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.

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

Holzer, you were all about preserving Ms. Jenkins' reputation before, and

heart; he could understand

you like getting close to another man-it's bound

letting Hamilton vent

however, turned

close the

smile and unceremoniously shut the door

that had been closed right before his

tentatively asked, "Sir,

a glacial look his

say another word

some water, planning

her

"What happened last night?"

with a guy, trying

brows knitted together instantly. "How come you didn't call me?"

night, everything happened so fast-from Thalia showing up to Hamilton dealing with it-it was over

He had been with

who had brought Natalia to this hotel, and while Natalia had

given the current nature of his relationship with Natalia, he couldn't really

could you call me, no

Natalia smiled and nodded.

approach, not pressing further, and they switched topics to some issues

didn't stay too

his

pointed out, it was inappropriate for him to stay in Natalia's room so late at

for a while, he

the neighboring room saw him and jumped with a

what are you doing out here at

annoyed and frowned at the

to have an epiphany. "Oh, did your girlfriend kick you

mouth

of

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

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

and Natalia

her gaze sweeping back and

a look

believe you turned out to be

as dark

never been spoken to like

couple!" His voice was firm as

still looked disgusted. "But she lets

Hamilton's eyelids twitched uncontrollably.

he could explain, the lady had already slipped

chill enveloped

to Ryan. "Be careful on

nodded, then looked

you going

out a cold laugh. "What's it

turned back

lock

Natalia nodded.