Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 84

Natalia couldn’t quite pin down the feeling that was suffocating her at that moment. It was as if in a split second she had been drenched in a piercing cold from head to toe. She felt herself drowning in bitterness.

Was it the chill in the air, or had she dressed too scantily? Even her hand with her phone was trembling slightly.

She wanted to ask Hamilton what the matter was. Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to type out a single word. Before she knew it, her vision began to blur.

Natalia fought back the tears, refusing to let them fall. In a self–torturous move, she pulled up Eveleen’s Twitter feed.

Sure enough, Eveleen had posted a photo just three minutes prior. It was a snapshot from a movie premiere she was attending.

But in that picture, Natalia spotted the back of a man. Just a half glimpse of his back, but she recognized him instantly–it was Hamilton. Even more, he was wearing the suit she had bought for him.

Her fingers quivered as she fumbled to close the app. It took her several tries to hit the right

spot.

Once she managed to exit and swallow the lump in her throat, she dialed Scarlett.

Scarlett picked up and immediately sensed something was off, “What’s up, Natalia?”

“I’m feeling a bit under the weather. Think I’ll head back,” Natalia said, striving to keep her voice steady. She had no desire to confront Giselle alone. Some stains came without effort, but cleaning them off was a Herculean task.

Natalia was tired of being humiliated and being a spectacle. This time, she wanted to flee.

Scarlett paused, but quickly responded, “Alright, wait for me. I’ll take you home.”

Natalia took a deep breath, “No need, I’ll grab a cab. You have fun with them.”

After hanging up, she stood alone in the dark night, feeling utterly hollow. Her sourness seeped into her bones bit by bit.

With heavy steps, Natalia turned to leave. She actually had a hunch. She had suspected that he wouldn’t be there for her when Hamilton hadn’t messaged her all day.

But the harsh reality, now before her, was suffocating.

“Natalia.” A voice called out.

Startled, she turned to see the monitor of their class with a few classmates standing nearby.

managed a smile. She was grateful that she hadn’t cried earlier. It would have only added to her

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aren’t you going in?”

not feeling great,” she managed a smile, “just

concerned, “Are you okay? Do you need a ride

before she could speak, Giselle’s voice rang out. “Well, well, if

gaze to meet hers and smiled, “I thought it was someone

soft, yet the

with rage. The humiliation of her expulsion was bad enough, but now Natalia was reopening

Or let me guess, he had to be

before to watch your mouth. Say one more word, and I’ll

voice

livid but quickly scoffed, “Prove it then! Let him show up, and I’ll apologize on the spot!”

“Whether he comes or

escalated, the class monitor and

go,” the monitor

Giselle was having none

then glanced apologetically at Natalia, “Natalia, I’m really sorry, if you

can’t face us after

man and ruining his relationship, and yet you parade around like you’re so above it all. Deep down, you’re just a tramp that’s been

was enraged about her expulsion,

of decorum in her anger.

the monitor finally shouted.

mistaken, weren’t you about to take

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15-16

Chapter 84

to play the knight in shining armor!”

surrounding men had mixed expressions, recalling

the rumors, but they couldn’t dismiss them entirely either.

it was to probe, especially when

idea of her as someone’s

in high school, many of the boys had harbored crushes on her. Yet, Natalia had never accepted any of

might be a mistress, it stirred a complex mix of emotions.