Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 170 Lucinda was in the midst of a full-blown meltdown, tears streaming down her face like a broken faucet.

Victor couldn't stand idly by any longer.

Rushing over, he helped Lucinda to her feet.

"Mrs. Schafer, please, don't panic. Hamilton didn't say he wouldn't help Eveleen." Hamilton squinted, a storm brewing in his eyes, but he refrained from speaking.

Eveleen emerged from the emergency room well past midnight.

Only then did everyone disperse, reassured she was okay.

Alden, standing by Hamilton's side, his expression grave, asked, "Hamilton, you're not getting involved with her again, are you?" Hamilton stared at the woman on the hospital bed, her face pale as death, his eyes a deep well of icy darkness. It felt like an eternity before he snapped back to reality and left the hospital.

Natalia was deep in slumber when Scarlett burst into the room in a frenzy. Blearily opening her eyes, Natalia mumbled, "What's up?" Scarlett frowned and handed her phone over, mouthing two words silently. "That jerk." Natalia's brow furrowed as she recognized Hamilton's number on the screen.

"Hamilton, are you out of your mind? Calling at this godforsaken hour?" Hamilton's voice cthrough, terse. "Cdownstairs, just need to ask you something." Then, he hung up.

Natalia stared at the disconnected call, her frown deepening.

"What's with him? Hamilton sounded off." Shaking her head, Natalia had no clue.

But she wasn't about to indulge him.

Telling Scarlett to head back, she lay down, intent on catching sZ's.

But rest proved elusive; she tossed and turned, unable to find sleep.

Outside, the pop and crackle of Christmas Eve fireworks filled the air.

After half an hour of restlessness, she got up, threw on a down jacket, and stepped out onto the balcony. Below, Hamilton stood in the falling snow, his shoulders dusted white. Hesitating for a moment, Natalia turned and made her way downstairs.

Hamilton looked up as she approached, and suddenly, the weight of Eveleen's troubles seemed to lift.

He forgot about her suicide attempt and their shared past.

If Natalia simply said she was willing, he'd let it all go.

A cold laugh escaped Hamilton's lips, but he knew deep down he couldn't abandon Eveleen.

Because she was Evi.

Anyone could replace Natalia.

But Evi was his one and only.

"What do you want?" Natalia's voice was tight.

Hamilton's eyes held a frosty layer.

"Can you break up with Ryan?" After a pause, he added, "Think before you answer." Without hesitation or thought, Natalia retorted, "No way." Hamilton seemed to have anticipated her response.

His eyes, cold and hard, bore into hers. "Did you ever have feelings for me? Even just a little?" A sour sting touched Natalia's heart.

She fought the surge of pain welling up inside.

"Never." Hamilton chuckled dryly, then nodded.

"Alright, go back to sleep." Natalia watched him, puzzled by the two meaningless questions he'd asked in the dead of night.

But she didn't press for answers.

Back in her room, she thought for a moment before stepping out onto the balcony again.

Hamilton was still there, the flickering glow of his cigarette the only light in the dark until it finally died out. Natalia didn't hear about Eveleen's suicide attempt until the next day.

After dropping Ryan at the airport early that morning, she headed to the office to finish shandover work. At the entrance, she bumped into a weary Alden.

"Rough night?" she asked.

Alden frowned at Natalia, his tone reluctant. "Ms. Jenkins, I'm sorry, but this situation is going to be tough on you again." Natalia was puzzled.

"What do you mean?" After a moment's silence, Alden delivered the news. "Eveleen tried to take her own life." Natalia's lips tightened, unsure of what to say.

Finally, she asked, "Oh, did she die?" The question sounded callous.

But it was the only thing she really wanted to know.

Alden shook his head, "It's a pity, she didn't succeed." Natalia let out a hollow laugh, then calmly nodded, "That is a pity indeed." Alden looked at her, troubled.

"Ms. Jenkins, my brother was actually ready to let Eveleen go. But she's forcing his hand, and he can't ignore their past. He couldn't just watch her die." Suddenly, Natalia understood the meaning behind Hamilton's late- night questions.

Perhaps, he was giving her one last chance.

If she was willing to turn back, he'd keep his promise and let Eveleen be.

But if she refused, she couldn't blhim for continuing to protect Eveleen. Natalia scoffed.

Hamilton must have known her answer before he even came.

He wasn't there for her response; he was there to make up his mind.

In the end, he couldn't let go of Eveleen.

But Natalia didn't regret her answer from last night.

No matter what, she didn't want to be sucked back into that whirlpool.

Even so, if Hamilton decided to get involved, even with Caspian's support, Eveleen was likely safe from harm.

That was the only thing that infuriated her.

It infuriated her to the core.

In the end, it was Eveleen's life Hamilton couldn't forsake.

Not hers.

Natalia scoffed, "Alden, it's not about whether Eveleen forced Hamilton or not. It's that he never truly let her go." She paused, "But, it's none of my business anymore." Alden looked genuinely distressed, "Natalia, you know better than anyone that if you just go to my brother, he'd give in. Right now, you matter more to him than Eveleen." He had always seen Natalia as his sister-in-law.

Yet these two stubborn people.

Hamilton was unable to shake off Eveleen because of a childhood responsibility.

And Natalia was too stubborn to look back.

Alden was almost frantic in the middle of it all.

"I've got a boyfriend now, Alden."

Natalia's words hung in the air as she sidestepped Alden and stepped into Le the elevator. Alden was rooted to the spot in shock.

Natalia had a boyfriend? How could that be? Others might be blind to it, but he saw things clearly.

She was obviously smitten with Hamilton.

As Natalia entered the office, Tess approached her swiftly.

"Boss, Mr. Fowler wants to see you in his office, in person." Natalia's lips tightened into a thin line, and after a moment, she nodded.

"Alright." Taking a deep breath, she made her way upstairs.

The door to Hamilton's office was closed tight.

She knocked twice before a man's voice beckoned her inside.

Natalia pushed the door open to find Hamilton standing there his gaze e intense as he watched her enter. "Mr. Fowler, what's up?" Hamilton closed the distance between them in a few strides.

"Natalia, about last night's issue, I'm giving you another shot." Natalia let out a small laugh, "No need, my answer remains the same." A pang of hurt washed over Hamilton.

Was this woman really so determined not to reconsider? His gaze clung to Natalia, the gloominess in his eyes threatening to spill over.

After what felt like an eternity, he finally managed to mask the turmoil in his eyes.

He walked over to his desk, pulled out a document, and handed it to Natalia.

"Sign this, and I'll approve your De free t resignation. You'll be free to leave, Natalia Onge you sign this agreement, you'll be completely free." Natalia's brows furrowed.

She glanced down at the document.

It was a settlement agreement.