Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 120

Hamilton gripped Natalia’s waist, lowering his gaze upon her with an uncharacteristic tenderness in his eyes.

Natalia, momentarily dazed by the softness on his face, quickly snapped back to reality. She flashed a wry smile at him and asked, “Mr. Fowler, having second thoughts, are we?”

Watching her, Hamilton took a moment before releasing her, leaning against the wall to light a cigarette. “Natalia, I’ve given you an out. Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider?”

Without a word, Natalia turned and strode towards the door.

“Quite sure,” she said, and with that, she was out the door and gone.

Hamilton stood there, his face a stormy canvas of displeasure. After a spell, he whipped out his phone and dialed a number.

“Tonight, I want Orpheus’s assets turned upside down!”

Having made the call, Hamilton moved to the window, watching the woman disappear into the night before taking a drag of his smoke.

He had intended to let her have her little rebellion for a few more days, but tonight’s events had stirred a regret within him for letting her go.

A canary belongs in its cage, he mused. Wasn’t it better for her to stay put by his side?

Frowning into the night, Hamilton dialed another number.

Natalia, after returning home, completed her nightly routine and fell straight into bed.

Her slumber was broken by the shrill of her phone, and with bleary eyes, she recognized the

caller – Tatiana’s doctor.

Her grogginess vanished instantly as she bolted upright, wincing at a sharp pain in her side.

Ignoring the discomfort, she answered the call. “Doctor, what’s wrong? Is it my mother?”

“It’s not that,” the doctor replied, and Natalia exhaled a sigh of relief.

Natalia bit her lip, “Then what is it?”

“The thing is, Ms. Jenkins, the medication your mother has been on is imported, and it was heavily discounted because of Mr. Fowler. But it seems he no longer wishes to extend those discounts.”

Natalia felt a jolt. This was surely Hamilton’s tactic to force her return. She took a deep breath, attempting to steady her emotions.

“If the discounts are removed, what’s the monthly cost?”

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12:39

Chapter 120

was hesitance before the

looking at an additional two hundred thousand a

spun around Natalia.

are you certain there’s

Tatiana were already a hefty two hundred

no mistake, Ms. Jenkins. You can come to the hospital to see

long pause, she finally said, “Alright, I understand. I’ll figure

do, Ms. Jenkins. Your mother’s

“Understood.”

temples. Her struggle to cover Tatiana’s medical expenses was hard enough as

exactly how to exploit one’s vulnerabilities. Using Tatiana against her was far more effective than anything else. After all, Tatiana was

could she confront him. Discounts were never

obligation.

Natalia was engulfed by a wave of helplessness. After getting dressed, she visited Tatiana at the

felt

return. Truly, she didn’t.

she might never muster the courage to leave again. Nor did she

eyes welled up. “Mom, please wake

fell as she spoke.

me these past three years. His name is Hamilton. Remember him? The crybaby from the little fishing village where we

now. Maybe you’ll see him once you’re

she whispered, “Just wake up, sooner or later. Don’t leave me

12:39

statement and paid every last dime she

leave. As she stepped out of the hospital, she bumped into Caspian,

he called out.

“Mr. Spiegel,

Caspian simply asked, “Have

lowered her gaze. “No, it was just

sound presumptuous, but you can think of me as a

her voice carrying a tremble, “I was just up

“Oh, is your

about to speak again when her

the caller ID–It was

“I’ve got to take care of