Natalia didn’t answer Hamilton’s question. All she wanted to do was wriggle out of his grip and take a


    cold shower to clear her head.


    But Hamilton wasn’t about to let her go.


    “Let me go, Hamilton. You have to let me go!”


    Natalia felt like a fish out of water, desperate for the soothing embrace of the sea. She was inexplicably


    drawn to the man before her, yet her mind was in turmoil, fighting the impulse.


    “I need to take a shower, Hamilton; let me go.”


    Hamilton’s brow furrowed deeply. It was then he realized that the red mark on her face wasn’t the only


    thing off about her.


    Her temperature and overall state were far from normal. The thought of what might be afflicting her


    turned his face as cold as a b of ice. Suddenly, he gripped her wrist, trapping her in his


    arms.


    “Natalia, where have you been? Who did you meet? What did you eat?”


    Natalia could barely make out what Hamilton was saying, fighting against her own instincts.


    She wanted him, this man.


    But deep down, she didn’t want to beg him for anything.


    She bit down on her lip so hard the taste of iron spread in her mouth, but she didn’t loosen her grip.


    Hamilton held her even tighter. Seeing her lips were already bleeding, he pinched her chin, forcing her


    to release the bite.


    His voice was chilling, his eyes zing with an almost tangible fire. “Who did you meet? What did you


    eat? Answer me!”


    Natalia’s eyes reddened, her voice trembling with the agony of the drug coursing through her. But the


    pain Hamilton inflicted by squeezing her chin brought back a sliver of rity.


    She clutched at his shirt, knuckles white. “Gideon Chappelle, he wanted to see the vi.”


    Hamilton’s eyes narrowed dangerously.


    “Did he drug you? Did he touch you?”


    “No! I told him… I belong to you, and he stopped.”


    Hamilton’s expression didn’t soften.


    She whispered, “Can you let me go now? Hamilton, I really need that shower.”


    Hearing her plead, a wave of awkwardness washed over Hamilton. Even now, she was pushing


    12:09


    him away.


    Annoyed, he tightened his grip on her chin. “Let you go? Natalia, at a time like this, you should be


    begging me to hold you tighter, not to let go!”


    Her eyes, red with unfulfilled desire, refused to utter the words “Hold me tighter.”


    Once again, she bit her lip, blood nearly dripping down her chin.


    Hamilton felt a surge of anger watching the woman in his arms, her face flushed, and lips


    bloodied from restraint. A sense of helplessness crept up on him.


    “Natalia, is it really that hard to yield to me? Would you rather suffer like this thane back to


    me?”


    Natalia felt like she was dying.


    Whether from dehydration or drowning, she wasn’t sure. It was like being seventeen at the seaside


    again, surrounded by an endless ocean without a glimmer of hope.


    Hamilton was right there, but she didn’t want him to save her again.


    She knew too well. He was both a vortex and an abyss. Once trapped, escape is nigh impossible.


    Her dampshes trembled as she lifted her gaze.


    Her voice shook as she uttered, “Hamilton, let me go… I’m begging you.”


    Hamilton sneered and scooped her into his arms, heading for the bedroom.


    “Natalia, the only way I’d let you go is over my dead body!”


    That night, Natalia was tossed and turned countless times.


    Gideon’s drug, specifically imported to coercepliance from the reluctant stars at hispany, was


    exceptionally potent.


    When its effects finally wore off, and dawn began to break, Natalia finally fell into a deep sleep.


    Hamilton sat by the bed, his gaze heavy upon her.


    It was a long time before he stood up and stepped outside for a smoke.


    Whether it was the smallness of Natalia’s rented room or something else, despite a night of passionate


    lovemaking, Hamilton felt an oppressive heaviness in his chest.


    Leaning against the window, he took a deep drag of his cigarette and let out a wryugh. He was


    surprised to find himself feeling a twinge of sympathy for the woman.


    Hamilton, feeling sympathy? It wasughable. He wasn’t supposed to experience such emotions.


    Yet, watching Nataliast night, he felt it unmistakably.


    12-09


    He had thought he wouldn’t care.


    When she wanted to leave, he let her go. So when he wanted her back, he was prepared to use


    any means necessary.


    He never hesitated to employ those means with Natalia. But now, he hesitated, feeling an


    unfamiliar reluctance.


    A game that had been quite enjoyable had suddenly lost its appeal.


