The next day, Scarlett pulled into the hospital parking lot. Just as she was about to step out, Elliott was already there, opening her car door for her.


    Scarlett was taken aback for a moment, and upon recognizing him, a wave of irritation flooded her.


    "Seriously? You''re still showing up, haunting me like a bad penny!"


    "Didn''t you get enough hydrationst night?" she quipped, barely hiding her disdain.


    Elliott, fuming, retorted, "Can you believe it''s actually you! Scarlett, what on earth did I do to deserve this? Do you have any idea how ridiculous I looked runningps around the blockst night just to burn off those energy drinks you dumped on me? People thought I had lost my marbles!"


    Scarlett was unimpressed. "Don''t insult people who''ve lost their marbles. Even they wouldn''t be caught dead visiting a maternity ward as a man!"


    "Why do you think I''m here if not because you''ve been on my case? If you hadn''t been hurling insults at me, would I, a grown man, be seen dead in a maternity ward?"


    Scarlett scoffed, "Calling you out is the least of what you deserve for siding with that snake."


    Anyone who had ever stood up for Eveleen, for whatever reason, deserved scorn in Scarlett''s book.


    Elliott choked on his words.


    He pondered for a moment, realizing that maybe he had defended Eveleen once or twice.


    But back then, he was clueless about Eveleen''s true colors.


    And he always thought that Natalia and Hamilton''s thing was purely physical, nothing emotional.


    "So, I''ve stopped defending her now, haven''t I?"


    "Once a turd, always a turd, no matter if you decide not to be one anymore. Do you think you can just wash off the stink?"


    Elliott felt a wave of nausea at her analogy.


    How did he be the turd in her story?


    "Are you even a woman? How can you say such things so casually?" he protested.


    Scarlett nced down at his lower half. "Are you sure you''re a man? Keep hanging around the maternity ward, and I might just help you experience womanhood firsthand!" With that, she mmed her car door shut and marched inside.


    Elliott, seething, followed her in.


    "Now my brother thinks I''m impotent, Scarlett. You have to take responsibility for this mess!"


    "I''ll take responsibility for nothing!" Scarlett was about tosh out when her expression suddenly changed.


    Her fiery demeanor softened into a shy, demure smile as she greeted someone.


    "Emeric."


    Emeric nodded at her, then turned to Elliott.


    "What brings you to our hospital?"


    Elliott nced at Scarlett before admitting to Emeric in a lowered voice, "Just here for some errands. You working?"


    Emeric confirmed with a nod, "Catch up for a drink sometime?"


    Elliott didn''t refuse. It was only after Emeric had left that he scoffed, "So, he''s your type?"


    Scarlett ignored him and continued on her way, with Elliott stubbornly in tow.


    "Maybe I can y matchmaker for you?"


    Scarlett paused, "You know Dr. Shaw well?"


    Elliott chuckled, "Well enough. Emeric sometimes hangs out with our crowd."


    Scarlett''s disdain returned. "Great, Dr. Shaw''s probably tainted by your crowd''s stench by now!"


    Elliott''s face twitched in annoyance as they stepped into the elevator together.


    "Why do you have such a low opinion of us? We''re not saints, but we''re not as bad as you think."


    Scarlett ignored him, pressing a button for a floor.


    Elliott continued, "I was out of the loop back then. If I had known, I would''ve sided with Natalia. Can''t we just bury the hatchet? I''ll connect you with Emeric, and you stop cursing me out." Scarlett remained silent, stepping out of the elevator when the doors opened. She pushed Elliott into an office.


    "Ryan, my friend here has erectile dysfunction. He''s too embarrassed toe by himself, so can you check him out?"


    Ryan responded, "No problem, let''s see what we can do. Is itpletely non-functional? Just be honest, no need to be shy."


    It took a moment for Elliott to realize what had happened, and by then, he was red with rage.


    "Scarlett! I''m perfectly fine!"


    Scarlett pushed him towards Ryan and left without looking back.


    In the following days, Natalia was swamped with work.


    The NorthSuburb project demanded all her time, leaving her barely any moment for rest or meals.


    Hamilton tried reaching out several times, but she was too preupied.


    Yet, whatever Hamilton wanted her to know always found its way to her, clear as day.


    Like the time Westley tried to y matchmaker between Hamilton and Delh at a family dinner, only for Hamilton to make a scene.


    The Fowlers had a fallout, and Delh returned to Boria City the next day.


