Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 135

Hamilton knew, deep down, that saying sorry was useless right now, but that seemed to be all he could offer.

Eveleen had been his saving grace. No one knew the ordeals he had faced when he arrived at that quaint fishing town–how he had brushed with death more than once. The first few times at the hands of his mother, and then later, by his own hand.

It was only in that serene hamlet by the sea that a flicker of desire to live sparked within him.

Though the details of his past had blurred through therapy, the name “Evi” was etched in his mind like a sacred incantation.

She was his redemption.

In such a state, he couldn’t just abandon Eveleen. Yet he hadn’t anticipated dragging Natalia into such peril.

Hamilton gripped Natalia’s hand, his gaze falling upon her pale, fragile face, feeling a weight in his chest that made it hard to breathe.

Every time he blinked, he saw her lifeless body sprawled on the jagged rocks.

He closed his eyes briefly, and when he reopened them, they were drained of emotion. His long fingers traced the wet trail on her cheek.

In a hushed voice, he said, “Natalia, don’t be scared. I’m here.”

It took a while, but Natalia finally calmed down.

Hamilton fetched a warm towel and gently wiped her face. His movements halted as he dabbed her hands; the wounds were still there, even if the dislocated wrist had been attached.

Carefully avoiding the cuts, he finished and tucked her hand beneath the blanket before standing up and stepping outside.

Alden was waiting at the door.

“Did you find Orpheus?” Hamilton asked, his voice low.

Alden shook his head. “He’s hiding out somewhere, the bold bastard. To think he’d abduct Ms. Jenkins in broad daylight! If it weren’t for Ryan and Dawson, Ms. Jenkins might’ve been out of luck.”

Hamilton let out a bitter laugh. “If they hadn’t intervened, Natalia wouldn’t have been in danger.” Alden paused, considering Hamilton’s implication.

Without Ryan and Dawson’s presence, Orpheus would have had to contact Hamilton, who would have surely found a way to keep Natalia safe.

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Chapter 135

the situation would push a desperate man to the

cigarette from Alden and lit it before replying, “That’s why I’m not holding a

seemed lost for words. “And Orpheus?”

eyes. “Keep looking. Bring

deep breath, Alden carefully broached another subject. “Bro, can you and Ms. Jenkins make it right?”

a feeling that their relationship might have reached a point of no

indifference was evident. “Why

let go, she couldn’t leave. And he had no

away.

never really liked Eveleen, did you? It’s always been Ms. Jenkins. Otherwise, you wouldn’t

ferocity in Hamilton’s eyes when Ryan had carried Natalia away was something Alden had never seen before.

feelings involved, why would

his brother’s eyes–the kind of panic that comes

cigarette and, without answering, simply stated, “Alden, I won’t get attached

snuffing out his cigarette, he turned back into the hospital

initially intending to talk to Hamilton, but he eventually felt it wasn’t his place to meddle

unconscious, any conversation with Hamilton would be incomplete without

he let it be.

resolved to help if Natalia asked once she awoke.

slept for a full day and night before

disoriented. But before she could collect her

once stirred so much within her, now left her

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murmured

you in pain? I’ll call the doctor

realize that Hamilton had been holding her hand.

“You’re awake, but you still need to

you,” Natalia responded

returned to her

again.

grasped at

had subtly withdrawn from

her anger was justified and simply asked, “Does it

kept her eyes closed, taking a long time before answering,

in pain; her whole body felt dismantled and reassembled, even breathing hurt. But she didn’t want to share that with him anymore. Her suffering, her discomfort would