Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 256

After enduring a long-haul flight that spanned over a dozen hours, the team finally arrived in Ylandia the next day.

Stepping off the plane, Natalia hardly had a moment to gather her bearings when she spotted Killian emerging from the ranks of their security detail. She paused, taken aback.

For a moment, she found herself staring at Killian, momentarily lost for words.

"Why are you here?"

Killian cracked a smile. "Mr. Fowler was concerned about your safety, so he had Minister Dawson arrange for me to join the security team."

Natalia quickly grasped Hamilton's intentions.

This trip, after all, was not one where safety was a concern.

The Department of Defense had assigned personnel to accompany them, and even the Foreign Affairs Department had arranged for personal bodyguards. Hamilton's decision to send Killian was likely due to his unease about her working alongside Ryan.

"That man," Natalia couldn't help but grumble inwardly.

Yet, she said nothing more.

Killian had arrived, and it wasn't as if she could simply send him back.

Ryan, descending from the plane, made his way towards Natalia until his eyes landed on Killian, causing him to momentarily hesitate.

"Who's this?"

Killian, with a friendly smile, extended his hand to Ryan.

"Mr. Holzer, I'm Ms. Jenkins' personal bodyguard."

Ryan glanced at Natalia.

Sighing slightly, Natalia didn't bother with an explanation, merely handed her luggage to Killian.

"Let's get going. Since you're here, stick to the protocol and don't break any rules."

Killian nodded promptly.

Ryan, trailing behind the two, managed a bittersweet smile.

Hamilton, always playing it safe.

Swallowing his bitterness, Ryan stepped forward to catch up.

Their accommodation was arranged by the consulate.

After checking in, Natalia reached out to Hamilton on her phone.

The phone rang several times before he picked up.

Natalia hesitated, suddenly remembering the time difference.

"Did I wake you?"

Hamilton's voice, laced with amusement, answered, "Waiting for your call, how could I be asleep?"

His voice, deep and tender, sent Natalia's heart into a flutter.

Holding the phone, she suddenly found herself at a loss for words.

inquired, "Natalia, where's

"I'll send it to you," and was about

Hamilton quickly

Natalia paused.

no looking at other handsome men or giving out your

I'm

with Ryan, especially no inviting him into your room, got it?" Natalia, exasperated, "Hamilton, Ryan and

doesn't the guy have

sighed, "Can you

she hung up, sending Hamilton the

phone, felt a pang of longing so intense it

rest, the

mission involved both a businessman's rescue

and Ryan were to negotiate the businessman's rescue, while Natalia and Alfonso handled the artifact retrieval

began, Natalia's original partner, a

been previously eliminated from consideration, just so happened to be in

some deliberation, the Foreign Affairs Department decided

Natalia, couldn't resist a smirk, "Ms. Jenkins, what

but said nothing, supporting Alfonso

to kick off the proceedings, with Delilah handling brief

initiative right from the

at

lip but did not

smugly eyeing Natalia, thought she had seized a golden

she hadn't anticipated the negotiations taking such an

a deadlock within minutes, with the opposing side denying any

claims, suggesting an obsession with claiming any ancient artifact as their own. Alfonso's expression darkened as he eyed the eight bronze artifacts

say something?" She maintained formal address in

Alfonso was taken aback.

negotiation team, hearing her

Natalia was out of her

what no one expected was Alfonso's nod

origins and historical

Natalia was making it up since these artifacts had never circulated in the domestic market. How could she possibly know their history? Was she hoping to deceive simply because they

negotiation team

if you're unsure, don't just make

no

and just as they were about to interrupt Natalia, Alfonso suddenly stopped

Natalia

had done his homework on the set of ancient bronze vessels they were discussing. He even knew

confident speech, however, made him wonder if this young lady had

everyone was getting more anxious, Natalia suddenly pulled

bronze vessels in question,

room went silent. Even Delilah, let alone Alfonso, was

photos for a while, then

on earth did you

was going through various antique enthusiasts' Twitter accounts while preparing for this negotiation.

only meant to use them as

looked at Natalia, nodding in admiration, "Well, well, well! Kid, you've really taken us by

that, Alfonso immediately paused the

face turned sour, as if she had swallowed a

the Twitter user's testimony, it was confirmed that the bronze vessels had

records of these artifacts leaving

admit that the

the acquisition proven, the negotiation