keep an eye on Ryan, to make sure he didn't get any funny ideas.

But he didn't really have a leg to stand on for that now.

"I got a room here," Hamilton said, his gloomy expression laced with a touch of nonchalant ease.

Natalia's brows furrowed deeply. "What?"

Hamilton let out a laugh. "After what happened to you last night, I couldn't just ignore it."

Natalia hesitated, then fell silent.

She turned and unlocked her own door.

Ryan followed her in.

But as he started to close the door, Hamilton stopped him.

in the doorway, "Aren't you going back to your room, Mr.

you were all about preserving Ms. Jenkins' reputation before, and now you're shamelessly

take it to heart;

the woman you like getting close to another man-it's

didn't mind letting Hamilton vent a

however, turned

just close the

smile and unceremoniously shut the door in

right

asked, "Sir,

a glacial look

say another word and quickly

boil some water, planning to make Ryan a cup

stopped her

"What happened last night?"

with a guy, trying to start

instantly. "How come you

night, everything happened so fast-from Thalia showing up to Hamilton dealing with it-it was over in minutes. Ryan still felt

there wasn't time last night, what about today? He had been with Natalia all

one who had brought Natalia to this hotel, and while Natalia had a problem, he was clueless, but Hamilton knew

of his relationship with Natalia, he couldn't

call me, no

Natalia smiled and nodded.

not pressing further, and they switched topics to some

didn't stay

was his oversight

out, it was inappropriate for him to stay in

chatting for a while, he stood

still standing outside when a lady from the neighboring room saw him and jumped

you doing out here

and

reply, the lady seemed to have an epiphany.

Hamilton's mouth

of Natalia as

expression, the lady quickly added with a laugh, "Well, you'd better apologize quickly, then." Hamilton's brows furrowed. "She's not easy to

she is; you gotta try unless you don't want her as your girlfriend anymore." Hamilton's eyes flashed, and just as he was about to speak,

Natalia stepped out

her gaze sweeping back

she gave Hamilton a

I can't believe

face was as dark as

had never been spoken to like

His voice was firm as he corrected

she lets him into her

Hamilton's eyelids twitched uncontrollably.

he could explain, the lady had

chill enveloped

turned to Ryan. "Be careful

then looked at

aren't you

out a cold laugh. "What's

smiled and turned back to

sure you lock

Natalia nodded.