Hamilton didn''t even let out a peep when he got clocked, but now Natalia''s pressing had him groaning involuntarily. "Natalia!"


    With a swift move, he grabbed her wrist and flipped her onto the couch beneath him.


    Hamilton was shirtless, his bare torso now pressing against her, the contact burning like a wildfire on their skin.


    Every nerve in Natalia''s body tensed up.


    "Hamilton, if you so much as twitch, I''ll scream rape!"


    "Natalia," his voice was huskier, "I''m a red-blooded man. It''s been a long while since I''ve been with a woman, so a reaction is normal. Or would you rather I felt nothing at all?"


    As he spoke, he had the audacity to press against her a little more deliberately this time.


    Natalia''s face flushed with anger, "Even if you were castrated, I wouldn''t care one bit!"


    Hamilton''s face soured in an instant.


    "Natalia, after all, we''ve always clicked in this department, and now you curse me like this?"


    She stiffened further, "What you think is clicking is just your imagination."


    Hamilton red at her, "Are you saying I''m not skilled?"


    Their current position was precarious, with Hamilton still pressed against her.


    She really didn''t want to continue this kind of conversation.


    "Hamilton, if you''re that starved for femalepany, go find someone else! I''m sick to death of you!"


    A vein throbbed on Hamilton''s forehead.


    "You''re sick of it?"


    Natalia scoffed, "Of course, after multiple times a day, I''m not only sick of it, I feel like throwing up just thinking about it!" Hamilton''s face darkened, "I don''t believe you. Prove it."


    "Get lost!"


    Natalia struggled to get free.


    But the more she struggled, the deeper the glint in Hamilton''s eyes.


    "Don''t move, Natalia," he said harshly, hugging her tightly. "If you keep this up, I might really lose control."


    Enraged, Natalia grabbed the iodine on the table and sshed it on him without a second thought.


    Hamilton was drenched, the dark liquid staining his skin, dripping steadily.


    His expression turned stormy.


    "Natalia! Would it kill you to give me a hug? I just miss you, that''s all. I wouldn''t really force you, would I?"


    She pushed him away, standing up to distance herself from the couch.


    "Yes, it would kill!"


    Hamilton looked at the guarded woman before him, his mood growing heavier.


    "Fine, I won''t force you," he said before heading to the bathroom.


    "You heartless woman, I got hurt today protecting you."


    Natalia grabbed her things and headed for the door.


    Hamilton quickly stepped in front of her again.


    "The bruise needs massaging to heal properly!"


    Natalia nced at him, moved behind him, and roughly kneaded the bruised spot on his back.


    Hamilton winced, "Is this how you massage? Natalia, how can you be so rough!"


    Natalia wiped her hands with a tissue, looking at him with disdain, "Sorry for the rough touch, Mr. Fowler."


    Hamilton felt stifled. It seemed only this woman dared to treat him this way.


    But even though he was angry, he dared not say anything more.


    "I''ll be back tomorrow for more treatment."


    Natalia nced at him, "Who said you weren''t going to take advantage of me?" Hamilton


    They stood in the living room, staring each other down.


    The housekeeper peeked out from a room, saw the scene, and promptly retreated to the kitchen.


    Natalia


    Hamilton


    "I''m leaving."


    Natalia turned to go.


    Hamilton caught her wrist, "Wait for me after my shower; I have something to say to you."


    Natalia showed no intention of waiting.


    Hamilton stepped closer, "It''s true about the lead on Graham''s case. There''s something off with his ounts."


    Natalia paused.


    "What''s the problem?"


    Hamilton suggested, "Let''s talk over dinner."


    Natalia replied, "Alden can fill me in."


    Hamilton''s temple throbbed, "I found the lead, why should he tell you!"


    Natalia, clearly impatient, "I''ve got a date with Mr. Spiegel, I can''t waste time here with you."


    She had ns to meet Caspian for dinner and then check on Tatiana.


    Hamilton''s gaze darkened.


    "Does Caspian have that much free time?"


    Natalia didn''t want to continue the conversation and turned to leave.


    Hamilton followed, "Let''s all go together, Caspian won''t mind."


    "I mind."


    Just as Hamilton was about to retort, Natalia''s phone rang.


    It was Caspian.


    "Natalia, Bianca''s in trouble, I have to head back to Boria City. Let''s touch baseter."


    Caspian''s voice was urgent. Before Natalia could reply, he hung up.


    Hamilton noticed the call end and a smirk crept onto his face.


    "Caspian stood you up?"


    Natalia''s jaw clenched.


    Caspian''s tone was too frantic; she had never seen him like that.


    She was somewhat worried it might be something serious.


    After a moment''s thought, she opened WhatsApp and sent a few messages to Caspian.


    Hamilton watched her message Caspian, a wing sensation in his chest.


    She got along with everyone else just fine.


    Everyone but him.


    Even now, her phone and WhatsApp had his numbers on the cklist.


    "Let''s have dinner together, and I''ll tell you all about Graham," he pleaded, "I promise, it''s just dinner."


    Natalia fell silent.


    Ever since leaving the courthouse, Graham''s case had been on her mind.


    Graham waszy and indulgent, always either drinking or gambling.


    Sometimes, for just a few bucks, he''d go toe-to-toe with Tatiana in a knock-down, drag-out fight.


    But after Tatiana''s ident, it was as if he nevercked money.


    Even for thewsuit, he hired one of Silkwood City''s most renowned attorneys.


    The mental health certificate thewyer produced in the end mirrored the situation today.


    How much money did he have to bribe an attorney to cook up a fake mental health certificate?


    Natalia didn''t want to overthink it, but she couldn''t help it.


    Was it all just a coincidence, or was Tatiana''s ident not simply a result of Graham''s drunken antics? Hamilton was quick in the shower.


    In no time at all, he came out of the bathroom, fresh and clean.


    "What do you feel like eating? How about we hit up a diner? I heard there''s a new one that''s pretty decent."


    Natalia had no patience. "Anything''s fine."


    Hamilton ended up choosing the diner.


    They had barely sat down when Hamilton''s phone started to ring.Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    Elliott''s voice came through with a note of urgency.


    "Hamilton, I don''t know how the fans found out about Natalia''s mom, but now they''re all swarming the hospital. There are too many of them; security can''t hold them back!" Natalia''s face went pale. She stood up and bolted for the door.