    It was tedious, no longer worth ying, and he no longer wished to torment her.


    As the cigarette burnt down to the filter, Hamilton exhaled a cloud of smoke and made a phone call.


    When Natalia woke up, it was already noon.


    She forced her aching body out of bed, and after freshening up, she noticed several missed calls on


    her phone.


    Frowning, she saw they were all from Tatiana’s attending physician.


    Startled, she quickly returned the call. “Doctor, is there a problem with my mom?”


    “No, Ms. Jenkins,” the doctor replied, “I just wanted to inform you that Mr. Fowler said your mother’s


    medication can continue at the previous discount.”


    Natalia’s mouth hung open for a moment before she managed to say, “Okay, I got it, thank you.” After


    hanging up, she took a while to process the news. Then, she dialed Hamilton directly.


    Hamilton was in a meeting, but at the sight of the call, he picked up right in front of thepany’s


    executives.


    “Awake?”


    His voice surprisingly carried a hint of warmth.


    Natalia pursed her lips. “Thank you, Mr. Fowler.”


    Hamilton chuckled. “If you want to thank me, show some real gratitude. You know I don’t care for mere


    words of thanks.”


    Natalia suddenly found herself at a loss for words. After a long silence, she offered, “I’ll cook you dinner


    tonight.”


    Hamiltonughed softly. “I’m not short of a maid or a chef.”


    He paused and said, “Think it over and call me when you’re ready.”


    With that, he hung up the phone.


    Natalia stared at the disconnected call, her fingers tightening around her phone. She knew what


    Hamilton meant; she just didn’t want to ept it.


    But now, for some reason, she was at a loss.


    She could withstand his pressure, but she was somewhat at sea about how to deal with this kind of


    concession from him.


    Sighing softly, Natalia put away her phone, gathered her things, and headed to the office.


    As soon as she arrived at thepany, Tess did a double–take. “Boss, I thought you were under the


    weather. What brings you back so soon?”


    A flicker of difort crossed Natalia’s face. “Just felt better, so I came in,” she said.


    Tess came over and checked Natalia’s forehead for a fever before she rxed.


    The annualpany recap meeting was just around the corner.


    Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Natalia had nned to review the year’s work one more time.


    But just as she settled down, her phone rang. It was Linda.


    “Ms. Jenkins, I’ve got a Spanish contract here that needs tranting. Could you take a look for me?”


    “Sure.” Natalia responded, heading upstairs.


    No sooner had she stepped out of the elevator than she heard a loud bang, followed by several


    bodyguards bursting out of the CEO’s office. Momentster, they were dragging someone out.


    Linda quickly pulled Natalia aside. Still, Natalia got a good look at the man.


    It was Orpheus Fowler.


    “Oh, Orpheus Fowler,” Linda whispered into Natalia’s ear. “He’s been causing a ruckus again since this


    morning. Word is, Mr. Hamilton Fowler has been cleaning house–anything tied to Orpheus that could


    be salvaged has been, anything that couldn’t be was trashed.”


    Orpheus had never seen eye to eye with Hamilton. He had been diligent within the Fowler family for


    years.


    But Westley only had eyes for Hamilton. No matter how hard Orpheus worked, the old man seemed


    blind to it. That was why Orpheus had repeatedly challenged Hamilton.


    Hamilton hadn’t taken it too seriously before, but this time, he had struck back with a vengeance,


    destroying all of Orpheus’s assets.


    Linda kept muttering into Natalia’s ear, rying the drama.


    Natalia wasn’t too familiar with the feud among the Fowler brothers, but she could guess that this


    incident was probably rted to that young man from the other night.


    She didn’t say much, her mind elsewhere as she looked over the contract in her hands.


    12:09


    Orpheus’s curses echoed across the top floor. “Hamilton, you bastard, don’t think you’re so much


    cleaner than me. Do you really think you have everything under your control? One of these days, I’ll


    make you kneel and beg for forgiveness!”


    Natalia kept her eyes downcast on the contract but suddenly felt a sticky, chilling gaze on her. She


    startled and looked up, only to see the closing elevator doors.


    “You know, Mr. Fowler can be pretty heartless. They’re brothers, after all. Isn’t this a bit too much?”


    Linda couldn’t help but murmur into Natalia’s ear.


    Natalia pursed her lips and stayed silent. She was still pondering the illusion of that brief moment.


    Until Hamilton’s voice came from the office. “Natalia,e in.”