Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 168

Ryan was momentarily stunned before his face was painted with sheer shock.

Despite suspecting it was a ruse, a way to get a rise out of Hamilton, Ryan couldn't help the thrill of joy that snuck into his heart.

"Of course, I'd love nothing more," he said, his voice laced with sincerity.

Natalia's nod came with a smile so genuine it reached her eyes, lighting them up with happiness.

Hamilton, witnessing the scene, felt a hot prickle in his eyes.

He stepped forward, grasping Natalia's wrist. "Natalia! What are you saying?"

Ryan moved to swipe Hamilton's hand away. "Mr. Fowler, please let go of my girlfriend!"

But Hamilton was relentless, his grip unwavering as his world narrowed to a single, crushing reality.

Natalia and Ryan, a couple.

Natalia was asking Ryan to be her man.

She was supposed to be his, solely his.

And now, she was dating someone else.

Her name would be linked with another man's!

"You're doing this on purpose, aren't you? Just to get at me!" he spat out, fuming over his previous threats concerning Eveleen and his failure to inform Natalia about Eveleen's involvement in the kidnapping case.

"I won't interfere with Eveleen anymore, I've made that clear to her today. Send her to jail if that's what you want, I won't lift a finger. Let's start over, Natalia."

Natalia winced under his grip.

She struggled but couldn't break free.

"Hamilton, I never joke about matters of the heart."

Today, she had spoken these words under such circumstances.

She truly wanted to use this opportunity to make Hamilton give up on her.

But being with Ryan, that was a choice she had made after much thought.

She wanted a fresh start.

She was tired of the tangled web with Hamilton.

She was trying to let go and to begin anew.

someone to be with, truly be with, she wanted it

in a fit of madness,

on Eveleen for you, how can you do this to

face was a mask of

deal with Eveleen or not is your

did it all for you. Natalia,

tightly in his arms, as if releasing

wasn't having any of

old soldier, Corbin, from a young age, Ryan had been taught

two men were locked in a stalemate until Natalia took the chance to slip

with

face was set in a frosty

again, and you'll

Natalia's hand and they

mocking laughter followed

afraid of you? Let me tell you, Natalia is my

just for a moment, and he felt

her on.

breath, Natalia followed

their figures disappear, feeling as if his

Was Natalia truly gone?

she actually

reddened with the sting of

didn't want

inside the elevator, Ryan let go of

aback, fearing he

opened her mouth to apologize but was cut off by

him, and I still wish it were true. Even if it's not, I'm still happy. At least you chose me

using you as a

Ryan froze.

Natalia affirmed, "Ryan, I'm serious. I never take matters of the heart lightly. I can't be sure we'll last

this real? The girl he'd adored for years

teasing, "Do you

Ryan burst out laughing.

what

laughing, they entered their

of Ryan,

Ryan," Natalia

"Ryan, this is Scarlett."

eyes, for reasons unknown, welled up

all these years, Natalia had finally decided

for the best, Scarlett thought. This was

that jerk,

Scarlett suggested, "Today's Christmas Eve, how about we go out and set