Natalia paused for a moment, her voice cool as she delivered her parting shot. "This is none of Mr. Fowler''s business anymore."


    With that, she strode into the building, the click of her high heels echoing down the hallway.


    Alden stood by the car, transfixed by the sight of Natalia.


    She seemed so different now. Sure, she was as beautiful as ever, but there was this newyer of detached independence about her.<fn6ef1> Fresh chapters posted on F?nd-Novel</fn6ef1>


    "Bro, did you even try talking to Natalia?" Hamilton leaned back in his seat, letting out a rueful chuckle.


    "Talk about what?"


    The past?


    Their child?


    It had been three years since Hamilton had touched a cigarette.


    Aftering back from abroad, he had quit smoking. But now, the urge struck him fiercely.


    Natalia arrived home to find Scarlett just waking up.


    Natalia had left that summer, and Scarlett had gone abroad for further studies, only returning a few days ago, still jetgged.


    Stretchingnguidly, Scarlett wandered into the kitchen for a ss of water.


    "Won''t you have trouble sleeping tonight if you''re up now?" Natalia asked, her toneced with mild exasperation.


    Scarlett suddenly cursed under her breath.


    "Why is Hamilton''s car downstairs?"


    Natalia''s movement of changing her shoes paused momentarily.


    "He drove me home."


    Scarlett nearly choked on her water.


    "You''ve seen him already?"


    Natalia carefully removed her earrings, cing them gently into a jewelry box inside her bag, before finally speaking, "I was the one who reached out to him."


    Scarlett rushed over in disbelief.


    "You reached out to him? Natalia, what are you thinking?"


    She remembered how devastated Natalia had been when she left. Hamilton had been so cruel, Scarlett couldn''t imagine Natalia would ever consider getting back with him.


    Natalia avoided her gaze.


    "I''m back to explore the domestic market, right? Silkwood City is now thergest hub for international trade here, so naturally, it''s my first stop. Anding here... I had to see Hamilton."


    Scarlett frowned. "Just for business?"


    Natalia moved towards the kitchen, pouring herself a ss of water. She looked down at Hamilton''s car, still parked outside, before replying, "What else is there to talk about between us?"


    Scarlett was skeptical. "And he agreed?"


    Natalia was silent for a moment. "He will."


    Scarlett opened her mouth to object but then hesitated, finally asking, "Natalia, if —just if—your child was still alive, do you think there''d still be a chance for you two?"


    Natalia stiffened at the question. If their child was still alive...


    She likely would never have left.


    Laughing sadly, tears began to trace her cheeks.


    "Scarlett, there are no ''ifs'' in this world."


    Regretting bringing up such a sensitive topic, Scarlett quickly changed the subject. "Alright, let''s not talk about it. What do you feel like eating? I''ll cook."


    "A bowl of pasta," Natalia suggested, wiping away her tears.


    "Sure thing."


    After her shower, Natalia''s phone rang. It was Bertram.


    "I''ve checked out those partnership prospects from the charity event tonight and sent the details to your phone. Let me know when you''re free, and I''ll set up the meetings?"


    Natalia browsed through thepany names on her phone, pausing at one in particr.


    "I''m busy tomorrow during the day. Schedule a meeting with Lionel Larkin from Lio Law Firm for the evening."


    She paused, then added, "Book it at the bistro beneath the Amor Group''s headquarters."


    Bertram acknowledged with a chuckle.


    "You''re home then?"


    Natalia nonchntly confirmed, drying her hair as she walked back to the dining


    area.


    Bertram teased, "I thought you and Hamilton would at least have a dramatic showdown."


    Natalia grimaced. "Bertram, cut it with the idioms."


    "Did I use it wrong?"


    "All you do is make me regret teaching you!"


    With that, Natalia hung up.


    Scarlett was at the dining table, scrolling through videos as she ate her pasta.


    Natalia nced at her. "How are things with Elliott?"


    Scarlett hesitated. "What could possibly be happening between us?"


    Natalia smiled, "I heard he visited you a few times while you were abroad."


    "That was just him checking out the local hospital''s attractive doctors, finding excuses to pick fights with me."


    "And you? Still got a thing for Emeric?"


    Scarlett nodded, "Absolutely. Emeric''s the dream."


    "Hasn''t he settled down yet?"


    Scarlett grinned mischievously. "Nope. Broke up with his girlfriendst month. Perfect timing for my return, right?"


    Natalia shook her head in amusement. "Ever looked into him more seriously?"


    Scarlett shook her head. "Why bother? Background? Hees from a good family. Morals? Better to discover them myself than hear from others."


    Natalia was at a loss for words.


    After dinner, Natalia worked on some business before deciding to turn in. Noticing Natalia reaching for her sleeping pills, Scarlett frowned.


    "Still can''t sleep on your own?"


    Natalia offered a resigned smile. "Seems like it''s incurable."


    Scarlett''s expression was filled with sympathy as she inwardly cursed Hamilton


    once more, hoping he''d act quickly to spare Natalia any further pain.


    The next morning, dressed in a sleek ck dress, Natalia bought flowers and drove to the cemetery.


    It was a beautiful day. As she ascended the steps, she froze.


    Someone was already at her mother''s grave.


    Today was the anniversary of her mother''s death.


    She hadn''t expected Hamilton to be there.


    Arge bouquet of lilies rested in front of the grave, the man d in ck stood


    there, as if he had been there for hours.


    Feeling her gaze upon him, he turned his head to look over in her direction.


    Natalia''s long hair was tied back in a high ponytail, her fair and unadorned face was still breathtakingly beautiful.


    Hamilton felt an involuntary lump form in his throat.


    "Did you make it?" he asked in a low voice.


    Natalia nodded, walking over to stand beside him. She ced her bunch of


    flowers next to Hamilton''s, right in front of the small gravestone.


    Hamilton''s gaze shifted slightly.


    He wanted to move those flowers to Tatiana''s grave but ultimately restrained


    himself.


    "Do youe here every year?"


    Natalia asked quietly.


    "Yeah, I make sure to spend some time here every year."


    "Thank you."


    Hamilton chuckled, "No need to thank me. She was once like a mother-inw to


    me."


    Once.


    Natalia let out a small sigh, feeling a tightness in her chest as she crouched down.


    She stared at the inscription ''Beloved'' on the small gravestone for a long while before asking, "Hamilton, do you have a picture of your child? Did you ever take a photo of her after she was born? I want to see what she looked like."


    Hamilton stiffened for a moment before finally saying, "No."


    Natalia gave a bitter smile and nodded.


    Hamilton didn''t stay much longer, his phone rang shortly after.


    He nced at it, then back at Natalia.


    Natalia was still looking at the small gravestone.


    Hamilton turned to answer the call a few steps away.


    "Bro, Killian and Amora justnded."