    Or how Hamilton''s injuries were healing well, and even his daily routines were ryed to Natalia by Killian, eager to keep her in the loop. Natalia found it all rather exhausting.


    "Killian, can you not bother me with this nonsense?" she sighed.


    Killian considered this for a moment. "Mr. Fowler thought you''d be worried about him."


    "I''m not," Natalia bit back.


    "But Mr. Fowler mentioned he''s quite concerned about you. Hopes you''re eating well despite your busy schedule," Killian ryed. Natalia''s grip on her pen tightened. That damned man.


    After a moment of silence, she murmured a thanks to be passed on to Hamilton and headed to a meeting.


    But before she could get there, Hamilton''s call came through.


    Natalia hesitated for a split second before answering.


    "Why are you calling now?"


    "Just missed you, is that so wrong?" Hamilton''s voice carried a hint of amusement.


    Natalia pursed her lips, "I have a meeting."


    Hamilton hummed in response, not indicating any intention to hang up.


    Growing impatient, Natalia finally said, "I have to go."


    Hamilton suddenly called out to her, "Hold on a sec, Natalia. Aren''t you guys about to start working on the bid proposal?"


    Natalia was taken aback, not expecting Hamilton to bring this up out of the blue.


    "Yeah, what about it?"


    Hamilton said, "You might want to prepare two copies of that proposal."


    Natalia almost instantly caught his drift.


    She smiled faintly, swallowing the words that had almost escaped her lips, and simply said, "Got it."


    Hamilton hummed in response, "There''s something else."


    Natalia listened attentively, but was surprised when Hamilton simply said, "I''ve been missing you."


    Something stirred in Natalia''s heart. "I''m hanging up now."


    With that, she ended the call.


    Hamilton chuckled at the disconnected call.


    Alden, puzzled, asked, "Bro, why didn''t you just tell Natalia who it was, so she wouldn''t have to prepare two versions of the proposal? She''s already swamped as it is." Hamilton''s gaze grew deep, "Some things need to y out naturally before we can gather evidence."


    Alden opened his mouth to speak, thenughed, realizing he was perhaps too naive.


    Hamilton stood in his office, his gaze fixed outside the window, "How''s the situation with our younger brother?"


    Alden replied, "He''s beenying low, probably got a warning from grandpa, but I think he''s getting restless." Hamilton took out a cigarette but didn''t light it.


    His expression turned cold, "Then let''s contact Mr. Martinez, time to throw a bigger bait."N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Alden''s eyes flickered, "Understood."


    When Natalia finally left the conference room, it was well past midnight.


    She ordered somete-night snacks for everyone before leaving with Killian.


    However, just as they were exiting thepany''s main entrance, she saw Hamilton leaning against his car, arms crossed.


    Natalia paused in her tracks.


    Killian had already turned and left.


    She looked at Killian''s retreating back with a sigh, then walked towards Hamilton.


    He seemed to be in better spirits than a few days ago, though his expression carried a hint of reproach, probably due to her recent coldness.


    Natalia stopped a few steps away from him and asked softly, "What brings you here sote? How have you been feeling? Better?" Hamilton felt a bittersweet ache in his heart.


    "If I hadn''te, Ms. Jenkins here might havepletely forgotten about me."


    Natalia nced at him, "Killian''s been nagging me non-stop."


    Hamilton came over, scooped her up in his arms, and carried her to his car.


    "Hungry? I can take you to get somefort food."


    Natalia shook her head, "Not hungry, just tired."


    Hamilton looked at her with deep affection.


    "Is this project really worth all this effort?"


    Natalia nodded, "It''s very important to me."


    Hamilton felt an even sharper pang of jealousy.


    "So, Ronin keeps saying he likes you, and he''s okay with you working yourself to the bone?"


    Natalia shot him a look, "This is my choice. What does it have to do with Ronin?"


    Hamilton was still irked, feeling somehow the project was ultimately for his benefit.


    "Want me to find you some reliable help?"


    Natalia shook her head, "No need. I won''t be here long anyway. Once this project goes live, I''ll be leaving Ron Group."


    Hamilton paused, "And then?"


    Natalia thought for a moment, "Head to Boria City."


    Hamilton felt a wave of irritation, "What about me?"


    Natalia nced at him, "You have Ivy Gemstone and the Fowler family." Hamilton''s expression darkened, "You know that''s not what I''m talking about." Natalia fell silent for a moment, "Hamilton, I need to have my own career." After a pause, she added, "And, I don''t want to always be looked down upon."