Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter

Natalia forced a silent but bitter smile. The guy was a real bastard, but she knew he’d never be

without an heir.

With all the women in his orbit, could any of them fail to give him a child?–

Scarlett cursed under her breath, feeling a bit better after letting off some steam, and then got down to business.

“So, you don’t want this baby, right? Should I just go ahead and schedule the operation after your check–up tomorrow?”

Natalia caressed her belly, swallowing the pain in her heart, and replied softly, “Yes.”

As her voice faded, a tear rolled down from the corner of her eye. In the end, she was the one who should apologize this child. But without a legitimate claim, she had nothing to offer her baby, and how could she dare keep it? She was just an ordinary woman from an ordinary family. She couldn’t let her child be marked as a bastard for life.

Hamilton would never give her a title. He wouldn’t give her any chance to tie him down.

Nor affection, love, family, or children.

He wouldn’t give any of it.

Natalia closed her eyes and wiped away her tears.

The night was quiet and long, and her sleep was restless. She seemed to have a dream.

In the dream, she was back in her childhood. As a child, she and her mother had been through tough times, and the longest they ever stayed in one place was a small fishing village by the riverbank.

It was there that Natalia first met Hamilton. As a child, Hamilton didn’t have his current brooding look. His features were so delicate that he seemed almost like a doll.

Later, Natalia learned that he had been there to recuperate from an ittness. Recovery must have been rough for him because he often sat by the riverbank alone, wiping away tears.

Every time Natalia saw him, she’d offer him a lollipop to cheer him up. He ignored her at first.

But later on, he would secretly perch on her garden wall and call her “Evi.”

Eventually, it seemed his health improved, and he was whisked away by a group of people. Before he left, he promised he would come find her. But Natalia never saw him again.

Their reunion ten years later was accidental.

On her seventeenth birthday, her half–sister claimed she’d lost a bracelet on the beach and asked Natalia to look for it. On the beach, Natalia recognized Hamilton at first glance.

At nineteen, the boy had shed his childishness but carried an air of melancholy. When she

spotted him, he was slowly walking into the cold, tumultuous sea.

Without a second thought, she ran and grabbed him.

The boy turned around, his eyes filled with a cold and ruthless edge that didn’t match his age

Natalia instinctively stepped back in fear..

He scoffed and walked back into the sea.

in the world, you coward!” Natalla yelled at him with all

tracks. But just then, a wave suddenly hit, and Natalla’s slight figure was engulfed by the sea. She couldn’t remember what it felt like, only the terror of flailing and not being able to grab onto anything.

around her waist. The waves. churned, and her body bobbed up and

he managed to drag her ashore amid

remembered was waking up to his cold

for yourself, it’s none of your business worrying about

turned

she cried out in the dream.

up, the dream shattered.

eyes, she found her phone ringing.

It was Scarlett.

or drink anything before

responding, feeling a sense of heaviness in her heart.

years. But she understood the baby couldn’t stay. Not out of fear of discovery, but because the longer she waited,

got ready and left the hotel. But she stopped short at the hotel entrance at

Hamilton had found

far too easy if he

for her at all. After the clear–cut conversation last night, why come find her today? And she

finally found was fragile, and she feared she’d crumble in his

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Chapter 4

considered fleeing. But Hamilton had already stepped out of

steps, his voice

games?” Hamilton stopped in front of her, his expression

down on her.

Natalia didn’t

“So, you’re serious about running off with Victor? When did

slightly. “You’re mistaken. I’m leaving because I want to, not because of

“Reason?”

Natalia looked up to meet his gaze. “I want to get

eyes narrowed.

I’m already twenty–seven now.”

her face, his

someone in

paused for

do or not, I need to quit the

enough money?” Hamilton raised an eyebrow

with him for the money was always the most

break down in front of this man, and she managed a weak smile. “No. But if earning money conflicts with

Hamilton’s expression darkened.

let

the difference if I’m not? Will you marry me, Mr. Fowler? Marry me and have

if he would just say ‘yes‘, even a distant, uncertain ‘yes‘, she’d truly be trapped by this man forever.

his answer. He stepped back, looking Natalia

always thought you were smart.”