Natalia stood rooted to the spot, silent.


    Her gaze fixed on the girl beside Hamilton, the message clear as day.


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    Aren’t you here for some fun too? She mused.


    At that moment, the girl was shooting daggers at Natalia with her eyes.


    “Mr. Fowler, who is this?” she asked.


    Hamilton didn’t respond to her question. Instead, he let his icy stare slowly travel over Natalia, sharp as


    a de. After what felt like an eternity, he finally turned to nce at the girl sitting next to him.


    “Leave.”


    She was taken aback by his bluntmand. “Mr. Fowler, what do you mean? I-”


    “Get out! Don’t you understand English?”


    The girl’s face turned pale as she stood up, a look of hurt on her face, and walked out.


    Once she was gone, Hamilton finally spoke. “Come here.”


    Natalia didn’t move. She had no desire to sit anywhere near him. Thankfully, Hamilton didn’t insist. He


    let out a cold snort, stood up, and approached Natalia, then turned his piercing gaze on the man next to


    her.


    “Ms. Jenkins, you into this kind of guy now?”


    The young man looked clean–cut and fresh–faced. Not bad–looking, indeed.


    The air around Hamilton grew even frostier.


    Natalia’s lips twitched slightly, and after a brief silence, she said, “No.”


    Hamilton’s eyebrows rose in a cold arch, his expression softening slightly, but in the next instant, he


    unexpectedly grabbed her by the nape of the neck, forcing her to look up at him.


    “Did you move out in such a hurry for this?”


    Natalia winced at his grip. Tears welled up in her eyes as she stared defiantly at the man before her.


    “Hamilton, this guy was shoved at me by your brother, Orpheus!”


    Hamilton’s eyes narrowed slightly. Then heughed mockingly, “Since when are you and Orpheus an


    item? Wasn’t Alden enough for you? Now Orpheus too?”


    “I have nothing to do with them!” Natalia’s eyes shed with defiance.


    “And he just randomly sends men your way?”


    Nataliaughed bitterly, locking eyes with him. “I’d love to know why he’s sending men to me!”


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    Hamilton’s gaze lingered on her, and finally, he let go, but that didn’t mean he had calmed down.


    He walked over to the young man. “How old are you?”


    The young man, already pale with fear, had not expected the woman he was with to be connected to


    Hamilton. Had he known, he would have never dared toe close.


    “T… twenty.” he stammered.


    Hamilton’s foot sent him flying out the door with a loud thud. The young man crashed heavily against it.


    Such direct violence was rare for Hamilton these days. Even his usual cronies in the private room were


    taken aback.


    Natalia stood stiffly to the side. She didn’t look at the young man again and made no further move to


    infuriate Hamilton.


    The young man’s lips were flecked with blood as he pleaded.


    “Mr. Fowler, I didn’t know. I didn’t know she was yours. Please, spare me. It’ll never happen again.”


    Hamilton strode over, crouched down, and yanked his head back. “Did you touch her?”


    The young man hurriedly shook his head. “No, I didn’t, not a single hair.”


    Hamilton tossed him aside like trash. He went to the table, pulled out a wet wipe, and began cleaning


    his hands, then turned to Natalia.


    “Ms. Jenkins, had your fun yet? Or should I find you another one?”


    Natalia looked at him and said, “I never yed the game.”


    Hamilton sneered and tossed the used wipe into the bin. He grabbed her hand and led her out


    of the room.


    Victor clicked his tongue in disbelief, “No way, Hamilton. You believe whatever she says? If she says


    they didn’t touch, they didn’t touch? What if they’ve already done it? Doesn’t that gross you out?”


    Hamilton ignored him, pulling Natalia out of the private room.


    Watching their retreating figures, Victor felt like he was choking on his frustration. He kicked the young


    man again, feeling a bit more relieved.


    Lately, Victor hadn’t been bothering Natalia much, but thoughts of her grew obsessively in his heart,


    unstoppable.


    Victor was tormented and increasingly unwilling to let go! He had heard about the friction between


    Natalia and Hamilton. And he thought that once Natalia left Hamilton, he’d have his chance with her,


    but she would rather hire a gigolo than turn to him!


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    Victor kicked the young man again in a fit of pique.


    Wretched woman!


    Hamilton, with Natalia in tow, headed straight for the parking lot.


    After pushing her into the car, he let out a mockingugh. “Ms. Jenkins, you always know how to


    surprise me.”


    Natalia remained silent. She didn’t feel at fault for what had happened tonight, but she knew Hamilton


    wouldn’t see it that way.


    “Why the sudden trip to Chamber Nightclub? Were you thinking about going back to old habits?”


    Natalia’s back stiffened at the barb. There was a clear sneer in his words, and she wasn’t deaf


    to it.


    “It’s the year–end party of my department,” she murmured.


    Hamiltonughed coldly. “So this is how your department usually parties?”


    Natalia’s mouth twitched, but she said nothing more.


    Hamilton nced at her, then let the matter drop.


    Back at home. Hamilton pushed Natalia onto the bed. “Ms. Jenkins, am I not satisfying you?”


    Natalia’s eyes were red with anger. “Hamilton, you know tonight wasn’t my fault!”


    Hamilton scoffed, “Really? Then why didn’t he set up someone else? Why you?”


    Natalia felt a tight knot of frustration in her chest.


    “You went out to find women too! Hamilton, why do you get to say that to me? You have all those


    women around you, why should you demand that I can’t even have a male friend? Hamilton, I’m just


    your lover, not your wife!”


    Hamilton’sughter was anything but joyful – it was the cold, hollow sound that preceded a winter


    storm. He regarded Natalia, her face defiant and unapologetic, and felt a fire ignite


    within him.


    “You want to be my wife, Natalia? You don’t make the cut,” he sneered before dragging her into


    the bathroom.


    “Clean yourself up, and get rid of the stench of other men!”


    Her eyes, fiery with anger, met his. “Then maybe you should do the same, Mr. Fowler. Otherwise, I find


    it repulsive!”


    Hamilton pinned her against the cool bathroom tiles with an unyielding gaze before his lips came


    crashing down upon hers, iming her in a kiss that was more of a conquest than a


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    caress.


    Natalia lost track of time under his relentless pursuit. His entry was emotionless and rougher than ever


    before, as deep as his disdain for convention. He had never imed to be a saint, and when he set out


    to torment her, he truly knew how to leave a mark. Yet throughout, she never once begged for mercy,


    though tears would sometimes fall unbidden.


    By the time he was finished, it was well past three in the morning.


    Natalia felt a sour ache in her core, her skin pale as she rose from the bed and slowly began to clothe


    herself in the scattered garments thaty about the room. She looked fragile, but an undeniable


    stubbornness set her jaw firm.


    For the first time, Hamilton realized that he might never have truly known her. He’d always thought of


    her aspliant, to the point of dullness. But now, he understood that herpliance was just a


    veneer. Underneathy a spirited defiance that matched his own.


    A pang of jealousy surged through him as he remembered how obediently she used to be around


    Ryan. Back then, she was truly acquiescent.


    Did she even remember who her real man was?


    Dressed now, Natalia made for the door, but Hamilton swiftly pulled her back into his arms.


    “Move back in tomorrow,” hemanded, a possessive edge to his voice that left no room for


    argument.


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