Echoes of a Forsaken Heart novel Chapter 157

Natalia didn't want to provoke the man before her. Thus,

She remained silent.

Hamilton let out a snort of disdain and then asked, “Enjoying your breakfast?”

Natalia pursed her lips before responding, “It’s quite good. Have you eaten, Mr. Fowler?”

Hamilton's face darkened considerably.

He hadn’t eaten, and he had no appetite.

His heart wasn’t as big as hers seemed to be.

She had just ended a relationship of over three years, and here she was, able to have a cheerful breakfast with another man.

“You're so easily pleased, huh? A simple breakfast, and you're all smiles?” The sourness in Hamilton’s voice was unmistakable.

Natalia found it hard to ignore.

She couldn’t be bothered to indulge in this pointless exchange with him anymore and instead greeted the secretary from the collaborating firm with a nod.

Hamilton, feeling thoroughly ignored, looked even more displeased.

The secretary approached Natalia with a friendly smile.

“Ms. Jenkins, was that your boyfriend who brought you breakfast?”

Natalia chuckled and shook her head.

“No, not my boyfriend, just a friend.”

The secretary gave her a knowing grin, “Not yet, maybe, but I bet it won’t be long. I saw that little hair ruffle – quite the flirtatious move! And he’s so handsome, you two would make a picture-perfect couple.”

Hamilton couldn’t help but huff at that.

Perfect couple? As if.

Ryan was nothing like Natalia's type.

At least, that was what he liked to think. But as he stewed over it, his brows furrowed involuntarily.

What was Natalia's type anyway? Clearly not someone like him, or why would she have left so decisively?

Perhaps Ryan was exactly her type.

The more Hamilton thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt.

Natalia heard his scoff loud and clear.

She shot Hamilton a look that wasn’t entirely friendly and turned back to the secretary to reiterate, “We’re really just friends.”

The secretary waved it off, “Oh, I get it. Future boyfriend, then.”

She winked at Natalia, who didn’t bother correcting her again, sensing that it might just make things worse.

As the elevator doors opened, Natalia stepped inside with the secretary.

Hamilton remained outside, his gaze fixed on Natalia, feeling the weight of the word 'boyfriend.' Not so long ago, he had claimed to be her boyfriend in front of Ryan. And now, the term had seemingly shifted to Ryan.

Hamilton never imagined a day when Natalia would openly introduce someone else as her boyfriend. The thought had never even crossed his mind. But suddenly, it seemed like a very real possibility.

He felt as if a boulder was pressing down on his chest, making it hard to breathe.

The secretary, noticing his hesitation, called out, “Mr. Fowler, aren’t you coming?”

Hamilton finally tore his gaze away from Natalia and stepped into the elevator.

His mood was visibly sour, and it cast a pall over the negotiation meeting that day.

The meeting ended around noon, and thankfully, they had made some progress, reaching a tentative agreement.

The collaborating firm was headed by a Mr. Bran.

Exiting the meeting room, Mr. Bran turned to Hamilton with a smile, “Mr. Fowler, care to join us for lunch?”

Hamilton wasn’t in the mood, but he glanced at Natalia. If she was going, he might be persuaded to join.

Natalia was packing up when the secretary called out.

“Ms. Jenkins, your boyfriend is here to pick you up.”

Natalia paused and looked outside, seeing Ryan standing at the door, his tailored suit and poised stance drawing admiring glances.