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.

"Natalia, where's my

inside her, Natalia responded, "I'll send

quickly interjected,

Natalia paused.

looking at other handsome men or giving

"Hamilton, I'm here

adding, "And don't get too cozy with Ryan, especially no inviting him

Ryan, doesn't the guy have

words, Natalia sighed, "Can you stop

up, sending Hamilton the sunset

looking at the photos on his phone, felt

day's rest, the

rescue and

businessman's rescue, while Natalia and Alfonso handled the artifact retrieval

partner, a young translator, was hospitalized due to

been previously eliminated from consideration, just so happened to be

Affairs Department decided to have Delilah step

resist a smirk, "Ms. Jenkins,

her a glance but said nothing, supporting Alfonso into the

kick off the proceedings, with Delilah handling

the initiative right from the

frowned at

lip

thought she

hadn't anticipated the negotiations taking

the

any ancient artifact as their own. Alfonso's expression darkened

She maintained formal address in this official

Alfonso was taken aback.

negotiation team, hearing her request,

widened, thinking Natalia was out of

expected

Alfonso's consent, Natalia began to eloquently detail the origins and historical significance of

then laughed dismissively, assuming 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

team grew

unsure, don't

Natalia showed no signs of

getting anxious, and just as they were

Natalia wasn't just

set of ancient bronze vessels they were discussing. He even knew that they had once appeared in an underground market

wonder if this

anxious, Natalia suddenly pulled out her phone

clearly depicted the ancient bronze vessels in question, taken

Even Delilah, let alone Alfonso,

for a while,

on earth did you

enthusiasts' Twitter accounts while preparing for this negotiation. I found these photos

only meant

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

immediately paused the negotiation to

sour, as if she had

the Twitter user's testimony, it was confirmed that the

these artifacts leaving the country

to admit that the

the acquisition proven, the negotiation for the businessman's rescue gained