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.”

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Chapter

paused. “That investment was planned long before, not as

the money. And Natalia didn’t want to dwell on it any longer. She just wanted to live

the ride,

was eerily calm as she reached for

caught her wrist, but before he could speak,

laugh, Natalia pulled away, stepped out of

his expression darkening as the phone continued to

he drove away, leaving her standing there, alone.

her body was sore from their previous sex, Natalia tidied up before taking a long, hot shower and preparing

she was about to slip under the covers, there was a knock on her door. Brows furrowed, she

got up and opened

voice of Linda,

said you didn’t eat tonight and asked me

said, “It’s all yours. I’m

to say something, but Natalia cut him off with a smile. “I appreciate you coming out so

closed the door, took out her

no need to

she went

…

Natalia breathed a sigh of relief but felt an inexplicable sense of loss. She

eventually, she would.

Natalia overheard

Fowler has a new girlfriend.”

not Eveleen.”

Chapter 117

the scratches on Mr. Fowler’s neck and behind his ear? Man,

so jealous of that woman. Having Mr. Fowler as a boyfriend must be

tuned out the chatter, but

hear? Mr. Fowler’s got a girlfriend, and

or spread rumors. If Mr. Fowler has a

“But everyone’s talking about it. Could it really be

a wry smile and changed the subject. Tess, sensing her mood, didn’t

way, Boss, our department’s get–together is tonight. You’re good to

had almost forgotten.

the details to my

it!” Tess

Natalia let out a small sigh and returned to her work.

the executive office at

was perched on a chair in Hamilton’s office, her eyes twinkling with curiosity as she