Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 14

Natalia couldn’t stand hanging around them, and frankly, she wasn’t even fond of the name Evangeline Schafer. As long as they stopped giving her a hard time, she’d be perfectly content to stay out of their sight forever.

It wasn’t until three years ago, when her mother had a nasty car accident and needed cash for surgery, that she found herself reluctantly knocking on Patrick’s door. That was the moment. Natalia saw Patrick’s true colors – cold and indifferent. Since then, she had severed all ties with the Schafers. Only occasionally would she catch a glimpse of Eveleen’s name on TV or Twitter.

Eveleen had made her debut abroad four years prior. Though she hadn’t returned home in all that time, her beauty had earned her some recognition back home, even landing her the endearing title of “nation’s first love.”

Dragging herself home, Natalia collapsed into bed and fell into a deep sleep. In her dream, she was back on that beach.

The winter seaside was harsh, with fierce winds howling. The windows of the beachfront villa rattled violently in the gusts. Eveleen was in a rage over a lost bracelet, demanding Natalia find it for her.

Natalia had seen the bracelet before–a delicate diamond piece engraved with a nickname

“Evi“.

It was a birthday gift from Patrick to Eveleen, and she’d taken many photos with it. It was indeed a pity it was lost, but Natalia didn’t search for it.

Venturing out into the pitch–dark night amid the storm was tantamount to signing your own death warrant.

Eveleen’s shouts echoed through the villa.

Patrick summoned Natalia to his study. “I hear your mother just landed a decent job recently. Is that true?”

Even though Natalia was naive back then, she instantly grasped the veiled threat in his words. She asked him, “What did you want with me today? To celebrate my birthday, or to send me to my death?”

Patrick’s expression darkened instantly.

Natalia didn’t bother with further words; she simply headed downstairs to the beach. Her stepdad Graham was always drowning in booze, leaving her mother to shoulder all the

expenses.

Lucinda often gave her mother a hard time too. It was only recently that her mother found a decent job. Not wanting to see her mother unemployed again, Natalia compromised.

What she didn’t expect was to encounter that boy again on the beach. She wanted to ask why he didn’t come to find her. She wanted to know if he still remembered her, but his cold gaze and unfamiliar eyes seemed to say it all.

swallowed all her words.

been together for three, Natalia never brought up the past.

up the next morning, her phone was silent–no callback from Hamilton.

for the office. Upon

Some

always buzzing with the latest scoop. Natalia gave Tess

and said, “Boss, have you ever seen Mr. Fowler’s

paused, surprised that the story of Hamilton’s first love had spread through the office

it?” she feigned

is talking about it. Didn’t you hear? She’s just come back from overseas.”

and said, “I hadn’t heard about Mr. Fowler having a

finger. “I heard they were close to marriage, but then she went abroad, and the wedding got postponed. Maybe that’s why Mr. Fowler’s been single all these years–waiting

love to

faltered, “Really? And who

and he was spotted escorting her late at night. Next thing you know, the tweets disappeared–probably pulled by Mr. Fowler himself. But the word’s out.”

away by

hand instinctively rested on

Hamilton’s first love had indeed returned, was it time for her to leave? Did it mean she could now leave and have

didn’t hear Tess’s next

“Boss?”

gossip. You don’t want Mr. Fowler to catch you and give

out her tongue and returned to her

until lunch when Tess came knocking, “Boss, Mr. Fowler wants to

soft tones of Hamilton’s voice

approached and said, “Ms. Jenkins, Mr. Fowler

and pushed open the door.

Gotta go, busy here,” Hamilton ended the call, loosened

his eyes locking onto hers. “You called last night. Something up?”

tell Hamilton about the baby. Once he reconciled with his first love, she could

feeling a bit under the

missed me too much to

and said, “I