Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 117

The words stung Natalia more than she cared to admit. Even though she’d braced herself against the slings and arrows of Hamilton’s scorn, his voice still sliced through her defenses.

She held back the dull ache in her heart and straightened her spine, ready to leave the room, but Hamilton was quicker, his hand reaching for the doorknob before her.

“I’ll drive you home,” he offered.

Natalia sidestepped him and said, “No need, I can grab a cab.”

Hamilton snorted, “Ms. Jenkins, you should at least let me know where you live.”

With her eyes cast downward, Natalia ignored Hamilton before her. She’d resolved not to love anymore, so why did it still hurt?

“Mr. Fowler, if you need me, I’ll come. So, you don’t need to know where I live.”

Hamilton, however, picked up her suitcase as if to make a point.

The standoff was interrupted by the familiar ringtone from Hamilton’s phone, adding a layer of awkwardness to the already tense atmosphere.

“Maybe you should take Ms. Schafer’s call first, Mr. Fowler. After all, she’s the apple of your eye,” Natalia said with a hint of sarcasm, pushing past Hamilton and out the door.

Ignoring the call, Hamilton grabbed Natalia’s suitcase and pressed the elevator button.

Natalia wanted to say something, anything, but couldn’t bring herself to speak. Deep down, she knew that even if she didn’t let him come now, if he wanted to, he would, sooner or later.

The silence in the can was heavy, only the tension between them filling the space. Hamilton’s face was a thundercloud, and his phone relentlessly buzzed in the background.

Eveleen seemed determined to reach him.

Natalia couldn’t help but chuckle, “Why don’t you pull over and take the call, Mr. Fowler?”

He glanced her way, his face twisted in annoyance. “Ms. Jenkins, you’re becoming quite the busybody.”

She chose silence after that, and the car fell quiet once more. It wasn’t until they pulled into her apartment complex that Hamilton spoke again.

“Did Eveleen visit you yesterday?”

Natalia didn’t deny it. If Hamilton was asking, it meant he already knew.

“Yes.”

“What did she tell you?”

Natalia laughed, “She said you invested a hefty sum in the Schafer family to make it up to her.”

1/4

Chapter

investment was planned long

respond. It didn’t matter anymore. Hamilton’s protection of Eveleen wasn’t just about the money. And Natalia didn’t want to dwell on it

for the ride,

was eerily calm as she reached for

he could speak,

stepped out of the

stared after her, his expression darkening as the phone continued to ring, unanswered.

leaving her

her body was sore from their previous sex, Natalia tidied up

on her door.

and

some food,” said the voice of Linda, holding a

said you didn’t eat tonight and

and said, “It’s

a smile. “I appreciate you coming out so late, but

door, took out her phone,

need to send me

went to sleep.

…

next morning, her phone was devoid of any reply from Hamilton. Natalia breathed a sigh of relief but felt an inexplicable sense of loss.

eventually, she would.

Natalia overheard the company’s gossip.

Fowler has a new

it’s not

Chapter 117

neck and behind his ear? Man,

Mr. Fowler as a

tuned out the chatter, but

Mr. Fowler’s got a girlfriend, and it’s

believe or spread rumors. If Mr. Fowler has

and said. “But everyone’s talking about it. Could it

and changed the subject. Tess, sensing her mood,

is tonight. You’re good to go,

had almost

to my phone.”

it!”

out a small sigh and returned to her work.

the executive office at the

in Hamilton’s office, her eyes twinkling with curiosity as she gazed at