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!”

“Eveleen, you should have your own life, your own loves, not just orbit around me.”

telling me to

life. To him, such matters should be free and unforced. If Eveleen could break up with him once, it meant her feelings weren’t that deep.

sure, give

choked up. “Don’t you care for

over for a long time,

expression was impassive, but anyone who knew him well

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

with

into his car, his phone

been thinking, if you want to

need,” Hamilton cut him off before he could finish. “I’ve ended things with

was taken aback. “What are you

in his seat, blowing out a plume of smoke. “I said, we’re over.”

loss for words. After a moment,

རོན བ རོ

laugh was cold. “Of

he asked, “Bro,

silent. In the end, he hung up without a

Fall for her?

12:31

Impossible.

would never fall

the café, Caspian asked, “Ms. Jenkins, got any favorite

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

he burst out laughing. “You and my mother would get along like a house on fire–both with a knack for languages, both with a sweet

sparkled with interest. “You mean Ms. Delia?”

a smile. “Out in the world, she’s Ms. Delia.

and Natalia felt a twinge of envy. If only she

Ms. Jenkins, your mother will get

smiled and nodded.

bistro tucked away from the bustle. They talked over a meal, discussing the lawsuit Natalia was

a lot of attention. Your

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

smile, a touch of warmth in her voice despite

strangers, and she hadn’t expected him to offer his support.

She bore such a striking resemblance to his sister. It was there in her features

watched Natalia for a

3/5

10-1

to pay

since Caspian had been so helpful, she didn’t question it and readily

Natalia finally returned to the

leaving us again. Is

her resignation had become the talk of the office. Nobody knew where the rumor had started, but indeed, it had been