Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 283 Killian rushed over with a team in tow, his heart sinking at the sight inside the hospital room.

While directing his team to subdue the intruders, he made his way to Natalia's side.

"Ms. Jenkins." Natalia turned to him, her face and lips pale, her voice shaking violently, "Call a doctor, call a doctor!" Killian hurried out to fetch a doctor.

The emergency room lights remained on for over an hour.

Killian stayed by Natalia's side throughout.

Elliott, having heard about the situation, rushed over in concern.

"Natalia, don't worry. I've got all the hospital's top docs on this." Natalia nodded, whispering a soft "Thank you." Elliott frowned. "Did you call Hamilton?" Natalia's eyes fell. She had tried calling him earlier, only to find his phone off.

Perhaps his flight was delayed.

"Mr. Fowler's still on the plane." Killian spoke up for Natalia.

Elliott frowned deeper, turning to Killian. "What about those people? What happened?" Killian glanced at Natalia, then spoke in a low voice.

"Those people, they seem to have been in contact with Westley's crew before." Natalia gasped, "What did you say?" Killian quickly explained, "Mr. Fowler hadkeep an eye on the old man's movements. Their leader, he met with Westley's bodyguard yesterday. I just didn't expect them to cafter us here." Natalia pressed her lips together, a sudden wave of guilt washing over her.

Was it because of her connection to the Fowler family? In an instant, her heart filled with remorse.

Was it all because of her selfish decision to be with Hamilton? Natalia felt a suffocating pain in her heart.

Killian wanted to offer comfort but found himself at a loss for words.

"Ms. Jenkins, don't overthink it. Maybe I'm reading too much into it. We still need to investigate further," he started to say but was cut off as Natalia's phone buzzed with a new message. She glanced down, a photo catching her eye.

In the picture, Hamilton stood beside Eveleen's hospital bed, her wrist bandaged and her face pale as she looked up at him.

Natalia stared at the photo, then suddenly laughed.

Killian and Elliott, hearing her laugh, were taken aback.

Scarlett, having caught wind of the situation, rushed over.

Seeing Scarlett, tears silently began to fall from Natalia's eyes.

Scarlett hugged her tightly, "It's okay, your mom's going to be fine." But Natalia just continued to cry silently.

The emergency room doors opened.

Natalia turned to see the doctor shaking his head apologetically.

In that moment, guilt, despair, and pain seemed to engulf her.

Standing there in shock, she eventually asked, "Can I see her?" The doctor nodded.

Natalia entered the emergency room to find Tatiana lying on the bed, looking no different than usual except for the flatline on the monitor beside her.

After a while, Natalia suddenly fell to her knees beside the bed.

Scarlett, startled, tried to help her up.

But Natalia just started crying on Tatiana's body.

She realized her mistake.

She thought she could have her own happiness.

But reality slapped her hard.

She couldn't protect anything.

Her mother, whom she'd guarded for years, was gone.

The love she'd cherished for years, also gone.

Natalia's cries echoed out of the room, causing Elliott and Killian outside to look on with sympathy.

Killian, frowning slightly, stepped out to call Hamilton.

But the call went straight to voicemail.

He sighed, about to head back when his phone rang.

Hamilton was calling.

He answered quickly.

"Where's Natalia? Why isn't she answering my calls?" "Mr. Fowler, Ms. Jenkins' mother just passed away." "What?" Hamilton's heart sank.

"When did this happen?" "Just now. It seems to be the work of someone from the old man's side." Hamilton clenched his phone so hard his knuckles turned white.

After a long pause, he finally spoke, "Understood." Tatiana was moved from the emergency room to the morgue.

Natalia carefully cleaned her body and dressed her in new clothes.

She had bought Tatiana several outfits, hoping they could walk the streets of Silkwood City together.

Instead, this was how she wore them.

Scarlett cried beside her, while Natalia remained quiet, looking at Tatiana as if she had a thousand words to say but remained silent.

As they left the morgue, Natalia saw Hamilton rushing over.

He pulled her into his arms.

"Don't worry, I'm here for you now." Natalia pushed him away.

He frowned slightly, but Natalia had already turned to speak with the funeral director.

Hamilton took over the arrangements from Natalia without another word.

She let him, staying silent.

Hamilton took care of everything, from the funeral to the gravesite.

He acted like a perfect son-in-law.

Meanwhile...

In Boria City, at the Spiegel family's home, Delia was in the middle of a casual chat with Caspian when suddenly, an inexplicable sharp pain struck her heart.

Tears immediately welled up in her eyes and began to fall.

Caspian, taken aback, quickly stepped forward to wipe them away. "What's the matter?" he asked, concerned. Delia seemed lost for a moment, struggling to regain her composure.

After a long pause, she finally spoke. "It feels like I've lost something important, like there was a sudden pain in my heart." Caspian frowned slightly. "Should we go to the hospital?" Delia shook her head, tears still streaming down her face as she looked at Caspian. "I'm just so sad Caspian, and I can't control it. Can you call your dad and ask him to chome? I need him here with me.

Caspian quickly agreed and took out his phone to make the call. Meanwhile, Delia buried her face in her hands and began to cry uncontrollably, her sobs lasting for a long while.

Natalia had few relatives in Silkwood City.

At the funeral, aside from her usual circle of friends, it was Tatiana's old neighbors who showed up.

The neighbors cup to Natalia, offering their condolences in hushed tones.

Mason and Ronin were also there.

Ronin's heart ached seeing Natalia in such pain. He approached her and whispered a few words of comfort.

e Natalia maintaining a stoic expression, simply thanked him.

Mason stepped forward. "Stay strong, Natalia," he said. Natalia looked up, meeting Mason's eyes filled with pity. She nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Hamilton observed the exchange, his gaze turning slightly colder as he and Mason locked eyes.

"These past few days, your grandfather has been down. I've been Live! keeping him company playing chess. You should visit him when you have the chance," Mason suggested. Hamilton, however, remained silent, his expression unreadable. Mason nodded curtly before turning away and leaving.

Natalia stood in front of Tatiana's grave, her complexion ghastly pale.

Hamilton stayed by her side throughout the ceremony.

She had been keeping vigil for Tatiana, barely sleeping or speaking.

Hamilton, feeling helpless, could only stand by her side.

Only after the funeral did Hamilton manage to take her back to their apartment.

"Try to get srest," Hamilton said as he led her into the bedroom.

Natalia just looked at him, lost in thought.

After a while, she took off the "Only" ring from her finger and said, for om "Hamilton, I'm giving the 'Only backto you. I don't want it anymore, I don't want anything anymore. Let's break up."