Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 143**_______

Natalia, without another word, turned on her heel and strode out the door.

Caspian watched the scene unfold, his brow creasing in concern. He glanced at Hamilton’s phone, then stood up and gave his shoulder a gentle pat.

“Look, if you can’t shake her off, you need to clear the decks before you try to win her back. As long as you’ve got another woman on the hook, ready to play footsie with you at

a moment’s notice, she’s not going to have a change of heart.”

Hamilton looked down and drew a cigarette from his pack. “Don’t stir the pot. It’s bad enough as it is.”

Caspian couldn’t help but smirk. “Ms. Jenkins is back on the market, which means anyone can set their cap for her now. If not me, someone else will, right?”

With that, Caspian didn’t linger. He gathered his things and headed out. He could tell Hamilton hadn’t let go yet, but if he was really trying to hold on, he should be showing it, not just mouthing platitudes.

Caspian didn’t feel like giving him a nudge, though. This was Hamilton’s own mess to

clean up,

and if it ended in tears, well, he’d have to dry his own eyes.

Deep down, Caspian had a soft spot for Natalia, charmed, perhaps, by her looks.

Hamilton never answered that call, letting it go to voicemail. Not long after the disconnect, the phone buzzed to life again. Eyeing the incoming call, Hamilton pinched the bridge of his nose before answering.

“Eveleen, what’s up?”

Her voice came through teary and distressed. “Hamilton, I’ve got this awful pain in my forehead.”

Listening to her, Hamilton’s mind inexplicably drifted to Natalia, to the dream where she cried out in pain, tears streaming down her face. But from the moment she woke, she never once complained of pain in front of him.

Hamilton massaged his forehead, trying to muster patience. “Have you taken any painkillers?”

Eveleen’s voice wavered even more. “Yes, but they’re not working.”

Hamilton was silent.

After what felt like an eternity, he finally said, “Eveleen, in times like these, a doctor will do you more good than I can.”

There was a pause on the other end. “Hamilton, are you saying you won’t help me?”

12:30

Hamilton picked up the cup Natalia had just used, his long fingers tracing the damp rim.

I’ve already arranged for you to see a doctor. Don’t worry, there won’t be any scars on that pretty forehead of yours.”

“But I want you to be with me!”

should have your own life, your own loves, not

hitched. “Hamilton, are you telling me

unforced. If Eveleen could break up with him once, it meant her feelings

someone suitable, sure, give it a shot.”

up. “Don’t you care for me

hollow, his gaze devoid of mirth. “Eveleen, we’ve been over for a long time, and you know that

His expression was impassive, but anyone who knew him well could tell he was anything but pleased.

be like this. While Natalia seemed to walk away with ease, it was he who couldn’t let go. Taking a

goes on, with or without someone.

car, his phone

you want to make Ms.

Hamilton cut him off before he

taken aback. “What are

a drag, then leaned back in his seat, blowing out a plume

loss for words. After a moment, he

རོན བ རོ ༢༢ ;

“Of course, I’m just

brief silence, he asked, “Bro, did you actually fall

silent. In the end, he hung

Fall for her?

12:31

Impossible.

never fall

out of the café, Caspian asked, “Ms. Jenkins, got any favorite food? Any dietary restrictions?”

got a sweet tooth for sure, but I have to steer clear of nuts like

house on fire–both with a knack for languages, both with a sweet tooth, both allergic to nuts. You really should meet

with interest. “You

the world, she’s Ms. Delia. At home, she’s the matriarch spoiled rotten by my dad.”

a twinge of envy. If

worry, Ms. Jenkins, your mother will get better

and

They talked over a meal, discussing the lawsuit

need to brace yourself for this case. Given Eveleen’s profile, it could draw a lot of attention. Your miscarriage might become public knowledge, but

at, and honestly, she was pretty indifferent about the whole thing. She had suffered a miscarriage, that was the hard

touch of warmth

strangers, and she hadn’t expected

smile, Caspian felt a familiar tug at his heart. She bore such a striking resemblance

slightly, he watched Natalia for a moment before asking,

3/5

10-1

convenient for me to

request. But since Caspian had been

couple of days, Natalia finally returned to the office. As soon as she walked

you’re leaving us again. Is that true?”

that Natalia realized that her resignation had become the talk of the office. Nobody knew where the rumor had started, but indeed, it had been the subject of much discussion over the past