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 to be

madness, yanked

on Eveleen for you, how can you

face was a mask of icy

Eveleen or not is your business,

did it all

eyes, red and wild, held her tightly in his

having any

young age, Ryan had been taught to be

in a stalemate until Natalia took

dealing with Hamilton, he had always been the epitome

was set in a

again, and you'll

took Natalia's hand and they headed for

laughter followed

think I'm afraid of you? Let me tell you, Natalia is

but Natalia did, just for a moment, and he felt

her on. "Come

Natalia followed

watched their figures disappear, feeling as if his

Was Natalia truly gone?

she actually left

eyes quickly reddened with the sting of

didn't want

inside the elevator, Ryan let

was taken aback, fearing

to apologize but was cut off

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

"I'm not using

Ryan froze.

I'm serious. I never take matters of the heart lightly. I can't be sure we'll last forever, but since we've started this, I'll put my all into our

adored for

you need to pinch

Ryan burst out laughing.

what

they entered their

catching sight of Ryan,

Ryan,"

"Ryan, this is Scarlett."

for reasons unknown, welled up at the

years, Natalia had

best, Scarlett thought. This

that jerk, didn't deserve

suggested, "Today's Christmas Eve, how about