Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart (Natalia and Hamilton) novel Chapter 185

Hamilton's words were filled with sincerity, but Natalia found them utterly laughable. Protect her? He had made that promise before. How did that turn out?

"Hamilton, can you please stop hounding me?" she implored.

Hamilton stiffened, a bitter expression crossing his face as he looked at her. "Do you really think all this mess is because I've been hounding you?"

Natalia harbored resentment towards him. She had to admit that Ryan's family was a hurdle she was never going to clear. Even if not today, eventually, she would have had to face them. But if it hadn't been for Hamilton's relentless interference, she wouldn't be humiliated by those embarrassing photos.

Her eyes, red with unshed tears, bore into him. "At least those photos are your fault!"

Hamilton was seething inside. "Natalia, can't you see? You and Ryan... it was never going to work out."

She didn't want to hear it, glaring at him instead. "Are you leaving, or am I?"

After uttering those words, she made to get out of the car.

Hamilton caught her arm. "Where will you go?"

"I'll take a cab back!"

With a choked laugh, Hamilton finally said, "Natalia, you're something else, you know that? Always so fierce with me!"

She glared back. "Get lost, Hamilton!"

Frowning, he reluctantly exited the car. Watching Natalia's car pull away, he headed for his own vehicle. On his way, he dialed Ryan's number.

"Ryan, if Natalia suffers one more slight, I swear I'll tear down the Holzer family mansion brick by brick!"

As Natalia drove off, her tears finally broke free. Ryan's calls kept coming, but she didn't answer. She was too emotionally unstable to have a proper conversation.

Upon returning home, Scarlett was already there, concerned at the sight of Natalia's red eyes. "What's wrong? Ryan called me, sounded worried. Natalia, what happened?"

Shaking her head, Natalia just said, "Nothing, I need a shower."

Scarlett persisted, sensing there was more. "Who's been messing with you? Was it Hamilton again, that jerk? Or Eveleen, that witch?"

Fresh tears threatened to spill from Natalia's eyes. She shook her head again. "I'll tell you after I'm out."

Post-shower, Natalia felt a bit calmer and rang Ryan back. His voice was anxious as the call connected. "Natalia, are you okay?"

She offered a wry smile. "I'm fine."

"I'm sorry for the trouble at home, but don't worry. I'll handle it," Ryan assured her.

After a pause, Natalia spoke up. "Honestly, Ryan, I've always worried whether your family could accept me. I won't deny my past isn't pretty, but I wanted to give myself a chance, to fight for it. But now, it seems unlikely."

Today's encounter with Mavis, Ryan's aunt, while not representative of the Holzer family's stance, was telling. If she could confront Natalia like that, the family must be aware.

"So Ryan, maybe we should just drop it."

"No way," Ryan's voice turned steely. "You can't give up just like that. Leave the Holzer family to me. I'll sort it out. Wait for my word, okay?"

The call ended, and Natalia was left staring at the disconnected line. She had a feeling she knew the outcome. The Holzer family's disapproval was a hard fact, one compounded by today's ugly incident with the aunt. But she knew, without a chance, Ryan would not be content.

At the table, lost in her thoughts, Scarlett couldn't hold back any longer. "So, Ryan's family disapproves?"

"How about I stay and spend New Year's with you?" Scarlett couldn't help but offer. When Ryan had first started dating Natalia, he had promised to spend New Year's Eve with her, setting off fireworks. Now, it seemed that those plans would go unfulfilled.

Natalia chuckled, "No need. I've spent New Year's alone for so many years, there's nothing special about this one."

"Then, why not come and spend it with my family?"

Again, Natalia laughed, "I'm planning to spend it at the hospital with my mom."

Scarlett nodded in understanding after a moment's thought.

Natalia had braced herself for a sleepless night, yet perhaps it was the wine, she drifted off sooner than expected. But in the middle of the night, her sleep was shattered by the jarring ring of her cellphone. Blearily, she saw it was Ryan calling.

Sitting up, she stared at the screen flashing 'Ryan' for a few seconds before answering. "Ryan."

"Natalia, come downstairs."

She paused, "You're in Silkwood City?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, wait for me."

As she reached the ground floor, she saw Ryan standing where Hamilton often did, his face bearing a hint of injury. In almost an instant, Natalia realized that she and Ryan had likely reached the end of the road. Still, she asked, "Ryan, did you have a falling out with your family?"

Ryan didn't answer. Instead, he stepped forward and took Natalia's hand in his. "Natalia, I'd give up anything for you. What about you?"