Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Natalia leaned back in the bathtub, her mind replaying the events of the day.

The fear had not fully dissipated, making her temples throb slightly. Just as she considered getting up, the bathroom door suddenly swung open.

Startled, Natalia saw Hamilton walk in as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

"How long have you been soaking?"

It took her a moment to respond. "Why are you here?"

Instead of answering, Hamilton approached and lifted her out of the tub, ignoring

her protests.

"Hamilton, let me go!"

He just chuckled and carried her to the bed, where she wrapped herself in a sheet and kicked at him, but he caught her foot and leaned closer, making her tense up.

"Scared?" he whispered, sensing her fear.

Avoiding his gaze, she admitted softly, "Yes."

Hamilton embraced her gently. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you."

Trying to suppress her rising emotions, Natalia whispered back, "I think someone's behind this."

"I know. Rest now, and leave the rest to me."

After a moment of silence, she agreed.

Hamilton lay beside her, pulling her into his embrace. Surrounded by his strong heartbeat and warmth, Natalia found herself not wanting to pull away. She let her guard down, seeking comfort just for one night.

She fell asleep without realizing it, and Hamilton kissed her forehead before drying her hair with a towel and picking up his phone.

"Mr. Fowler, that car seemed to belong to the Powell family, but the mother and son haven't been in touch with them. It could be a coincidence."

"And there's been some unpleasant chatter in the department about Ms. Jenkins, probably Delilah's doing."

Hamilton's expression darkened.

"Why wasn't I informed earlier?"

Killian hesitated. "Ms. Jenkins didn't want it mentioned."

Hamilton scoffed, "Seems like the lesson wasn't enough for Delilah."

Delilah was fuming after her encounter at the hotel, causing a scene until her grandfather, Magnus, intervened, criticizing her impatience.

"If Natalia is pregnant, Hamilton will never be rid of her!" she cried.

Magnus dismissed her fears, "Even if she is, she has to survive first. The Schafers and the Fowlers won't let her be."

Despite her frustration, Delilah calmed down after Magnus's reassurance. But then, a call from the Foreign Affairs Department interrupted her.

The next morning, Ryan called Natalia, but Hamilton urged her to stay in bed a bit longer.

Awakening fully, she admired Hamilton's rugged appearance before reality and embarrassment from the night before set in.

Ignoring her request for her phone, Hamilton playfully suggested she was trying to escape responsibility.

"Hamilton, my stomach!" she protested when he teased her further.

"Relax, I won't hurt the baby. Just you," he replied with a smirk, which only annoyed her more.

Pushing him away, she dressed

hastily, her actions drawing his

intense gaze, which pro

throw a pillow at him in frustration. noveldrama

Hamilton laughed, "Maybe this isn't the best morning view." After saying that, he stood up and headed towards the bathroom.

Shortly, the sound of running water could be heard from inside.

Natalia looked down, suppressing the turmoil in her heart. She straightened her clothes and then dialed Ryan.

"Ryan, what's up? Calling me so early?"

Ryan's voice carried a hint of amusement, "I guess I was just too excited and

didn't look at the time before calling."

Natalia chuckled, "It's okay. What's the matter?"

"Delilah got fired from the Foreign Affairs Department."

As soon as Ryan finished, Natalia froze in shock.

"What did you say? Ryan, can you repeat that?"

With a laugh, Ryan said it again.

"Delilah was fired, the evidence of her bribing the judges during the last artifact repatriation, the anonymous letter she wrote framing you and Minister Dawson, and this time the dubious proofs she spread about you leveraging connections for your position-all of it was unearthed overnight. The ethics committee and the Foreign Affairs Department have already issued her a notice. You can check the internal network for details."

Natalia quickly ended the call and logged into the internal network.

There it was, a notice about Delilah's dismissal prominently displayed.

Natalia clicked to view it, and indeed, it clearly stated that Delilah was

eine

permanently dismissed fromcontent

Foreign Affairs Depart the

Holding her phone, Natalia felt dazed.

The bathroom door opened, and Hamilton walked out.

He wrapped his arms around her from behind.

Natalia felt a chill up her spine.

Coming back to her senses, she asked in a low voice.

"Did you have something to do with Delilah's downfall?"